By: Dawda .M. Jallow
An official lunch was held on Friday at Bakadaji Hotel to mark the ‘Empowering Women Journalists Media Summit 2025,’ spotlighting the achievements and on-going challenges faced by women in The Gambia’s media sector.
Hon. Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, opened the event by reaffirming the government’s commitment to gender equity in media. “Our pledge must go beyond words. It must be reflected in policies, leadership opportunities, and creating an enabling environment that amplifies women’s voices,” Dr. Ceesay said.
He emphasized the critical role media plays not only informing the public but educating and inspiring social change. “For too long, women’s voices in media have been underrepresented, despite their essential contributions,” he added.
The minister acknowledged on-going efforts to reform restrictive laws, improve press freedom, and expand access to training and mentorship. “We are working with media houses, especially the Gambia Press Union, to promote gender equity in leadership roles,” he said.
James Badjie, Director of Training at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJAC), praised the summit as a landmark moment for Gambian women journalists. He highlighted YOMIL (Young Women in Media and Information Literacy), a nine-month initiative that has trained 280 young women nationwide in media law, ethics, digital skills, and feminism.
“This project began as a promise to close the gender gap in media and to empower women to be informed, ethical, visible, and fearless,” Badjie said. He thanked the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and other partners for their support.
Special recognition was given to Mrs. Meita Touray and Ms. Banna Sabally, whose leadership helped coordinate YOMIL workshops across all seven regions of The Gambia.
A key output of the initiative is the Gambian Young Women’s Media Guide, a resource aimed at supporting women’s inclusion in newsrooms and decision-making roles.
“Today’s event is not just a celebration it is a movement to transform the media landscape,” Badjie concluded. “The future belongs to these women.”