The vibrant call made by Vice-President Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy for the formation of a national women’s federation in The Gambia is an important move, as a building is made strong by the proper interlocking of its bricks.

It is a well-known fact that President Yahya Jammeh has always championed the cause of women through a genuine empowerment process. He has gone further to appoint them to key positions.

As such, Gambian women are ipso facto given the opportunity to take part in the decision making process. But without a national federation, the task of empowering them will continue to face numerous obstacles.
 
The multiplicity of associations, objectives, and approaches is usually a positive social feature because it offers a variety of choices, but it also weakens the various organizations.

In order to put up a united front and go ahead with their struggle, women need to have a unique forum. This forum is the ideal platform to make women's voices heard.

If the organisations cooperate in creating a national women’s federation, their members will be able to present a unified front and to achieve the objective of putting women at the centre stage of the development process.

Failure to achieve this ultimate objective could gravely contribute to the weakening of the strength of Gambian women by diminishing their organizational capacity. 
Such an outcome will not only be a great disservice to the cause of women, but will also have negative repercussions on the various groups.

The way forward is clear; move away from fragmentation and work towards the consolidation of the gains of the country’s women movement by establishing an umbrella body to defend the interests of women.

Despite the fact that the existing organisations have been doing a great service to womankind by highlighting their struggle for equity, a national women’s federation could provide enormous opportunity for women to enhance their social status.