His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, on Tuesday, 15 July received two significant courtesy visits at State House from Smile Nation Foundation and the UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Nafisa Shafique.
The high-level engagements centered on strengthening partnerships in child welfare, education, talent
development, and youth empowerment. Both visits served as platforms to reinforce collaborative
efforts aimed at enhancing the well-being of children and young people across the country.
In his remarks, Vice President Jallow commended both organizations for their ongoing dedication to
advancing the rights and development of children in The Gambia. He reaffirmed the government’s
unwavering commitment to supporting initiatives that prioritize the nation’s youth.
As part of the visit, VP Jallow also extended his best wishes to the team from Cado Gambia, who are set
to represent the country at an international talent competition in Russia next month. “Your participation is a source of pride for the entire nation,” the Vice President noted. “We are confident you will raise the Gambian flag high.”
Mr. Mbye Bittaye, an executive member of Cado, expressed appreciation for the government’s support,
saying, “We are here to seek the blessings of our leadership before traveling. With the right support and
preparation, we believe we can make the country proud.”
Also speaking at the event, renowned visual artist and Cado member Mr. Lamin Secka emphasized the
need for greater investment in the creative sector. “We are ambassadors of our country,” he said, “and
we need the support to shine globally.”
UNICEF Country Representative Ms. Shafique provided updates on The Gambia’s progress in advancing
child rights and praised VP Jallow for his instrumental role in developing the national child rights report.
She called for increased domestic investment in child nutrition and immunization, highlighting that over 54% of the Gambian population is under the age of 19.