Nigerian High Commissioner

The Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia, Her Excellency Mrs Esther John Audu, has reaffirmed her commitment and faith in the existing bilateral relations between The Gambia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Speaking recently in Basse during a courtesy call on Mr Omar Alpha Khan, the Governor of Upper River Region (URR), Mrs Audu declared, “The Gambia is my second home”.

She observed that the bonds which unite The Gambia and Nigeria are deep and unbreakable. “Our bilateral co-operation includes agriculture, health, education and just name it. We are one people,” she said.

“President Yahya Jammeh calls me his sister,” she said, to rousing applause.

According to her, Africa remains the centre point of Nigeria’s foreign policy. “President Umaru Yar’Adua loves African countries. But he has a special love for The Gambia,” she said.

The Nigerian High Commissioner, who has served as Mayor of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria; as a member of the Nigerian National Assembly as well as a council chairman, is currently on a familiarisation tour of The Gambia. Already, she has visited North Bank Region (NBR), Western Region (WR) and Central River Region (CRR).

The Nigeria diplomat had visited The Gambia in 2001 during the World Summit of Mayors. “Then I told my brother, President Jammeh, that I would come back again. Little did I know then that I was making a prophetic statement,” she said.

Dwelling on the theme of bilateral co-operation, Mr. Omar Alpha Khan for his part reiterated the view that The Gambia and Nigeria are condemned to live together in brotherhood and oneness. “The Gambia and Nigeria are one,” he said.

He pointed out that Nigerians living in Upper River Region are law-abiding. “They don’t give us problems,” he said.

The National Assembly Member for Fulladu East, Honourable Momodou Salieu Bah, shared the same view and urged the Nigerian community in URR to work even harder to promote the image of Nigeria.

The Police Commissioner, Immigration Commissioner, Army Commander, Alkalolu, the Seyfolu, community leaders and councillors were all present during the courtesy call, which was held at the Governor’s ‘Bantaba’.

Mrs Audu had earlier stopped over in Janjanbureh and Bansang.

In Janjanbureh the Deputy Governor of CRR, Mr Lamin Darboe, received the Nigerian High Commissioner, as the Governor was unavoidably absent. While in Bansang, she met with the Police Commissioner, Immigration Commissioner, and the Deputy Police Commissioner at the Bansang Police Station.

She was told that Nigerians in CRR are not law-breakers, as there was no case of any Nigerian who has broken the law there. “They just mind their business,” the Police Commissioner Chief Superintendent Amadou Sabally said. 

During the tour, she also visited the Nigeria Technical Aid Corps volunteers in Kaur, Bansang and Basse. In all the places where the volunteers are serving,

the consensus of opinion was that they were rendering invaluable services to the communities.

Moved by these testimonies, Mrs Audu then urged the volunteers to exert themselves even more so that they would always remain worthy ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the opening encounter and first round matches, Comium FC defeated Social Security 2-1.The Gamceland Africell game ended 2-0 in favour of Gamcel.

Speaking to Pointsports, Mamudou Ceesay, chairman of the Jarumeh Jamally sports committee, pointed out that the tournament is meant to foster unity between the teams that lined up for the tournament.

He added that a trophy and cash prize of D5000 will be awarded to the winner.He urged all teams to maintain discipline during the course the tournament in order to achieve their goals.

Other speakers included, the National Assembly member for the area, Hon Lamin Ceesay and Musa Samura, Ward Councillor, who expressed similar sentiments.

Meanwhile in Janjanbureh Old Hands lost to AK Construction 2-0, as part of preparation for the forthcoming Nawettan tournament set for next week.

Denish Jatta, team coach for AK Construction, and Old Hands coach, Bakary Jawneh are both optimistic that their teams will going for glory in the Nawettan proper next week.

A torrential rain in Sami Pachonki in the Central River Region on Monday reportedly destroyed more than 10 compounds in the village and its surroundings, resulting to the destitution of over 100 people.

According to reports gathered by this paper, the downpour, which was accompanied by heavy winds, thunder and lightening, blew off roofs and fell some buildings in the area, leading to colossal loss in properties. However, there were no reports of casualties at the time of going to press but reports have it that the storm has made it virtually impossible for many people, especially farmers, to carry on their farming activities.

