By Sainabou Sambou
The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Tailors Association held its inaugural congress on Thursday at the National Centre for Arts and Culture, becoming the first tailors’ association in the country to convene such a gathering at the venue.
Tailors from across the municipality gathered to review the association’s achievements, renew leadership mandates, and outline future priorities. The congress culminated in the unanimous re-election of President Salieu Jallow and his executive team, including Program Manager Awa Jobarteh, for another two-year term.
Speaking at the event, Awa Jobarteh, Program Manager, described the association as a pioneering initiative spearheaded by President Jallow, which has inspired similar organizations in provincial areas. “This is the first regional tailors’ association of its kind under KMC,” she said, emphasizing the challenges overcome in building voluntary membership.
Jobarteh revealed that the executive conducted extensive outreach tours across KMC’s 19 wards, personally engaging tailors to highlight membership benefits. Since its formation two and a half years ago, the association has grown to over 600 members and raised D63,000 in funds. She credited early support from KMC, including transportation for outreach, and stressed the importance of skills development. “At every event where people wear clothes, it is tailors who sew them,” Jobarteh noted, urging unity and investment in youth training.
The association’s international representation was also highlighted, with delegations attending events in China and Conakry, Guinea, submitting detailed reports on their engagements.
KMC Council Business representative MC Cham Jr. commended the leadership for fulfilling their promise to hold a congress within the mandated term. He praised their grassroots approach, touring all wards to announce the event and invite candidates for open positions, and recognized tailors as key contributors to municipal revenue through taxes.
Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda lauded President Jallow’s dedication, describing him as a proactive leader who frequently engages the council on issues affecting tailors. The mayor emphasized the value of organization and unity, noting that developed nations thrive through such principles. He expressed satisfaction with the association’s adherence to term limits and regular congresses, warning against the risk of a dictatorship without accountability.
In his address, President Jallow thanked members for their trust and announced the association’s financial stability. He appealed to the mayor and KMC authorities for land to establish a tailoring school, noting that the association had received sewing machines from the National Disaster Management Agency for training. Jallow also highlighted social welfare challenges, including members’ struggles with land ownership and children’s education, pledging to allocate 60 percent of revenue toward education and family support initiatives.
The congress underscored the association’s growing influence and commitment to empowering tailors through skills development, unity, and advocacy.
