By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Honourable Fatou Kinteh, on Saturday, presided over the inauguration ceremony of the Aja Bintou Saho Memorial Day Care Center and Children Playground Kinteh Kunda Janneh Ya at Lower Badibou in the North Bank Region (NBR).
The center and playground were sponsored and named by Alhaji Lang K Conteh, son of Aja Bintou Saho.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by the Gambia First Lady, Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow with five other ministers including Minister of Gender, Social and Children Affairs – Hon Fatou Sanyang Kinteh, Minister of Works and Infrastructure – Ebrima Sillah, Minister of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines – Hon. Nani Juwara, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy – Hon. Lamin Jabbie, and Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs – Hon. Seedy Keita.
In her inaugural speech, Hon. Minister Fatou Sanyang Kinteh thanked the sponsor for complementing government efforts to promote the welfare of children and women. She said the project would serve as a legacy in memory of the late Aja Bintou Saho and also promote early childhood development education and provide an opportunity for breastfeeding mothers to focus on production and other economic activities.
Alhajie Lang K Conteh who had sponsored the facilities underscored the importance attached to dedicating to the blessed memory of his late mother Aja Bintou Saho, saying, for her devotion and selflessness in serving humanity.
The project is a life-changing initiative for the children of Kinteh Kunda Janneh Ya as the place will serve as a second home for children and support nursing mothers to use the facility.
“The daycare center is more than just a facility, it will serve as a second home, a place where children will be nurtured, educated, and prepared for a lifetime of learning growth with a safe and supportive environment for nursing mothers to leave their children and continue on their daily works,” he emphasized.
Physical activity and play are essential for the childhood of mind, the playground is a place for joy and creativity and learning more human values, such as teamwork and resilience through play, he noted.
More so, he said the center symbolizes progress and hopes by investing in the future of the community and taking ownership of the facility.
He, therefore, thanked the government of President Adama Barrow for creating a conducive opportunity for private citizens to contribute to economic development while promising continued support to less privileged children in the society to pursue their educational dreams, build mosques, boreholes, and also to the construction of Alhaji Kemo Conteh Memorial Children’s Ward in Kerewan Health Centre.
First Lady Madam Fatoumata Bah Barrow lauded the efforts of Lang K Conteh for his humanitarian services to society. She said the daycare center and playground would serve as a sanctuary for nursing mothers and promote the health of children.
Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow however, thanked residents for their support towards the project to bring about sustainable development.
Dr. Burama LJ Jammeh, Project Coordinator described the event as historic, reiterated that the project cost D2.2 million and aimed at preserving the legacy of Aja Bintou Saho for her contribution to humanity.
He urged everyone to promote unity, reconcile, put aside politics, and work for the development of their communities and society while cautioning people from allowing party color to divide them, but to put development above politics.
Governor Lamin Saidykhan thanked Lang K Conteh for his immense contribution to complementing government development efforts. He stated that the construction of daycare and playgrounds for children is a good example of complementing government efforts in promoting childhood development and protecting children.
