Born in Banjul, in 1955, Aja Maimuna Savage, proprietress of Muhammed Yadalieu English and Arabic Nursery School, is a renowned Islamic scholar in The Gambia.

Speaking to Women’s Weekly at her residence in Banjul, Aja Maimuna Savage explained that she acquired her early childhood Quranic education from her father at the age of three years, and also did her primary education at Methodist Primary School in Banjul, in 1961, from there she proceeded to former Gambia High School where she graduated in 1970.

Aja Maimuna, daughter of the late imam of Allen Street mosque, Muhammed Yadalieu Savage,inspired her to love the Quran and the Islamic religion.She noted that it was more than a duty, but a moral obligation to understand the Quran and practice its teachings. She quoted the saying of the prophet that, “the best among you is the one who learn the Quran and teaches .

The proprietress of Muhammed Yadalieu Arabic and English Nursery School which was established in 1997 revealed that, she established the school and the Daara in order to help Gambian Muslim children to acquire basic Islamic Knowledge, noting that the school had achieved its goals because, many parents had registered their children with the school

Aja Maimuna Savage is married and blessed with four children and three grand-children. She added that, she will make efforts to ensure her children and the grand children to have an indepth understanding of Islam and follow the teachings and practice of prophet Muhammed, just as she herself is doing and any other Muslim in accordance with the the purpose of Allah”s creation. She noted that, Allah has created human beings purposely to worship Him.

Bteween the 60s and 70s, Aja Maimuna was an active member of many Islamic organisations in the Gambia, especially such as Islamic Jamilatul Hirat and in Islamic Cultural Group and, Supreme Islamic Council of The Gambia, the federation of Islamic women association of the Gambia which an umbrella association of Muslim women in the Gambia of which she is the president and she is also a member of National Hajj Commission among others.

In 1997,the erudite Gambian female scholar had her own Islamic organisation called the Islamic Cultural Centre for Women and Children. She also served as a Hajj guide in many travel agencies in the country.

Aja Maimuna Savage, took the opportunity to expressed sincere thanks and deep sense of appreciation to the Gambian leader, President Jammeh for appointing her to serve as a member of the national Hajj commission.

She explained that the first great gathering that she started preaching, was at State House in 1994, praise be to Allah during aan annual Gamo. “I was invited to preach, from there on people started inviting me to Gamos. I can say everything started at State House, “she explained.

When I started working I was humbly the first Gambian woman whose voice was heard, preaching at Radio Gambia. From there people started saying that a woman voice must not be heard, but I beautifully discussed with them. Others will encourage me. I really want to thank them because there had been times that I sometimes got discouraged to people who called and said a woman voice must not be heard.

She thanked God that nowadays people want to know much about their religion several women are coming here to seek knowledge about the religion and I pray that I will continue serving my nation with the little knowledge I have until the day I return to my creator.

“Whatever good a woman does to develop her nation, is in line with Quaranic teachings, women can work in the offices, farm land and other places, but we must remember Allah at all times, particularly when it is time for prayers”, she advises.

I am engaged in quite a lot of activities. I will like to thank my husband for giving me the necessary support to venture into activities like preaching.

At least 50 women circumcisers, including traditional birth attendants and women leaders have participated in a three-day training on sexual and reproductive health rights and entrepreneurial skills in Basse, Upper River Region (URR).

The training - conducted by the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Children (Gamcotrap) in partnership with the Inter-Africa Committee and Equality Now - is aimed at providing alternative employment opportunities for trained ex-circumcisers who have stopped practicing female circumcision.

Speaking to the participants, the Assistant Governor of URR, MS Kah, congratulated Gamcotrap for its continuos struggle to support the women of URR to pursue their development agenda.

Mr Kah observed that the community sensitisation undertaken by Gamcotrap is encouraging as it discourages many people from practising FGM. URR Assistant Governor Kah called on the participants be good role models for their communities.

Dilating on the objectives of the training, the Executive Director of Gamcotrap, Dr Isatou Touray, noted that the leadership undertaken by the ex-circumcisers and their communities to stop FGM set the pace for the wind of change highlighted by the dropping of knives at the Independence Stadium on May 5, last year.

Dr Touray noted that poverty is one of the factors that perpetuates the practice of FGM, saying that providing entrepreneurial skills to the ex-circumcisers will contribute to better management of their small income generating activities, thereby contributing to reducing poverty at the household level.

Mariama Jaw, councilor for Basse, called on women to use their leadership influence to discourage FGM and its effects on women and girls. Ms Jaw promised to advocate for the eradication of all harmful traditional practices affecting women and girls.

She then finally commended Gamcotrap for building confidence amongst women to effectively participate in community and national development.

In a separate development at the OSIWA-supported community sensitisation activity that gathered over 100 women from Giroba Kunda and surrounding villages in URR, Ms Jaw expressed the necessity for women to be encouraged to participate in political issues that will advance the course of women in society.

It was observed that women had always taken leadership at the household level to improve the welfare of the family and the community; however, it is important for women to extend that leadership role to the national level as part of the women’s empowerment process.

The sensitisation also included awareness creation on harmful traditional practices and sexual and reproductive health rights.

Meanwhile, URR Governor Omar Khan has commended Gamcotrap for its sustained engagement in the region and expressed optimism that his region will be the first FGM-free zone in The Gambia. He made these remarks during a courtesy call paid to him by the women.

A learned Islamic scholar in Basse, Saikou Fayinke, the Alkalo of Kaba Kama, Aja Fatou Danso, national women’s councilor, Aja Kumba Kora, were among several dignitaries who attended the activities.