By: Sainabou Sambou
IQRA International UK and IQRA International Gambia, working with the office of Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah, National Assembly Member for Banjul North and Chairman of NEAPACOH, have donated five sewing machines and five wheelchairs to beneficiaries in Banjul.
The items were presented on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, at ARCH 22 in Banjul under the theme “Empowering Lives | Building Bright Futures.” Organizers said the project aims to create livelihood opportunities for women and young people, improve mobility for persons with disabilities, and promote dignity, self-reliance, and a more caring society.
Hon. Bah described the ceremony as a day of dignity, empowerment, and hope. Welcoming guests on behalf of Banjul North and the recipients, he thanked IQRA International and its chairman, Barrister Nazir Ahmed, for supporting the community. Development, he said, should not be judged only by infrastructure but by whether individual lives improve. A sewing machine, he added, could become a source of income, helping a woman pay school fees, feed her family and gain financial independence.
He urged the women to use the machines fully and, where possible, train others so that small businesses might grow and create jobs. The wheelchairs, he said, were more than equipment: they could restore freedom, allowing people to move around their communities, visit relatives, go to market and mosque, and take a fuller part in society. Persons with disabilities must not be left behind, he stressed, and dignity should remain at the center of development.
Hon. Bah called for closer cooperation among government institutions, NGOs, the private sector and communities, saying partnerships like this one were essential. He asked beneficiaries to use the gifts responsibly and, when successful, to “lift others when you are blessed.”
Barrister Ahmed said the visit was his first to The Gambia and he hoped it would not be his last. He praised the country’s beauty and hospitality. IQRA International, he said, has carried out humanitarian work for about three decades in countries including Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Sylhet, Bangladesh, it established a hospital for children with disabilities, helping some who once struggled to speak or stand later communicate, stand and attend school.
He said the organization remains committed to practical help for vulnerable communities, especially women’s economic empowerment, because women often use their earnings to support entire families. He also commended The Gambia’s international humanitarian stance, including on the Rohingya, and thanked local organizers and authorities.
Speaking for the beneficiaries, Mansata Danso thanked IQRA and all involved. Support for women, she said, benefits whole households, because income from the machines can be taken home to sustain families.
Fallou Gallas Ceesay, Social Councilor of Banjul, said the event was about restoring hope and protecting dignity, not merely handing over items. Progress, he argued, should be measured by how communities support persons with disabilities and empower women. He urged recipients to make the best use of the donations and welcomed further IQRA work in Banjul.
Deputy Mayor Hon. Abdou Aziz Dabakh Gaye said no single person or institution can meet community needs alone and called for stronger partnerships. He also thanked Madam Laila, CEO of Malak Chemist, for supporting young girls and vocational training.
