Sohna Aji Fatou Bin Njie, an Islamic scholar and activist, is a retired civil servant. From 1965 to 1973 she passed different sectors of the civil service.

In a chat with Women’s Weekly, she revealed that she initially worked as a teacher at Campama Primary School. From there she proceeded to the Public Record Office as a typist in 1971 before being later appointed as a third grade clerk posted at the Judiciary Department.

From the Judiciary sector, she moved to the Agricultural Department where she was promoted to position Personal Assistant. In that capacity, she worked under the Information and Broadcasting Department in 1980.

As a dedicated Muslim, she pioneered the establishment of Zahra Foundation-The Gambia with the objective to enable Gambian women to learn for themselves the Holy Qu’ran and assist the children to be able to improve their skills in Koranic recitation. According to her, through their initiative mothers were able to open their children’s mind to the sense of responsibility and morality.  In other words, a viable society should necessarily be grounded in the principles of Islam.

She further outlined that knowledge is power. That’s why, she noted, building understanding of Islam through the creation of Darras will help in the attitudinal change of the society.

She went on to say that the deterioration of the society prompted her to participate in the dissemination of Islam so as to reverse the trend. As a result, she put up Darras in Kanifing South, Lamin village, Latrikunda Sabiji, Old Yundum, Mandinaba, Brikama and Fula Kunda. She noted that the Foundation’s mission is to reach the whole country.

Conscious of the fact that by increasing knowledge and understanding of Islam, she indicated that exemplary way of live based on Islamic principles and beliefs can participate in the socio-economic development of the country.

To achieve these objectives, she added, a variety of activities geared to consolidate the work that is being done in the Darras. One of the annual activities is the traditional recitation of the Holy Qur’an held periodically and which is normally attended by several people including Islamic scholars, parents, friends and relatives.

Mrs Njie also seized the opportunity to draw people’s attention to not ignore the Qur’an. She then called on all Muslims to  make a point of duty to learn and understand the Holy Qur’an.