A
third-year-student at the School of Journalism and Digital Media of the
University of The Gambia has been unanimously elected as the new president of
the Journalism Students’ Association (JSA).
Malick
Mboob was elected at the second elective congress of the association held on
Wednesday at the auditorium of the UTG Law Faculty in Kanifing.
He
was elected president alongside six other executive members to steer the
affairs of JSA for the next year.
Other
executive members are Musa Baldeh, vice president; Rohey Jatta, secretary
general; Sise Sawaneh, assistant secretary; Kaddijatou Bokun, treasurer; Isatou
Keita, auditor, and Fatou Jeng, information and public relations officer. They replaced the Karaboulie Conteh-led
executive.
In
his acceptance speech, the new president expressed appreciation to students on
behalf of the executive for electing them to office.
Mr
Mboob, who is widely hailed for his experience and inter-personal relationships
with students, lecturers and the public, said among the top priorities of his
executive is to revive JSA to make it functional and responsive to the needs
and aspirations of members.
“Since the formation of the association on 18
February 2016, not much has been achieved,” he said.
“This
is why one of our first priorities will be to make it vibrant within a very
short period so that other schools within the university will acknowledge our
presence and work with us for a mutual beneficial relationship.”
The
new president also promised to work closely with the UTG Students’ Union and
other sub-associations within the university.
Beyond
the campus of the university, the president said he and his team are poised to
work closely with the Gambia Press Union by making the JSA affiliated with the
union for a harmonious relationship.
Mr
Mbbob said his executive would establish links with counterpart associations
within universities in the sub-region so as to share best practices and
encourage educational visits.
“This
will greatly enhance our scope in this discipline as the journalism course is
harmonised in universities within the Ecowas sub-region,” he said.
Malick
Mboob is a former reporter of the Daily Observer newspaper; he rose through the
ranks to News Editor and State House correspondent. He is currently the unit head of multilateral
and international desk at GTBank Gambia.
Mr
Mboob and his executive face an enormous task of reviving JSA to make it
vibrant and relevant.