The Federation of Gambia Muslim Students Organization (FEGAMSO) and the Assembly of Gambia Muslim Youths (AGAMY) have been amalgamated and launched on Saturday 1st May 2021 as the Federation of Gambia Muslim Youth (FEGAMY).

The Secretary of the amalgamation committee who doubles as the deputy secretary general for the Organization, the Federation of Gambia Muslim Youth delivered the welcoming remark and gave a detailed background of the Federation of Gambia Muslim Youth.

“Considering the need for a vibrant Islamic Youth Organization that was to serve as an umbrella body for Muslim Youth Organizations in the Gambia. The two noticeable parallel organizations, Federation of Gambia Muslim Youth and the Assembly of Gambia Muslim Youth endeavor to represent Muslim Youth in this country. FEGAMSO was established in 1995 to serve the welfare of Muslim students through the length and breadth of the country. So as a student body, it has limitations.

Although it has registered significant achievements, but could not represent all Muslim Youths coupled with many stumbling blocks to stand as an effective organization. Ladies and gentlemen, due to the above mentioned, another organization, the Assembly of Gambia Muslim Youth was actually purposely formed in 2009 and formerly registered in 2010 at the AJ Chambers to support the Federation of Gambia Muslim Student Organization and include the non going school youths”.

Mariama Touray added that, “FEGAMSO became the student wing of AGAMY. So this strategy actually worked relatively well for many years. But in 2013, an idea of amalgamating the two organizations as one body to represent all Muslim youths in the Gambia was tabled and cherished. Although it’s achievable, but the process requires time and perseverance”.

Bakary Badjie, the Minister of Youth and Sports also on his launching speech expressed his delightfulness and  gratitude to be invited at the auspicious occasion in this blessed month of Ramadan to give the launching statement of the newly amalgamated FEGAMY.

“Youths have the lion’s share of the nation’s population and a fulcrum of its natural resources. Hence, the government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports attaches great concern and importance to their welfare as key driving force for peace and sustainable development. The amalgamation of these two great organizations, Federation of Gambia Muslim Students and the Assembly of Gambia Muslim Youth for a common objective is indeed plausible and historic. The organizations were household names in the country, and contributed immensely to uplifting morality and academic excellence for many youths in this country for many decades. The reality has been manifested among the membership in different auspicious walks of life. I must applaud you for putting aside your individual interests and create one entity that represents the common interest that all of you have. This is usually a very difficult action and sometimes impossible, especially in this part of the world where interests supersedes the common goal.”

He added that, “I hope the amalgamation would add value and substance to your previous achievement as unity, strength and reality of the world today requires such. FEGAMY without an iota of doubt, has what it takes to contribute it’s quota towards the development of this country. I said this because it’s membership comprises different expertise and professionals flanked with a high sense of morality. The government is committed to youth welfare, but providing the enabling environment in provisions of relevant, affordable and accessible education which requires skills acquisition for sustainable development.

This can only be maintained through peace which I believe will be the cornerstone in the activities and advocacy of FEGAMY moving forward. The Gambia, as a multi-faith society, requires high sense of tolerance, therefore, I humbly urged the FEGAMY to continue exercising religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence which apparently advocated and practised by the two amalgamated organizations. I believe you will continue the same spirit after today’s launching. As a national organization, I urge you to formally register under the national youth council, which is government body responsible for registration of all youth organizations without consideration of their backgrounds.

“The national youth council is established by an act assembly and its responsibilities include to oversee all youth organizations that operate in the Gambia, aside from the registration, it will enable you as an organization to benefit from the projects that the government through the Youth Council implements. This will also help you in our collaboration with the government through the ministry of Youth and Sports. Us as the Ministry perceives you as a close, relevant and reliable partners in youth matters and national development. The formation of FEGAMY will help in serving as an umbrella body for Muslim youth organizations in the Gambia. This is significant in positively shaping the holistic direction of the Muslim youth for better goal. With this brief statement, I have the pleasure and honor to declare the Federation of Gambia Muslim Youth(FEGAMY) officially launched on the 1st May 2021″. He concluded.

Abass Drammeh the president of mouvement Juste from Senegal said, youths should come together and work as one despite the challenges they’re confronted with.

The president of SIC Sheikh Essa Foday Darboe advised the Youth to be ‘unified’.  He said “unity is inline with the SIC policy because our objective is to bring all Muslims in the country under one umbrella”. Going further, he thanked the two organizations for coming together as a team  to unify their efforts for the interest of their fellow youths and Gambia  at large.

“We stand by you and In Shaa Allah will give you any advice that we deem important and we see you as our partners in the field of Da’wah too”.

Pa Samba Secka, the vice president gave a speech on behalf of the president who was unable to attend the event to unforeseen circumstances. He enormously thanked the representatives from Senegal under the leadership of Abass Drammeh, religious leaders and Members of AGAMY., ” This federation seeks to bring Muslim Youth in the Gambia. Our objective is bringing about mutual and partnership collaboration among Youth organizations in the Gambia which also includes promoting and propagating Islam in the Gambia as prescribed by the prophet Muhammad Pbuh”

He added that the FEGAMY comprises young vibrant Imams, teachers, lawyers, students, journalists, Economists, Nurses, Doctors, Civil and Mechanical engineers and public policy experts to name just a few, all of whom are under the age of 40.

 

By: Fatimah Sonko