The Fatu Network Heroes Awards for 2019 will be held on 14 March 2020.
An awards committee has been set up charged with the responsibility of dispensing fair and unbiased judgement in recognizing exemplary Gambians.
The awards committee works independently from The Fatu Network, and The Fatu Network cannot make any decisions as to who should be awarded or not.
Below is the name and profile of all seven members of the committee;
NAHLA TAMBADOU
A trained administrator by profession (BA Business Administration), Nahla Tambadou specialized in Managing Projects and People with over 20 years of experience. She is quite passionate and driven by excellence and improving the lives of others.
She is an assistant Managing Director of Laico Gambia (owners of Atlantic Hotel), leading a team of highly motivated Managers through the opening and rebranding of the hotel after more than two years of closure.
She is also Director of Human Resources for Sheraton Branded hotels in West & Central Africa, Board Member of GTSC Gambia and an active member of SenegaloGambia Women’s Federation. These engagements all are driven by her passion for satisfactory service delivery.
Motivated by her interest in developing people she has mentored and placed many young and middle aged Gambians in hotel and related industries’ in countries where the Starwood/Mariott brand is present; from Africa, Middle East, UAE to as far as Tjikistan.
Her vision of make a meaningful impact in the lives of other people and instilling in the less fortunate a sense of dignity encouraged her to support charitable causes, empowerment of women through Islam whilst enjoying a full time employment, housekeeping, gardening and spending time with family and friends.
MUSU BAKOTO SAWO
Musu Bakoto Sawo is the National Coordinator for Think Young Women. She is also a trained human rights lawyer and a legal scholar who lectures at the University of The Gambia, Faculty of law. She is also the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission of The Gambia. She is a strong women and girls’ rights activist and has in-depth knowledge of human rights through her membership in different Community Based Organisation (CBOs) and in different capacities. She has translated this knowledge into capacity building, research, networking, programme development and practical engagement with human rights mechanisms and with grassroots, national, regional and international organisations and platforms. Her activism in the area of children and women’s rights spans more than 17 years. She holds an LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa.
Musu is the recipient of the 2017 Vera Chirwa award by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria in recognition of her work in advancing women’s rights in Africa especially on FGM and other harmful traditional practices. She is also the recipient of the 2018 Commonwealth Points of Lights for The Gambia from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. This award also recognises the work that she does for women and girls in The Gambia. Musu has also been recognised as one of the 100 most influential young persons in West Africa by the Confederation of West African Youths in 2018. In addition, UNICEF has identified and recognised Musu as a #CHANGEMAKER. Her most recent accolade is the ‘Inspiring Gambian Award 2018’ by the People’s Choice Award for Excellence in recognition of her work in the advancement of the rights of women and girls.
As a former child bride and a survivor of FGM, she has vowed to end the cycle of these harmful traditional practices in her generation.
FATOU AMIRAH MAMBOURAY
Fatou Amirah Mambouray was raised between the Washington, D.C. area and The Gambia which played a major role in shaping her vision and mission for the future of Africa. Solution oriented and eager to expand her insight as well as experience, she pursued her degree in International Relations and Development in London… further specializing in Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy. Now, after considerable experiences such as an internship at the American Embassy in Banjul and time spent working for the International Committee of the Red Cross, Fatou Amirah is a budding entrepreneur in The Gambia determined to shift societal norms in relation to Africa’s poor environmental habits.
GAYE SOWE
Mr. Gaye Sowe is Executive Director of the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa (IHRDA). He has wealth of experience in human rights litigation. He is an Expert Member of the African Commission Working Group on Economic Social and Cultural Rights and has made significant contributions in developing the jurisprudence of various African human rights mechanisms.
Before joining IHRDA in 2005, Mr. Sowe worked for the Gambian Judiciary from 1998 to 2005 as First Class Magistrate, Senior Magistrate, Principal Magistrate, Chairman of Banjul Industrial Tribunal and Acting Judicial Secretary.
Mr Sowe is a member of the Constitutional Review Commission of The Gambia and is also part of a team three lawyers currently reviewing and redrafting the criminal justice laws of The Gambia. He is a member of the Law Reform Commission of The Gambia and is the current Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia
Mr. Sowe was a member of the Steering Committee that set up the Law Faculty of the University of The Gambia and has been Adjunct Lecturer of the Law Faculty since it was established. He was lecturer of Criminal Procedure at the Gambia Law School until 2015.
Mr. Sowe was called to the Gambian and Nigerian Bars in 2000. He holds an LLM from the University of Essex, an LLB (Hons) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and a BL (Hons) from the Nigeria Law School. He is Adjunct Lecturer of Criminal Law at the University if The Gambia.
