Nassau, The Bahamas - The College of The Bahamas reached another milestone on Thursday, June 10 when it broke ground for its Graduate Business Centre. The centre will be named after businessman and former College Council Chairman, Franklyn R. Wilson, the College’s largest individual donor. The centre’s main lecture theatre will bear the name of Royal Bank of Canada, the College’s largest corporate donor.
In attendance was the Hon. Dion Foulkes, who represented the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education. Mr. Foulkes said that he was ‘indeed proud’ to be at the ceremony.
“When the Prime Minister asked me to represent him at this groundbreaking ceremony, I accepted quickly and with great satisfaction. I’m a strong believer and supporter of the College of The Bahamas,” said Mr. Foulkes. “I had the privilege to serve as the Minister of State and the Minister of Education in FNM’s second administration. As Minister, I worked with the College Council and the administration to further advance the development of the College, and I’m the proud father of two graduates of COB and my third child is currently enrolled here.”
President Janyne Hodder, who will be leaving the College at the end of the month, said that she is ‘excited’ to see this dream turn into reality.
“The Centre will house the College’s very first graduate degree – a degree that is its own degree, not one offered in partnership with another institution,” said Mrs. Hodder. “While the College has offered seven graduate degree programmes in partnership with other universities over the years, the new MBA will be a College of The Bahamas degree and the first that we’ve offered at the graduate level.”
Once completed, the facility will house the Faculty of Business for both undergraduate and graduate degrees and will offer programmes competitive with oversees institutions. It is projected that the centre will cost approximately $4 million, which is being funded by both private and public contributions. Mr. & Mrs. Franklyn Wilson committed to $1 million, with the Royal Bank of Canada pledging a match of $1 million. The Government has allocated another $2 million toward the capital budget for the project. The building will be comprised of three stories and will feature a state-of-the-art lecture theatre.
Donor Franklyn Wilson paid accolades to the Government, President Hodder, former Minister of Education, the Hon. Alfred Sears and Council members who have served the College over the past 30 years.
“If you want to get an insight into who the real nation builders are, you need to look at the persons who have served in the Council, in addition, you need a champion in cabinet who can pushed the agenda and that champion in this case was the former Minister of Education, the Hon. Alfred Sears.
Mr. Ross McDonald, Senior Vice-President, RBC Caribbean Banking said his organisation was ‘thrilled’ to be a part of the project.
Also in attendance was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Elma Garroway; Chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, Mr. Bradley Roberts and former Minister of Education, Mr. Alfred Sears.
