At its National Achievement Award Gala Dinner amidst standby comedy held at Pencha Mi Hall in Senegambia Friday night, AWOL awarded exemplary Gambians and other personalities in such fields and disciplines as governance, law, peace and conflict, security, human rights, media, business and entrepreneurship, music, drama, and social works and services.
The awardees included former CDS Yankuba Drammeh, Managing Director Essa Wally, veteran politician Hon. Halifa Babucarr Sallah, National Assembly Member for Talingding Kujang - Hon. Fatoumatta K. Jawara, Mrs Tabou Njie-Sarr of ActionAid Gambia, Mr Frederick Bowen-John - Director of West African Insurance Institute (WAII), Mr Ibrahim M. Koroma of TK Motors, Mr Edward Sesay – Proprietor & CEO of Wordsley Junior and Secondary School, Africell Gambia Limited, National Petroleum (NP), Gambia Ports Authority staff, Bloom Bank Africa (Gambia) Limited, Global Properties, PaviFort Construction Company, Limba Development Association, Voice Of The Voiceless Organisation, Sisters for Life Organisation, Ms Vivat Sharpe, Osman Kargbo - deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Point Newspaper, and other eminent individuals for their services and contributions to the development of nation-building and the people.
AWOL, a people-centred apolitical organisation, observes, researches, and takes note of the performance, contribution and quality service individuals and organisations render to society.
AWOL-Gambia is non-governmental, and charity cultural organisation registered with the National Council for Arts and Culture and with the Office of the Registrar under the Company Act 2013. Its membership comprises Sierra Leoneans and Gambians from various walks of life who share common aspirations to genuinely contribute to the development of humanity.
AWOL specifically promotes unity, development, teamwork, and strong work ethics in order to encourage professionalism and build capacities as enshrined in the organisation’s philosophy of “giving back to communities”.
Over the years, AWOL-Gambia has donated humanitarian relief to refugees in Basse, to schoolchildren and other communities in The Gambia.
The AWOL-Gambia National Awards is an annual event that honours deserving individuals and organisations that contribute their time, talents and treasure to society for the common good. The award also aims at promoting excellence, hard work and diligence in public and private service.
“This event is a stepping stone in the right direction for youth development in The Gambia as a policy enshrined in the Government’s blueprint for youth development,” said Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia, Seedy S.K. Njie.
He stated further: “If you are doing extremely well in your small corner, note that someone in another corner is watching you; so, at the end, you will be rewarded for your good deeds and for excellent work.”
He applauded the AWOL-Gambia awards event, saying: “This is an initiative that government will support to award youth in development and to promote hard work and excellence.”
In his keynote address on the occasion, former Defence Chief of the Gambia Armed Forces Lt. General Yankuba Drammeh, spoke on peace and security. He advised the people of Sierra Leone on the need for peace and unity, considering the volatile political situation in the country.
“The recent impasse last month was uncalled for and peace is what we need in Sierra Leone and the West African sub-region,” he admonished, saying: “I was part of the West African contingent in ECOMOG and personnel in-charge of the disarmament process of combatants in the Northern part of Sierra Leone, precisely Kambia, and I saw the nakedness of a war-ravaged country. And we don’t want it to happen again; so, let’s give peace a chance.”
For his part, veteran politician and prolific writer Halifa Sallah said he was highly touched and moved by the programme and event. “When I was coming to witness this occasion, I was with mixed-feelings that it is just a programme to boost the organizers. But I was disappointed by the way the organisers planned this auspicious occasion, and the types of personalities that were awarded for their hard work and diligence, including awards to young people. It is promotion of excellence of deserving individuals in the society and the community.”
“We decided to come up with this National Awards because we belong to the school of thought that says recognize and respect the individual who sacrifices for others,” AWOL-Gambia’s President Gibril M. Kanu aka Alhaji Naira, says. “That is why we researched, observed, assessed and decided to come up with these special personalities tonight to honour their service and genuine and selfless contributions to the development of our people.”
He also says the relations between Sierra Leone and The Gambia dates back to the colonial era, as the two sister countries share the same socio-cultural and traditional backgrounds, including religions, commerce and names. “Our educational and diplomatic ties are cemented ever since,” he affirmed.
Mr Kanu said the AWOL-Gambia National Achievement Award “programme is here to stay”, while recognising the founding father of AWOL-Gambia, Mr Adolphus Sawyer.
AWOL-Gambia’s Chairman Mohamed Legaly-Cole said in his closing remarks that AWOL is an institution of professionals that focus on promoting professionalism, unity and development.
Moderated by a seasoned journalist Malick Jones and designer Emma Cecilia Kamara the occasion brought together people from all walks of life and various nationalities from Africa and beyond, including business moguls, lawyers, doctors, bankers and insurers.