NENEH MC CHAM
Neneh MC Cham is a Barrister and Solicitor in active private general legal practice for the past 20 years, throughout which period, she distinguished herself as one of the most prominent Human Rights Lawyers in the Gambia. She is a Legal Expert/ Consultant on Women and Children’s Rights.
Driven by her passion for the pursuit of justice for all and equal opportunities for women, children, the youth and vulnerable members of society, Neneh is particularly renowned for her work towards uplifting their legal and socio- economic status. This is demonstrated by the pro bono legal services she offers, as well as her active involvement in many professional bodies/ CSOs that share her passion and vision, both in the Gambia and abroad.
Her tenure as President of Female Lawyers Association- Gambia (FLAG), saw her register resounding success steering the affairs of the Association from 2011-2016. More recently in 2018, she served as Vice Chairperson of The Faraba Banta Commission of Inquiry established by His Excellency The President of The Republic of the Gambia.
Alongside her legal practice, she serves as Chairperson of National Agency for Legal Aid (NALA), member of the General Legal Council, Board member and legal Adviser to Gambia Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GWCC) and Forum for African Women Educationists (FAWEGAM). She is also fluent in French.
HATAB FADERA
Hatab Fadera is an experienced media and communications professional. Over the years, he accumulated a wealth of experience in writing, editing, and publishing. Hatab joined the Public Diplomacy Section of the U.S. Embassy Banjul in August, 2015 as Cultural Affairs Assistant. He currently serves the Strategic Content and Media Coordinator at the US Embassy. Hatab studied at the University of The Gambia, graduating with Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) in Journalism. Prior to joining the Embassy, Hatab did media consultancy for some institutions and reported for a Swedish-based magazine. Between 2013 and 2015, Hatab served as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Observer Newspaper. Between 2015 and 2018, Hatab served as a member of the Gambia Press Union Executive Board, the umbrella institution for all Gambian journalists. He has a strong understanding of the local media as well as an extensive knowledge of Gambian society and the political landscape.
PASTOR FORBES
Pastor Francis Forbes (55) is a Gambian, born to Gambian parents. From his early years Francis Forbes has been a high achiever with a strong desire to put his country on the map.
At the young age of fourteen, he won the WORLD PIANO PRIZE (Grade 3 Pianoforte – 1979 in Cardiff, Wales) which was a source of great pride for many Gambians at the time.
Francis Forbes attained his primary & secondary school leaving certificates in The Gambia and proceeded to pursue his university education in Nigeria (University of Nigeria, Nsukka [UNN], graduating with a B.Sc (Hons.) in Biochemistry. Sensing the call of God upon his return, he founded and started The Abiding Word Ministries – Gambia on Sunday November 5th, 1988, and has been consistent to his call and mission. He had prior become born again in August of 1979 in his native country.
For the past three decades he has carefully built his ministry with integrity and excellence, strengthening members to discover and utilize their God given potential. Many church members who have since moved on to different countries continue to give testimony to the impact of this phenomenal ministry in building them into the people that they are now.
Through his nationally popular and well-received weekly GRTS Telecast, “DISCOVERING TRUTH” Pastor Forbes has been able to reach people throughout the nation across socio-political lines for over two decades with messages on empowerment, national development, love for God and country, that have resonated deeply with many.
As a result, the name Pastor Forbes is now a household name, earning him the enviable title “The Nation’s Pastor”. DISCOVERING TRUTH has helped a lot of individuals and the nation as a whole to glean and implement the wise counsel he has so eloquently given on a weekly basis over the past 22 years. Pastor Forbes’ ability to consistently reach out with a message of hope to people across socio-political and religious lines has always placed him in unique positions to serve as an effective facilitator & mediator in many training as well as intermediary settings.
Pastor Forbes is a widely read and objective minister, whose integrity and sense of focus have been tested over time and proven untainted. A busy man, he travels regularly to fill international pulpit preaching/teaching and worship music ministry engagements and assignments.
Coaching, mentoring, advising, public speaking, counseling, are some of the other areas he fulfills God’s calling upon his life with infectious passion, simplicity and practicality, and great depth of insight, competence and 3 decades of ministry experience.
Pastor Forbes has also recently registered and started THE FORBES ACADEMY – a Public
Speaking Training & Mentoring institute for all aspiring public speakers, young and adult, and the transformative results are being widely acknowledged.
Pastor Forbes was decorated in April 2008 by the Gambian presidency with the National Insignia of MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA (MRG), for his spiritual, religious, educational and evangelical efforts.
He is married to Angela, a human rights lawyer and international consultant, with whom he shares his ministry.
