The purpose of the meeting was to undertake a critical post-mortem of the 2014 high level women’s conference and elaborate on the successes and challenges of the organisation in the weeklong event.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the chairperson of the National Women’s Council, Fatou Mbye, expressed her appreciation to President Jammeh for his efforts in empowering Gambian women and girls.
She noted that the 2014 conference on International Women’s Day celebration on the theme ”Pan-Africanisim and African Renaissance in the Coontext of Gender and Empowerment of Women and Youth” has provided opportunity to discuss and find a common ground on strategies for the empowerment of women and girls.
In her opening remarks, Mrs Aminata Sifai Hydara-Bojang, the governor of West Coast Region, reiterated the significance of the council’s meeting and thanked Allah for her appointment as the first female governor in the history of The Gambia. She noted that in 400 years of British colonial rule and 30 years of PPP rule, a woman had never been appointed governor.
She further called on women leaders to consolidate efforts in supporting the president’s initiative on 2016 food self-sufficiency.
By Isatou Jawara
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