The Igbo Community in The Gambia last Saturday donated cleansing materials worth over D30,000 to the Kanifing Municipal Council at a presentation ceremony held at the KMC premises in Kanifing.

The donated items include dustbins, rakes and spades.  In presenting the items to the Lord Mayor of KMC, Yankuba Colley, Jerry Simon, chairman of the Igbo Community in The Gambia said that this was to show appreciation to the Gambian people and government, and particularly to KMC.

According to Jerry Simon, for many years Igbos have been enjoying the good things that the KMC has to offer.  “KMC has been accommodating many Igbos for so long now without harassment,” he said.

He further said that some of them have spent over 30 years in The Gambia and promised to be law abiding because what affects Gambians affects them. “We heard about Operation Clean the Nation and Operation Clean KMC, we also want to contribute to clean the country because a clean environment brings prosperity,” he concluded.  

Receiving the items on behalf of the KMC, Mayor Yankuba Colley thanked the Igbo community for their laudable gesture. According to Mayor Colley, during his mayoral campaign, one of the key issues he highlighted was how to get cleaning materials.  He added that, when the Igbos come up with the idea of donating cleaning materials to his municipality, they touched his heart.

“Nigerians play crucial roles in many sectors of The Gambia such as education, health, sports and the judiciary, just to name a few,” he added. Mayor Colley also advised the Igbos not to forget their culture and to learn from President Jammeh as the president always promotes his culture. According to him, that is why the Gambian leader usually organises festivals so that Africans in the diaspora will not forget their culture.