The event is sponsored by the Brikama Nema Diaspora Group (BRIND) and Brikama Nema Kabilo Development Association (NekDA). The celebration is set to be the first of its kind to happen in Brikama since independence.
Brikama Nema Diaspora Group is a community service organisation based in Madison, Wisconsin (USA) working in partnership with the community through Nema Kabilo Development Association (NekDA), a non-profit organisation established in The Gambia in November 2020. The group comprises residents from Brikama Nema living in various parts of the world with a single vision.
Also, the group has its vision to transform or improve the urban quality of life in Brikama Nema within 3 to 5-years by preserving and enhancing the quality of life that already makes it a great place to live, in partnership with individuals, businesses, agencies, and international organisations across the world.
However, there has been a twist of plan for Mayor Erica Gillum to attend the launch ceremony. She is the first black female mayor elected in Hempstead’s city in Texas. Her initial plan was to visit The Gambia to participate in the launch of the Annual Nema Day Celebration, but her trip was canceled due to city engagements.
In an interview with Mustapha Baba Drammeh, the Executive Director for Brikama Nema Diaspora Group (BRIND), he said the group has a mission to rehabilitate, build and modernise the urban infrastructure of Brikama Nema in collaboration with the community, local government authorities, businesses, and international stakeholders around the world.
He noted that their mission includes acquiring or transforming 166,000 square foot of existing infrastructure in Brikama Nema into a recreational center with programs for youth and women entrepreneurship.
He added that their mission also includes promoting the socio-economic wellbeing of youth and women in Brikama Nema through sports, recreation, and professional networking events as well as draw synergy from the Diaspora through advocacy and funding to support the development initiatives of Brikama Nema.
Drammeh mentioned that part of the objectives of the celebration was to raise awareness about the urban revitalisation project for Brikama Nema as well as to get more people involved to raise awareness on their efforts to transform the urban infrastructure of Brikama to a modern city. He noted that they are currently working in raising funds to acquire land to build a recreational center to serve not only Brikama but the entire West Coast Region.
