Hello and a warm welcome to yet another scintillating edition of Personality of the Week, your weekly column aimed at bringing prominent Gambian top notches and achievers into the limelight.

In today’s edition, we bring you the profile of a man who though has gone, his legacy will remain fresh in the minds of many people (Gambians and non-Gambians alike) and will always be a shining example of selfless service to humanity. He is the late Hon. Alhagie Momodou Baboucarr Njie, former speaker of the National Assembly of the Gambia and the defunct Senegambia Confederation.

As the old saying goes, all of us are on a journey on this earth and sooner or later, each must depart. What is important is the achievements we leave behind.

Many people called it a shocking news, but it should be well understood that a man who had always been able to challenge difficulties had been unable to escape death.

Being as it is, everyone should understand that death can strike anyhow, anywhere and anytime. In this sense, we live in the danger of death every working moment- that is, the fact that we are alive means that we shall die someday. It is for this reason that philosophers over the ages have urged us to live each day as though it were our last day on earth. But knowing TATA as he is fondly called during his life- time, death has come too soon, many would have loved him to live on some more.

The late Njie BP meant many and different things to many and different people. He was a father, an uncle, a brother, and an honest lawmaker. Doubtless, as a lawyer, he must have influenced the lives of so many people who are possibly in positions of influenced and authority today. Any one who knew him will no doubt be sadden by his passing away.

Born on 10th February 1929, the late Hon. Momodou Baboucarr Njie, the son of the late Alhagie Baboucarr Njie and Ajaratou Fatou Secka died on 3rd March 2009.

Even at 80, the late Hon. Njie proved to be a man of substance coupled with a high sense of dignity and commitment to duty.

Prior to her appointment as Speaker of the August Body, the late Njie BP worked for different institutions from June 1947 when he completed his formal education to 1994 when he retired from active service as speaker of the National Assembly.

He gathered a lot of experience both in private and public office, which in turn he used to benefit mankind particularly in The Gambia, the appreciation of which was manifested in the State funeral given to him by His Excellency Professor Dr. Alhaji Yahya A. J.J. Jammeh.

Alh. Baboucar Njie’s generosity had a long hand, it reached both Muslims and Christians especially The Catholic Choir group known as “BAATI LINGURRE” He was the group’s honorary life Patron.

To the Muslims in this Country, the number of Mosques he built, the number of charities he contributed to not to mention, the number of families he maintained and sustained financially and morally and of course the Koranic School in Brikama, which he sponsored as its patron since its inception in 1980, shall continue forever to be a testimony of his dedication to Islam, which attaches a huge importance to alms giving and helping of the poor.

His appointment to the legislature was no doubt a well-deserved recognition of his immense contribution to humanity as a mentor to thousands and thousands of children.

During his tenure as Speaker of the National Assembly, he conducted the affairs of the august Assembly diligently, upheld its dignity and led by good examples. Both sides of the house were seen to be equal to him and so treated.

As an educationist and a distinct lawmaker, the late TATA touched the lives of many Gambians. His ability to be upright made him a role model worthy of emulation.

He will always remain a shining example of selfless service to humanity.

Adieu Hon. Momodou Baboucarr Njie.