May I begin by expressing my sincere condolence to all family members, the sporting fraternity and former students of Nusrat Senior Secondary School, present  students and staff, on the demise of Fatou Bakary Kumba Mbye.

The late Fatou Bakary Kumba Mbye is not only a colleague in the media fraternity but was also a close sister and a friend. Fatou and I were admitted the same year at Nusrat Senior Secondary School in September, 1998; we shared the same classroom for three good years. She was a good Muslim who loved helping and sharing with her colleagues. She was a very strong member of Nusrat Student Welfare Association (NUSWA) and the press club. Fatou?s days at Nusrat were very great, especially when presenting news at the assembly to keep students updated on the current issues happening within and outside The Gambia. Her death has dealt a severe blow to me.

She was also a great leader who served as an assistant head girl of the school from 2000 to 2001 academic year. Because of her talent and openness to people, BK Mbye won the students? admiration which gave her a landslide victory at the school election to eventually  become the head girl of the school.

She was part of the executive of most of the clubs she belonged to, like the Commerce Club, Peer Health; to name but a few. She was also among the editorial board of Nusrat Press Club. BK Mbye, as we did call her at school, always liked socializing with students and even teachers admired her because of her respect for elders and her  peers; I have never seen her in an angry mood, neither exchanging harsh words with people.

I remember one day at school; I said to her BK, why didn?t you like moving with girls of your age?  She looked at me and laughed. ?You see MS, girls are too problematic and they always like quarrelling over petty things and discussing issues which have no value to their life and as for me I don?t like such; so I prefer moving with boys who are problem-free?. Muhammed Trawally was her best friend in class and they shared the same desk with Fana Nyassi who she funnily called Okidia and called me Basanta.

BK was a very intelligent woman and our class teacher, Tailor, who also doubles as our Literature teacher liked her so much because of her reading skills. I remember once when at school during the Literature classes, Tailor would just enter the class and say BK where are we. She will start reading the novel with her nice voice. She was also an athlete at school. Fatou?s closest friend was her father. They were always together especially at sports functions and even at home you would found them sitting together discussing sports more often football.  Fatou's favorite team was Arsenal. Before her untimely death on Saturday the 31st of October, 2009 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Banjul, BK was the Treasurer of Sukuta Youth and Sports Association (SYSA).

Fatou was very supportive to her family especially to her brothers: Abdoulie and Papis. Immediately after completing school, Fatou desired to look for a job in a bid to contribute her quota in the welfare of her family. She was the first born of the family. Though a woman; she has a male heart; she had always liked helping her father and mother in the up keep of the family.

She was really a promising woman until her untimely demise. You are gone but your memories still remain with us and we pray that Allah the Almighty will find a successor for you to replace the vacuum left in your family. I will miss her so much.  May Allah the Almighty grant you eternal rest and peace and all other departed souls. Amen.