Africa-Press – Gambia. The Young Women Media and Information Literacy (YoMIL) Project successfully hosted the first-ever National Women in Media Summit on Friday at a local hotel in Kololi. The event, organized under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Young Women Redefining Media in The Gambia,” brought together aspiring and established female journalists from across the country to celebrate and strengthen the role of women in media.
The initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Agency for Open Culture and implemented by the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC).
In his opening remarks, James Badjie, Director of Training at MAJaC, highlighted the vision behind the initiative.
“To confront the legacy of censorship and exclusion and to ensure that the voices of young women are no longer missing from our national discourse. It began as a mission to empower women to be informed, ethical, visible, and fearless,” he said.
Nyima Jadama, the initiator and content lead of the YoMIL project, described the summit as the beginning of a powerful movement centered on media literacy and the empowerment of young women.
“It is the beginning of a collective that recognizes the power of young women in shaping narratives, transforming communities, and challenging inequalities through the lens of media and information literacy. Our stories matter; our voices—as women in the media, we have the power to inform, empower, and ignite change,” She Said.
A representative from the German Embassy in Banjul lauded the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward deepening democratic values in The Gambia.
“The German government is proud to exactly support these kinds of initiatives that empower people to play an active part in strengthening democracy through media. These people that I’m talking about are not just any people, but these are the women of and in the Gambia,” she said.
Isatou Keita, President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), called the summit both timely and essential, aligning with the GPU’s mission to foster a new generation of ethical and empowered female journalists. “It is an idea that speaks in the heart of what we stand for as a union and as a community of media professionals. Young people, particularly young women, must be given the tools, the space, and the voice to shape the future of journalism and public discourse in The Gambia,” she said.
The Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, underscored the growing leadership of women in The Gambia’s media landscape.
“While I was sitting here listening to all these speeches, it just dawned on me that four of the most powerful media houses in the country are owned by Women. Kerr Fatou, Fatu Network, PYFC, and VOD are owned by women. It means that you are leading,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay further emphasized the transformative power of media and the pivotal role women play in shaping public narratives.
“Media has the power to inform, but it does not only inform, it also educates, it also inspires change,” he said.
The summit featured panel discussions, interactive sessions, and live entertainment, marking a milestone in the journey to elevate and support young women in the Gambian media sector.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
