By Sajor Camara,
Communication Officer
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, on Saturday officially opened the Third and Fourth Quarter National Women’s Council Meeting at Mansa Wally Lodge in Pakalinding, Lower River Region (LRR).
The four-day forum runs from 20th to 23rd December 2025 and brings together women councillors from across the country to review progress, share experiences, and strengthen collective efforts toward advancing women’s empowerment and development at the grassroots level.
The National Women’s Council meeting serves as a critical governance platform where elected women representatives from all regions deliberate on issues affecting women and offer policy guidance to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare.
This session, conducted in various local languages to promote inclusivity and full participation, reflects the Ministry’s continued commitment to ensuring that all Gambian women—regardless of literacy levels or background—have a voice in shaping national development priorities.
In her keynote address, Hon Kinteh commended the councillors for their dedication and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to strengthening women’s participation in national and local decision-making processes. She described the National Women’s Council as “the National Assembly of Gambian women,” underscoring its political and social relevance in driving the national gender agenda.
She further urged the delegates to approach the sessions with seriousness, focus, and unity of purpose. “This meeting must go beyond dialogue,” she emphasised, “it should lead to actionable recommendations and new strategies that will empower women, expand economic opportunities, and protect their rights across the country.”
Hon Kinteh also encouraged councillors to identify new grassroots initiatives that address the specific challenges faced by women in rural communities, especially in areas such as education, economic empowerment, political participation, and protection from gender-based violence.
Welcoming the participants, the Governor of the Lower River Region, Mr Seedy Lamin Bah, praised the Ministry for decentralising such an important national forum.
He described the Council meeting as an essential process for institutional dialogue and policy coordination, urging the women councillors to remain united and to promote the national interest above individual or regional considerations.
“Every woman leader gathered here represents a constituency of voices and hopes,” the Governor said.
“Your deliberations can inspire tangible change in the daily lives of Gambian women, particularly those in the rural areas who depend on your leadership.”
Speaking on behalf of the National Women’s Council leadership, Mrs Agie Saptieu Jaye, councillor deputising for both the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson, expressed deep appreciation to the Ministry for its consistency and responsiveness to the Council’s needs.
She noted that such platforms not only allow for meaningful exchange of views but also strengthen collaboration between the Council and the Ministry.
The LRR Regional Councillor and focal person, Mrs Mariama Darboe, also welcomed all delegates to the region, expressing delight that the local communities were pleased to host the important national event.
She reaffirmed the Lower River Region’s unwavering support for initiatives that promote women’s empowerment and national unity.
Over the coming days, the council meeting will review the implementation of key resolutions from the previous quarters, discuss emerging gender issues, and develop strategic recommendations to guide the Ministry’s future engagements with national and international partners.
