By Sainabou Sambou
The Kairaba Conservation and Leadership Organisation (KairaCLO) on Saturday hosted the second edition of the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Pan-African Lecture, drawing a distinguished audience of senior government officials, diplomats, academics, students, and civil society leaders to honor the enduring legacy of The Gambia’s first president.
Held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, the event underscored Jawara’s contributions to democracy, human rights, rule of law, and environmental conservation, while highlighting ongoing initiatives to preserve his vision for The Gambia and Africa.
Mbemba Tambadou, representing KairaCLO, opened the proceedings by welcoming the strong turnout, which he said reflected growing public interest in the lecture series. He acknowledged the presence of the Chief Justice of The Gambia, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, former vice presidents, ex-ministers, senior judges, academics, and students.
Tambadou recalled that in November 2022, the ECOWAS Commission recognized Sir Dawda Jawara as one of West Africa’s most consequential leaders and a champion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. During his tenure as ECOWAS chairman from 1989 to 1992, Jawara’s diplomatic efforts helped avert major humanitarian crises in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
He explained that KairaCLO, also known as Kaira GLOBE, was established in November 2022 as a company limited by guarantee. Its core mission includes advancing the conservation goals of the 1977 Banjul Declaration, raising environmental awareness among schoolchildren, supporting grassroots climate action, advocating for climate justice, and promoting gender-inclusive climate policies.
Tambadou portrayed Jawara as an exceptional conservationist guided by humility, environmental stewardship, and responsibility to future generations—a philosophy rooted in the Mandinka concept of ‘tesito’ (stewardship). He detailed centenary commemorations of Jawara’s birth in May 2024, including reprinting the Banjul Declaration, public discussions on the circular economy, the Mothers of the Nation Tree-Growing Project, Climate Action Week, and the establishment of the Jawara African Centre for Climate Justice at the University of The Gambia.
The Pan-African Lecture Series, organized in partnership with the University of The Gambia, aims to safeguard Jawara’s legacy of leadership. Last year’s inaugural lecture was delivered by Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, focusing on Jawara’s diplomatic achievements.
Emmanuel Daniel Joof, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), hailed the series as a fitting tribute to one of Africa’s finest politicians. He emphasized Jawara’s embodiment of peace, democracy, respect for human dignity, and unwavering commitment to human rights across the continent.
In recognition of this legacy, the NHRC collaborated with the University of The Gambia to launch the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Human Rights Moot Court Competition in 2019, after the Commission became operational. The program trains young legal minds in constitutional and human rights law through simulated court proceedings, fostering values of justice, accountability, and ethical conduct. Since expanding continent-wide in 2023, victories have gone to universities in Nigeria, Uganda, and, most recently, Kenya.
Joof also highlighted Jawara’s pivotal role in the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights—known as the Banjul Charter—and The Gambia’s ongoing hosting of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Former Vice President Alhaji Bakary B. Dabo, who served under Jawara in various capacities, described him as a leader of integrity, humility, and genuine humanism. Drawing from personal experience, Dabo stressed that Jawara defended human rights out of deep conviction, not political expediency, and was willing to confront abuses on the continent even when unpopular.
Sir Dawda Jawara Jr., the former president’s son, offered intimate reflections on growing up under a father who demanded merit, discipline, and fairness—even within government. He shared anecdotes from his early days in the civil service, illustrating Jawara’s commitment to professionalism and equal treatment.
Almameh Fandi Taal, Chairperson of the KairaCLO Lecture Committee, contextualized Jawara’s legacy within Africa’s broader history, urging reflection on inherited political and legal systems as The Gambia approaches its 60th anniversary of independence. He called for stronger institutions to promote self-reliance, unity, and transformation.
The keynote address was delivered by Chief Justice Hassan B. Jallow, who served as Attorney General and Minister of Justice under Jawara from 1984 to 1994. Jallow described the lecture series as a lasting tribute to a leader whose contributions to good governance, rule of law, human rights, and democracy remain profoundly relevant.
Drawing on personal experience, Jallow recounted the challenges of the colonial and early post-independence eras, crediting Jawara with building national confidence, stability, and democratic institutions in what was once deemed an “improbable nation.” He argued that Jawara’s most enduring achievements were not material but institutional—embedding respect for the rule of law, human rights, and peaceful governance into The Gambia’s national identity.
The event reinforced Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara’s multifaceted legacy as a statesman, conservationist, and Pan-Africanist, inspiring continued efforts to advance his ideals in The Gambia and beyond.
