Brikama South MP receives prestigious Global Humanitarian Award

Photo: The Prestigious Award

The Member of Parliament for Brikama South, Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh was Sunday awarded with the prestigious Global Humanitarian Award by the World Humanitarian Drive (WHD) for his “selfless contribution to humanity”.

WHD is a global organization that promotes humanity towards peace, understanding, and harmony, and inspires people to promote peace through all available positive mediums such as education, sports, arts, trade, and media around the world.

At a virtual ceremony Sunday, WHD recognised one hundred people across the world, including Honourable Sanneh dubbed Stars of Covid, for their contributions in the fight against Covid 19. WHD founder Dr. Abdul Basit Syed

 “STARS OF COVID”, is considered as part of an initiative by WHD founder Dr. Abdul Basit Syed said the award was to show gratitude and honour courageous volunteers contributing to the betterment of humanity, especially during this crisis of Covid-19.

“We decided to appreciate those unsung heroes of humanity and bring them to the limelight. We often forget to say thank you or acknowledge those who have always been contributing to the betterment of humanity especially during this crisis of COVID-19”, he said.

Photo: Honorable Ceesay with a Philanthropists

Since the outbreak of the Covid 19, Honourable Sanneh, a social worker for many years has been leading the fight against the pandemic in his constituency, using community-based initiatives to sensitize and empower his people against it.

This year, WHD received more than 1,600 nominations from all seven continents and 52 countries. The shortlist of the award includes 550 projects. 100 projects from 35 countries, including nominees from Russia, India, and South Africa, are shortlisted. Winners were awarded in twelve categories including Excellence in Medical Service, Education, and Research, Politics, Public Service, Media Service, Business, Innovation, and Research, Social Welfare, Nature Preservation, Charity, Social Work, and Entertainment Service.

Reacting to the award, Honorable Sanneh expressed great pleasure and honor to be among the winners of the Global Humanitarian Awards from World Humanitarian Drive.

“On my own behalf, my entire family, my constituency Brikama South and the Gambia at large, I want to sincerely thank World Humanitarian Drive for the gesture and the initiative,  I, therefore, challenge sister institutions around the world to emulate (WHD). The gesture is encouraging me more and it is also increasing my commitment yawning for more Awards in the future.

Photo: Donated Items

Since declaration of covid 19 as a Global pandemic by WHO, my institution the National Assembly of The Gambia declared a State of Public Emergency after which I was involved in numerous activities as a containment strategy of covid 19 ranging from radio sensitization, provision of sanitizers, face masks, hand washing materials and closure of our borders as my constituency is a border community.”

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place later this year at a location to be determined by the WHD. https://youtu.be/ZTbrO8wfr40

NISAF Championship Set For Tomorrow

Photo: Ousman Kebbeh talking to the press.

By Ousman A. Marong

The National Inter-School Athletics Championship (NISAF) for the year 2020 Season is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday 13 March, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

This year’s championship will witness 71 schools battling for a trophy worth, One Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D100, 000) for Senior Secondary Schools and Fifty Thousand Dalasi (D50, 000) for Junior Secondary Schools respectively.

The seventy-one Schools across the county will be competing in the national inter-schools’ athletics championship. The duo categories will have their competition kick-off on Friday the 13 to Sunday 15 and the entire race would be held at the Independent Stadium in Bakau.

The Senior Secondary Schools will be robbing shoulders in battling out for the D100, 000 dalasi cash price and a trophy while the junior category too would be competing for the 50,000 dalasi and a trophy as well.

This year’s annual inter-schools championship would mark 40-years of existence that seeks to module school-going children to acquire varieties of requisite skills in their cost of stay while attending lower Basic education.

Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, Mr. Ousman Kebbeh, Acting President of The Gambia, Athletics, Sports Committee said:

“We are trying to introduce the modern standard form [of rules] to the kids so that they can be used to it by starting from the formation, regulation, and awards will all be in standard form.

There is a massive improvement in this year’s competition and we are trying to make sure it’s up to international level such that people will be aware,” he explained.

He revealed that they (Gambia athletes’ sports committee) are in consultation with the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in facilitating the security of this year’s event.

He warned schools and Physical Education (PE) teachers in the use of unqualified athletes saying anyone found wanting would be dealt with accordingly.