The new community radio station dubbed ‘Kuntuar Community Radio’ was funded by UNICIEF.
Officials said these developments come following a request made by Kuntuar Area Council (KAC) for UNICEF to support them with a community radio.
The new radio station, they added, will be promoting the development initiatives within the region and also on child rights issues.
UNICEF, officials further said, will also be paying reporters salaries for the period of one year.
Nafisa Binte Shafique, the UNICEF country representative who was speaking at the opening ceremony, said: “As we handover this radio station, it will be of immense value if good corporate governance, accountability measures, sustainability plan and Child Rights and adolescents' programmes are built into the structure so that it becomes a truly community led and owned investment.”
She added: “UNICEF envisage a return on investment through increased awareness, understanding and observance of child rights in the community; increased enrolment, retention completion of school especially by the girl child; reduction of child and maternal morbidity and mortality; access to water, sanitation and hygiene; elimination of harmful practices and violence against children, among others.”
“We believe the radio station being a critical partner in development, will complement advocacy efforts on child rights through regular and strong programmes as information is power,” she emphasised.
Ousman Bah, regional governor of CRR, said: “CRR remains a crucial region in the country's development priority. Therefore, I want to sincerely thank UNICEF for its continuous commitment, interest and interventions in supporting the children of this country, in relation to child rights and as enshrined in the provisions of the Children's Act of The Gambia.”
“It is of no doubt that, this community radio will play an integral role in both the promotion and actualization of child rights, and contribute to a wider scope of social and economic outcomes.”
The UNICEF MICS Report, he said, has highlighted relevant indicators relating to children's rights, welfare, and development.
According to him, in most of these indicators, CRR North is mainly in need of development investments in order to help in reducing the current existing gaps as compared to other parts of the country.
Saihou Jawara, the Chairperson of KAC, spoke at length on the significance of the radio station in the region.
Chairman Jawara assured of the council support and guidance in their quest in making the radio station the best in the country.
The Kuntuar Community radio, he continued, would be overseen by a management committee which will be managing and coordinating the activities of the radio.
“The Radio Programs that will be developed will have a significant role in promoting child rights, enhancing social accountability, development of sector public interactions, awareness raising, social and behavioral change communications, and gender transformative actions.”
Mr Ebrima Sisawo, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Lands and Local Government, urged the management of the radio station to be mindful of the content they air in the radio.
“The program should be child and community friendly and the radio should be treated like everyone’s own in order to ensure it sustainability,” he advised.