The issue of heavy downpours, which has in the recent past been making headlines, is said to have affected thousands of people since the beginning of this year’s rainy season.

Speaking to this paper over the phone last morning, Pa Kebba Dibba, a resident of the area, said: “The unfortunate incident lasted for almost two hours. It has left us with a lot of maintenance work as lots of properties were destroyed during the heavy rain.”

“If you take a stroll around the village these days, you meet many people mending their collapsed fences and buildings that were destroyed by the rain,” he said.

The affected individuals, who described the incident as unbelievable and unprecedented, appealed to government, non- governmental organisations and philanthropic individuals to come to their aid.

Abdoulie Ndow and Njobo Bah could go for 30months imprisonment if they fail to pay the fine of D7000 and the compensation of D7000 each.

The convict were recently convicted and sentenced by the CRR travelling Magistrate Amadou Baldeh for stealing a female cow value at D7000 being the property of one Mam Ngor Boye.

In setting the context of the training, the Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP Dr. Isatou Touray explained to the gathering that her organization is not against cultures and traditions but to analyse them critically to come up with practices that protect the rights of women and girls. She noted the trends in perceptions on traditional practices are changing towards a positive direction as communities and families are protecting girls from FGM, early marriage amongst others harmful traditional practices, which led to the first national declaration of the Dropping of the Knife Initiative in May 2007. Dr. Touray highlighted the challenges of dealing with mobile circumcisers from Senegal who cross the borders into The Gambia to practice FGM, because there is no law in the Gambia to protect girl children against FGM.

Alkalo Fatou Danso of Kaba Kama who worked as a nurse midwife in the Upper River Region shared her experience on the effects FGM and early marriage has on women and girls.

Traditional communicators locally called Kanyelengholu created songs to support the campaign to stop female genital mutilation-FGM at bantanto. The relics of the songs are based on the messages on the effects FGM has on women and girls, women’s rights and empowerment.

In his contribution, the head AIkalo of Fuladu, Kebba Kora of Bansang called for a stop to FGM and pointed out the need for a law to stop the practice. AIkalo Kebba Kora pledged to sensitize all the one hundred and thirty-two Alkalolu under his jurisdiction for them to be aware that FGM has serious implications on the sexual and reproductive health of women and work towards freeing their communities from the practice. He finally called on parents to educate their daughters and emulate GAMCOTRAP women as role models. All the speakers at the Bantanto training expressed their support to the campaign to stop FGM, including the council of elders of Bantanto village.

Speaking on behalf of the women of Sare Jibel, Chedo Jawo thanked GAMCOTRAP and asserted that FGM has nothing to do with Islam but was merely about jealousy. She called on women to protect their children from the practice. Similar sentiments were expressed by Jabou Janneh of Mabally Kuta and noted that they have observed the effects the practice has on women’s health. In reiterating their support to the campaign, Penda Sanyang the Traditional Birth Attendant of Mabally Koto confirmed that their village circumciser, Adama Damba has stop practicing FGM and has the support of the community.

The training was highlighted with the public declaration to stop FGM by another circumciser in the CRR, Jainaba Kanteh of Mabally Kuta, and she received Five thousand Dalasi as support to start an alternative income activity. She was supported by her village Alkalo Alhajie Lamin Janneh, her family members and other village representatives.

Women Leaders in FONI trained on Female Genital Mutilation

Over twenty women leaders from Foni Jarrol, Bintang Karanai, Bondali and Kansala Districts in the Western Region had recently converged at Bwiam Lodge for a three days training on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls against harmful traditional practices.

In his welcome remarks the Alkalo of Bwiam, Musa Amul Nyassi expressed appreciation of GAMCOTRAP’s role in national development and called on the women leaders to seize the opportunity to have direct access to information that can empower them and be prepared to share it with their followership.

In leading the opening prayers, Imam Alhajie Babou Ceesay of Bwiam prayed for peace, stability and a successful training programme.

