By Buba Gagigo
Rohey Malick Lowe, Mayor of Banjul City Council, was awarded the UN-Habitat Award in Azerbaijan for her outstanding leadership at the local level and her commitment to empowering women and youth in the capital city of Banjul.
The award was presented to Lowe at the World Habitat Day event in Azerbaijan today. World Habitat Day is held on the first Monday of October and kicks off Urban October, a month-long celebration of sustainable urbanization. The day is observed globally with keynote speakers and roundtable discussions on a specific theme. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 in Nairobi, Kenya, with the theme “Shelter is my right.”
Mayor Lowe used Facebook to share her joy with the world after receiving the award.
“It is with utmost pleasure that I announce to you the Special Citation bestowed on me by Madam Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Habitat.
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the people of The Gambia, and particularly to the residents of Banjul, for their unwavering and massive support to my person all through my journey as mayor. I wouldn’t have been made known to the world if your massive votes did not designate me as the first and only female mayor in The Gambia. We did this together WAA Banjul. I never thought that there are people watching and appreciating my efforts, with all honesty, I never saw this one coming.
“My sincere thanks and appreciation go to our able Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mustapha Batchilly and Staff of the Banjul City Council; to the office of the mayor under the leadership of our able boss, Madam Isatou Njie, the strong lady in the office who will remind me of all my emails, phone calls and meetings that I have to attend, you are appreciated.
“Binta and Sanu (chart), I am saying thank you, Mamma. To all my staff at the Mayor’s parlor, I appreciate your endless efforts, even though it is sometimes bumpy. To my family members; my husband, who is my support system, thank you for being there for me.
“Last but not least, I want to say thank you to Madam Maimunah Mohd Sharif for giving me such an honor.
The Mayor of Banjul City Council (BCC) is currently in Azerbaijan to attend the World Habitat Day.