Africa-Press – Gambia. Yonna Group, a major player in The Gambia’s private sector, held an end-of-year staff retreat and awards ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, bringing together employees, executives, and business leaders to mark a year of expansion and to recognize staff contributions. The event took place at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center.
The ceremony focused on honoring employees whose work, executives said, had helped drive the company’s growth across its diverse business lines. Yonna Group operates six subsidiaries: Yonna Islamic Microfinance, Yonna Forex Bureau, Yonna Islamic Insurance, Yonna Wallet, Yonna Enterprise, and Yonna Agribusiness.
In remarks to staff, Yankuba Mambureh, managing director of Yonna Islamic Microfinance, said the company’s progress was rooted in customer service and collaboration across departments. He pointed to the group’s expansion into financial services, digital payments, insurance, and agribusiness as evidence of that collective effort.
“It is both an honor and a responsibility for me to stand before you here today,” he said. “End of year is not just a date on the calendar. The end of the year gives us the opportunity to pause and look back to see how far we have come. It also gives us the opportunity to pause and look ahead with clarity, with courage and conviction”, he said.
He credited employees across all levels of the organization — from front-line staff to senior management — for the company’s performance over the past year.
“I want to thank all of you from every area of our group, whether you are in the front office, whether you are in customer service, in finance, operations, risk, human resources, management level, or leadership. I want to thank you all because without your efforts we wouldn’t have been here today”, Mambureh said.
The board chair of Yonna Group, Muhammed Manjang, highlighted the scale of the company’s workforce, noting that it now employs more than 600 people nationwide.
“Today, Yonna Group employs over 600 people, 600 families whose lives are touched by the work we do together. 600 stories of hope, ambition, and dedication”, he said.
Mr. Manjang added that the group’s achievements could not be measured solely in financial terms. Reflecting on 2025, he said he was most proud of the company’s internal culture and its commitment to values, faith, and employee welfare.
“The true measure of success is really, this year as I reflect on 2025, I am not most proud of our financial achievements, or our expanded portfolio. I am most proud of what we have become. A company that remembers its roots, honors its faith, and uplifts its people.”
The event also drew remarks from Njundu Fatty, president of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who described Yonna Group as an example of the potential of Gambian-owned enterprises.
“We are not here merely to hand over awards, we are gathering to honor efforts, to celebrate excellence, and to affirm belief in enterprise, believe in people, and believe in the promise of the Gambian private sector”, he said.
From the chamber’s perspective, he added, companies like Yonna play a central role in national development by creating jobs and supporting livelihoods.
The ceremony was attended by Yonna Group’s chief executive, Sheriffo Touray, senior management officials, business stakeholders, and a representative of the Inspector General of Police.
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