By Dawda M. Jallow
The European Union (EU) on Friday inaugurated the Crab Island Sustainable Development Centre (CISDC), transforming the former Crab Island School into a facility dedicated to innovation, youth empowerment, creativity, and community development.
Senior Administrative Secretary of the Banjul City Council (BCC), Abdou Aziz Dadbahk Gaye, said the inauguration marked more than the opening of a building, describing it as a space for learning, opportunity, and sustainable development.
He recalled the historical significance of the site, which formerly housed the Crab Island Upper Basic School and educated generations of Gambian students since the late 1950s. Following a merger with Garba Jahumpa Upper and Senior Secondary School, the premises were handed over to the BCC by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe described the centre as a “launchpad for our future,” highlighting its role in positioning Banjul as a city of opportunity, innovation, and empowerment, particularly for young people and women.
Vice President Muhammed B. S. Jallow, representing President Adama Barrow, expressed gratitude to the EU and other partners, noting that the centre reflects the results of collaboration between international partners and local leadership. He underlined its importance in addressing climate change, environmental pressures, and urban development challenges in coastal cities such as Banjul.
BCC Chief Executive Officer Modou Jonga thanked the government, partners, and community members, describing the facility as a new chapter for Banjul in promoting innovation, learning, and community empowerment.
The centre features an 800-seat hall, community radio and recording studios, an innovation hub, IT training rooms, renewable energy installations, urban gardens, a basketball court, and a restaurant for community events.
The inauguration coincided with the first annual religious conference and an iftar food distribution, reflecting the centre’s commitment to inclusion, education, and sustainable development.