By Yunus S Saliu
As part of activities designed to mark the United Nations 75th years’ anniversary in The Gambia, the United Nations System in The Gambia has partnered with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to organize the UN75th Online Spoken Word Poetry and Painting Competition for the artists.
The organized competition is being done in partnership with the National Centre for Arts and Culture in partnership with the Writers’ Association of The Gambia (WAG) and the Virtual Arts Association of The Gambia (VAAG). And this presents a unique opportunity to share one’s vision of the future using the hashtag #TheGambiaWeWantToSeeIn2045.
Speaking on the preparations for the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the UN at the organized virtual press conference with the National Centre for Arts and Culture on Monday, Her Excellency Ms Seraphine Wakana, the Resident Coordinator of United Nations System in The Gambia disclosed that UN in The Gambia partnered with these organizations to support in gathering voices for the UN75 Dialogues to raise awareness among the population of UN activities and especially to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.
She disclosed that the online poetry slam/spoken word competition, which is currently underway on the topic – The Gambia We Want To See In 2045, is one such activity.
“The submissions received from this competition will prototype a new vision towards achieving the SDGs in The Gambia and better tackling today’s crisis,” she stated.
The aim of the UN, Ms Wakana says is to accompany the country in its journey towards implementing the people of The Gambia’s Vision for their country.
Such assistance, according to her, includes but not limited to supporting capacity strengthening of public institutions to deliver basic services to all people living in The Gambia; support to ensure the rights of children and women are recognized, promoted and protected. And as well support to ensure all Gambians have equitable access to health care services, both geographically and financially.
She elaborated on the ongoing discourse on the future role of the United Nations, the COVID-19 pandemic and The Gambia you would like to see in 2045, saying, “This global Covid-19 pandemic has revealed and amplified the challenges in all sectors in The Gambia.”
She noted that United Nations from onset of the pandemic has supported government’s response to tackle immediate health and non-health needs of the population articulated around two strategic priorities. “Contain of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and decrease morbidity and mortality and decrease the deterioration of human assets and rights, social cohesion and livelihoods,” she outlined them.
Ms Wakana assured that the role of partnerships to achieve results guided by the five UN programming principles of human rights-based approach of the SDG framework will continue to be pursued, while further assured of UN commitment to support the Gambia government.
Ms Wakana reiterated the UN commitment to support the Gambia government to consolidate the peace and development nexus for the achievement of the development agenda as envisaged in the NDP, UNDAF and the SDGS.
Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) thanked the United Nations System in The Gambia for partnering with them to mark UN 75th anniversary of the UN.
He noted the importance of the Online Spoken Word Poetry and Painting Competition. As parts of their efforts to support the creative industry especially amid the pandemic he said the competition will help to support the artists in different ranges.
He therefore urged contestants to meet up with the deadline date for submission, 20th September 2020 while the grand prize giving ceremony is slated for 25th September 2020.
Among other speakers, Mamat Sallah, Museum Director, gave an overview of the Painting Competition while Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe briefed the UN Resident Coordinator in The Gambia on the recently concluded nationwide tour conducted by the UN75 sensitization team and also dilated on the Spoken Word Poetry of the competition.