The courtesy visit by the UN top diplomat in The Gambia provided an opportunity for a face-to-face discussion with the leadership of The Point and opened avenues to explore a wide range of potential collaborations.
Mr Paul commended The Point for its objective reporting and for amplifying diverse Gambian voices. He acknowledged the newspaper’s courageous history in safeguarding democracy and human rights since its establishment in 1991, despite the challenges it has faced.
During the visit, the UN diplomat discussed potential collaboration on investigative journalism into development issues and partnerships to raise awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted SDGs that align closely with The Point’s editorial focus, including: SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions, SDG 5 – Gender equality, and SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities
Mr Paul also elaborated on opportunities for media training and capacity building to support journalists at different levels.
The UN top diplomat in the Gambia also expressed appreciation for The Point’s role as an accountability partner, while assuring his commitment to transparent and accessible communication with the media. He further reiterated his open-door policy for future engagement.
Welcoming the UN official, The Point’s Managing Director, Baba Hydara, expressed appreciation for the visit and emphasised the long-standing relationship between the newspaper and the United Nations. He underscored the importance of continued UN advertising support to strengthen the paper’s financial sustainability, particularly in this election year, and stressed the need for further journalist training.
Editor-in-Chief Bekai Njie echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of collaboration in covering UN programmes and providing training for journalists during the elections and post-election period.