The three days training supported by Forum Syd through NIYO amongst other things exposed participants to the different components of sexual and reproductive health issues women and girls are face with, clarifications on religion, FGM and women’s rights, the International Conventions, Regional Protocols, National laws and policies ratified by The Gambia to promote the rights of women and children.

Emphasising on the important role women leaders can play in reaching out to more women to protect girls from female genital mutilation, early marriage and the promotion of women’s rights, Dr. Touray enlightened the participants on the advocacy role of GAMCOTRAP for the advancement and empowerment of women and children. In responding to the call for step down community and district training in Foni, Dr. Touray pledged that all efforts would be done to get the required resources needed in reaching out to communities. “The pace has been set for total eradication of FGM, once the level of awareness on the effects of FGM is increased, community consensus to stop the practice is irresistible” she concluded.

The participating Foni women leaders reached consensus that FGM should stop and they all pledged to share the knowledge gained and would advocate for the eradication of the practice. It could be noted that this training was earlier preceded by training of over fifty Traditional Birth Attendants and female circumcisers from the five districts of Foni.

According to the MD Janjangbureh is rich in terms of history and has historical monuments dating back to the 18thcentury.

Outlining his biography, Sanneh said he was born and educated in Janjangbureh. When he graduated from school he wished to go on to further studies but was unable to afford it. “I then got employment in one of the hotels in Janjangbureh and later in the Kombo’s where I was able to save up enough money to start my own business,” he stated.

For his part, the senior manager, Mr. Ke’ Jallow also urged the youth of the area to continuously strive in the interests of national development. He reminded them that Rome was not built in a day so they should work hard and show determination, commitment and tolerance when facing challenges.

Adducing the evidence PW1, PC628 Gallow Jawo of Njau police station, told the court that he recognised the accused and he can recall taking cautionary and voluntary statements from him. The cautionary and voluntary statements were later tendered in court as exhibits respectively.

He was granted court bail in the sum of D5000 before the case was adjourned to the 10^th July.

In a related development, one Kandeh Ceesay was recently convicted by the CRR travelling Magistrate Amadou Baldeh for stealing a bull valued at D18,000. He was convicted and sentenced to a fine of D9000 and compensation of D9000 in default to serve 18 months imprisonment.

A recent storm that ripped through a number of villages in Central River Region (CRR) claimed the life of a three-year-old boy, injuring many as over 500 compounds were seriously affected.

Musa Sidibeh, three, was reported to have died as a result of being hit by a falling tree that sliced through the house he happened to be sleeping in with his parents in Sareh Kanimang in Upper Fulladu West, CRR South.

The most villages with widespread damage include Brikama-Ba, Sololo, Kaur, Lamin Koto, Badala and Janjanbureh, where some people reportedly sustained serious injuries.

According to Pa Musa Kijera, Regional Red Cross Officer CRR, many of the affected compounds lost many of their materials including foodstuffs.

A one-day consultative meeting organised by Gamjobs was recently held at the Governor’s Bantaba in Janjangbureh in CRR. The meeting, which targeted youth and women, was to educate these target groups on the existence of Gamjobs and their aims and objectives.

Speaking earlier, the Gamjobs National co-ordinator, Mr. sheriff Gomez, said Gamjobs is a project focusing on young people and women who are the vulnerable social groups. He added that women constitute 50% of the labour force while young people outnumber the general population by 47% based on their vulnerability. Mr Gomez further revealed that the government of The Gambia considered it fitting to create Gamjobs to address the needs and aspirations of the target groups by creating meaningful avenues that will enable them to access jobs. He disclosed that by the end of the project it’s aimed to have found employment for 20,000 young people and women.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor of CRR, the chief of the Janjangbureh district, Seyfo Bakary Jam Jawoh, hailed Gamjobs, for doing such a wonderful thing in aiming to provide employment opportunities for women and young people. He then thanked the donors for supporting the initiative adding that the sensitization of local authorities will go a long way towards raising the level of awareness of local people.

He then urged the participants to take part during the course of the meeting.

For his part, the Regional Youths and sports co-ordinator, Mr. Adama Sabally, also thanked Gamjobs and the national Organising committee for coming up with such an initiative.