Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah Barrow officially launched the Sustainable Empowerment Skills Training Initiative for Women and Youth in The Gambia at the International Award Scheme on Tuesday 5 August 2025 in celebration of her birthday.
Delivering her statement, the First Lady emphasised that she did not wish her birthday be merely a fanfare but a day to make a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable people in society. As part of this commitment, she donated 21 laptops to young people and a full education package to a duo of young TikTok influencers known as The Fatoumattas, as a gesture to empower and support Gambian youth.
The grand launch featured the unveiling of several flagship programs: Waste to Wealth Program, Turning waste materials into marketable products, Urban Farming Initiative, Promoting food security and sustainable livelihoods through innovative agricultural practices, and Master of Business on the Street (MBS) – providing entrepreneurship and financial literacy training tailored for street-smart youth.
Zainab Muhammed, a gender financial inclusion economic sovereignty advocate, Pan-African strategist and chief ambassador from Nigeria, said the initiatives align with the First Lady’s vision for empowering women and youth and contributing to national development, particularly in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She commended the first lady for having the foresight to bring the training to Gambians.
The groundbreaking event was attended by several high-ranking government officials, highlighting the significance of the initiative. Distinguished attendees included Hon. Fatou Kinteh – Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Dr Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Broadcasting, and Media, Hon. Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture, and Hon. Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. Their presence underscored the government’s commitment to addressing youth unemployment, women underemployment, and environmental sustainability.
Youth unemployment and underemployment of women remain critical challenges in The Gambia. Furthermore, rapid urbanization, inadequate waste management, and food insecurity continue to increase social and economic vulnerabilities.
This initiative seeks to address these challenges through skills-based and practical training programs that promote self-reliance, innovation, and inclusive growth.
On behalf of the family, Mamudou Barrow, son of the First Lady, extended heartfelt congratulations, describing his mother as a woman with a big heart, a strong pillar in society, and someone who truly cares for everyone.
Hon. Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, expressed her deep appreciation to the First Lady for launching the initiative, reaffirming her belief in women empowerment as a pathway to economic independence, social progress, and political participation.
“When a woman is empowered, the whole nation is empowered,” she stated. She further highlighted that the training programs would focus on market-relevant skills and equip participants to become self-reliant contributors to national development.
She indicated that the initiative aims to equip women and youth with practical, income-generating skills, promote environmental sustainability through waste transformation, enhance urban food production to address nutrition and food insecurity, foster entrepreneurial thinking and financial independence, and support community resilience and national economic development.
Speaking at the launch, Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture, noted that the training would instill discipline in youth and create meaningful employment opportunities.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s strong support for urban agriculture, citing the establishment of a dedicated Urban Agriculture Department. “The Ministry will work closely with the FABB Foundation to promote home gardening, with the aim of enabling every household to produce at least something for consumption or sale,” he said.
Betty Saine, CEO of FABB Foundation, welcomed participants and described the First Lady’s birthday as “a birthday with a difference”. She encouraged all participants to take the training seriously.
Momodou A. Drammeh, Board Chair of FABB Foundation, noted that significant resources had been invested into the training initiative.
He urged Gambians to take full advantage of the opportunity to empower themselves and earn a decent livelihood.
