Annual Nema Day Celebrations to be launched March 19
The official launching for the Nema Day Celebrations is set for March 19, 2023 at the Brikama Box Bar Mini Stadium, sponsored by the BrikamaNema Diaspora Group (BRIND) and BrikamaNemaKabilo Development Association (NekDA). The occasion is set to be first of its kind to occur in Brikama, West Coast Region since independence.
The BrikamaNema Diaspora Group is a Community Service Organization based in Madison Wisconsin (USA) working in partnership with the community through NemaKabilo Development Association (NekDA), a non-profit organization established in The Gambia in November 2020. The group consists of residents from BrikamaNema living in various parts of the world with a single vision.
The group has its vision to transform or improve the urban quality of life in BrikamaNema within 3 to 5-years by preserving and enhancing the quality of life that already makes it a great place to live- in partnership with individuals, businesses, agencies, and international organizations across the world.
However, there has been a twist of plan for Mayor Erica Gillum to attend the launching ceremony. Erica is the first Black female Mayor elected in Hempstead’s city in Texas, her initial planned was to visit the Gambia to participate in the launching of the Nema Day Celebration, but her trip was canceled due to city engagements, circumstances beyond the association’s control.
In an interview with Mustapha Baba Drammeh, the Executive Director, he reveals to VOD that the group is with its mission to rehabilitate, build, and modernize the urban infrastructure of BrikamaNema in collaboration with the community, local government authorities, businesses, and international stakeholders to construct or rehabilitate existing infrastructure in BrikamaNema by collaborating with community, local government authorities, and international stakeholders around the world.
He noted that its missions includes to acquire or transform 166,000 square foot of existing infrastructure in BrikamaNema into a recreational center with programs for youth and women entrepreneurship.
To promote the socio-economic wellbeing of youth and women in BrikamaNema through sports, recreation, and professional networking events and draw synergy from the diaspora through advocacy and funding to support the development initiatives of BrikamaNema.
Drammeh mentioned that part of the objectives of the celebration was to raise awareness about the urban revitalization project for BrikamaNema, awareness on the project they have been implementing in their community since its initiative in partnership with the BrikamaNemaKabilo Development Association.
It’s also to get more people involved to raise awareness on their efforts to transform the urban infrastructure of Brikama to a modern city. He noted that they are currently working in raising funds to acquire land to build a recreational center to serve not only Brikama but through the West Coast region.
