Pierre Jallow, a renowned Gambian basketball player and founder of the Scholar Athletes for Change (SAC) Tuesday called on the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy at her office at State House in Banjul.

The prolific basketball sensation was accompanied to State House by some officials of SAC, the minister of Youth and Sports, Sheriff Gomez and senior officials of the National Sports Council (NSC). Established two years ago, SAC is a non-profit organisation that helps and promotes education through sports and has a board of directors both in The Gambia and Finland.

Speaking to reporters shortly after meeting the vice president, Pierre Jallow disclosed that they organised a basketball camp last year, saying they were fortunate enough to meet the vice president and discuss with her some strategic plans on the different projects that they have embarked on.  "This year, we were fortunate as well, since we have just completed our four-day basketball camp and added a PE teachers and coaching training seminar. So we are here to brief her on what we have been able to accomplish so far," he said, while emphasising that the vice president's reaction to their visit was very positive.

He further explained that VP Njie-Saidy first reiterated the importance of youths and for them (SAC) being able to bring out projects that are not only basketball skills but also life skills. Commenting on the recently concluded basketball tourney for youths, Jallow said  that the rationale behind the initiative was to expose the youths to basketball skills as well as equip them with the necessary fundamentals in the game. "Yes, basketball is important but not as important as education and you have to be able to balance both of them, because a sound mind needs a sound body. We look for the holistic development of the individual and as Gambians, we are very blessed with talents," he posited.

He hinted that they intend to embark on similar initiatives each year, to be able to teach the youths proper skills, and that they want to built partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and other ministries, as well as stakeholders. He emphasised that the participation of the private sector in their project is important for their growth and development. "We hope that all parties concerned will be able to bring our heads together to help the young people as youths are the future leaders of any county," he concluded.

NAMs Select Committee on Environment
In another engagement, Vice President Njie-Saidy also received the members of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment accompanied by the director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Essa Khan. The parliamentarians were at State House to express gratitude and appreciation to the vice president for the timely response of the agency in the recent floods that devastated some parts of the Upper River Region (URR) and Central River Region (CRR) as well as other parts of the country.

Speaking to reporters shortly after a close-door session, Netty Baldeh, the National Assembly member for Tumana Constituency, who also doubles as the chairman of the National Assembly Select Committee on Environment, told reporters that they also used the opportunity to encourage the vice president and team to work hard in a bid to tackle any emergency floods in future. "We are expecting heavy rains this year in URR, WR and other parts of the country. So, we are just pre-empting what could happen. So that?s why we are here to thank the vice president as the chairperson of the committee as well as to encourage and support them in this venture," he added.

He explained that at the moment they want to partner with the NDMA, which is the body set up by parliament to address issues relating to emergency response and floods. "We as the parliamentarians body on environment, our role is to give them information as well as suggest to them what they can do. And we have even started working on that. One of the major areas we think they can improve on is feasibility study. Until you educate the people, if not you will always have disaster on a regular basis," he said.

Baldeh recalled that a couple of weeks ago, NDMA officials were in the provinces to render support in form of distributing clothes and some food items as well medicines to flood victims. He added that they were able to respond to those victims rapidly, something he said they need to be commended for. He admitted that the total number of communities affected during the recent floods could not be ascertained at the moment, unless the team from the vice president's office completes its assessment tour of the places affected by the floods.