The
Kombo North Federation (KNF) affiliated to ChildFund The Gambia over the
weekend awarded 22 ex-board members, for the 2011-2013 and 2013-2016 batch, who
had successfully completed a three-year tenure of serving in the board of the
federation.
The
awardees were presented with certificates of appreciation at a ceremony held at
the KNF office in Banjulinding, Kombo North.
The
awardees: for the 2011 to 2013 ex-board members were Malang Jammeh, Mustapha
Kuyateh, Mamadi Kejera, Momodou Badjie, Ramatoulie Bah, Isatou Bojang, Nyima
Badjie, Adama Touray, Aja Tida Saidy and Manjai Nyang.
The
2013-2016 batch included Ebou Faal out-going board chairman, Ndegen Jobe,
Ismalia Kurubally, Kebba Bojang, Makaddy Badjie, Pa Jagne Darboe, Jainaba
Jarju, Fatou Badjie, Mariama Jallow, Isatou Konateh and Rose Faye
Speaking
at the award ceremony, the KNF Manager, Alieu Mendy, described the event as yet
another milestone in the history of the Kombo North Federation.
He
said this was the first of its kind for the federation to award certificates to
ex-board members as a token of appreciation for their voluntary services for
the past three years.
Mr
Mendy further said the ex-board members were worthy to be commended, and the
only way to do that was by awarding them certificates.
He
described the certificates as a very important and remarkable asset that they
could reflect on year-in-year-out, and their grandchild would actually know the
selfless services that they rendered to the federation for three years.
The
KNF Manager also called on the new board members to emulate the ex-board
members for their determination, commitment, sacrifice and devotion to the
federation for three years without pay.
He
urged the board members to redouble their voluntary services, and challenged
them to come up with a new discovery that would make the federation advance and
progress.
He
added that ex-board members suggested that they needed to establish ex-board
alumnae, and he supports the idea.
According
to him, one of their major challenges over the years was that the
beneficiaries, who are the deprived vulnerable children, are not corresponding
on their sponsorship effectively, and they are getting their support exclusive
from sponsorship.
Mr
Mendy urged the beneficiaries to be corresponding on their sponsorship by
writing appreciation letters and acknowledgement of their support, as that
would help for The Gambia to have more support from the sponsors.
He
said parents need to know that the sustainability of this sponsorship is based
on regular or constant communication with the sponsors.
About
the incoming federation board members, Mr Mendy said his first plan is to
conduct a board members training for a period of one week, and the training
would focus on the modality of being a board member, role and responsibilities
of a board member, what is the scope of a board member, what should they do to
become effective board members, to ensure that the staff are able to do their
work effectively, as well as what are the limitations of being a board member.
Mr
Mendy also challenged the staff to redouble their efforts, because there are
board members who are not paid and are serving voluntarily.
Also
speaking at the award ceremony, Ebou Faal, the out-going KNF chairman,
expressed delight to serve the federation to the best of his ability, at no
cost.
He
thanked the management and staff of the federation for their support and
cooperation with the board members.
Mamadi
Kijera, ex-board chairman for 2011-2013, also commended the federation for
awarding them certificates of appreciation, which they feel was a big
achievement and recognition of their selfless services to the communities.
Yaya
Manneh, the new incoming board chairman, expressed delight to have witnessed
the awarding of certificates to ex-board members, which was a source of
motivation, encouragement and support.
He
assured all to work hand in glove with the staff of the federation in a bid to
register some achievements.
University
of Abuja authorities seek collaboration with ECOWAS
Authorities
of the University of Abuja are seeking to collaborate with ECOWAS in a number
of areas of human development.
Specifically,
the university is also seeking to partner with ECOWAS and get needed support in
areas covering the enhancement of higher education and training; youth and
employment; and research and development.
Other
critical areas where cooperation is being sought in the mutual interest of both
parties are conflict prevention, peace and security; disease control;
agriculture; language immersion; as well as sharing of experiences with other
member states of ECOWAS.
These
disclosures were made in Abuja on the 4 August 2016 when the Vice Chancellor of
the University of Abuja Prof Michael U. Adikwu led a delegation of senior
officials of the institution on a visit to the ECOWAS Commissioner for
Education Science and Culture Prof. Hamidou BOLY.
The
university delegation noted that it was leveraging on the mandate as an institution
of learning and research to seek collaboration, partnership and support of
relevant institutions such as ECOWAS.
Commissioner
Boly and the ECOWAS team unfolded the likely areas of collaboration with the
University vis-a-vis the Vision and Mandate of ECOWAS. The areas were which
span a number of Departments of ECOWAS were identified as Research and
Development, popularization of research findings, Training and Human Capital
Development; data collection, analysis and publication.
Other
areas were listed as Regional Integration and interface with other
organizations and institutions, involvement of the university in subsequent
editions of scholarships and exchange of lecturers under the ECOWAS Nnamdi
AZIKIWE Academic Mobility Scheme (ENAAMS) as well as implementation of the
ECOWAS reference Manual on Education for the Culture of Peace and possibility
of alliance in the areas of human and financial resources.
Both
parties also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the end of
the deliberations to reinforce their relationship.
The
delegation from the University of Abuja comprised the deans of the faculties of
Agriculture, Education, Health Science, and Social Sciences.
Also
on the delegation of were some Heads of departments and a representative from
the National Universities Commission (NUC).