HRH Prince Ebrahim
Chief Patron & Founder
HRH Prince Ebrahim is The “Farim Batelling”, 8th crowned “Sibi Karang Mansa” (ruler) of the 796yrs blood lineage. Farim Ebrahim is the Custodian of Sacred Royal Realm whose Establishment dates back 1307. He is a precocious Environmentalist and a keen Philanthropist.
His professional background is of an Investment Banker and Strategic Developmental Economist. With specialisation in major International Development Projects Financing; Public Sector Enterprises Reforms (Divestiture, Divestment and Privatisation); Public Policy and Management (Public Services and Public administration). He is also an experienced International Diplomacy Advisor. HRH Prince Ebrahim is a member of Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs).
Ambassador Sana Jaiteh
H.E. Sanna Jaiteh is the honorary Consul General of Philippines to the Gambia. He is one the Gambia’s most respectable and successful businessmen with decades of international business experience.
He was born in Njabba Kunda Village the Central Baddibou district of the North Bank Region. Ambassador Jaiteh studied in Lidkopin Sweden, Basel Switzerland and Stuttgart Germany between 1975 – 1979.
Ambassador Jaiteh has a track record of working closely with Honda Motorcycles, Land Rover, Massey Ferguson and a few others.
Ambassador Jaiteh left Brecwoldt Limited to establish OSA Motors Limited as the Managing Director and one of the left Shareholders of the company in March 1993. The company is the sole agency for Land Rover, Massey Fergusson Agricultural Tractors and Equipment in the Gambia and operates a maintenance workshop and spare parts sales outlet.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
Mr Jaiteh was awarded the most outstanding salesman of the year 1989 by International Trade Management Corporation of the United Kingdom.
NATIONAL SERVICE
Ambassador Jaiteh serves as a member of the steering committee of FOWSEA [Foundation for Women Socio-Economic Advancement] Founded by the First Lady.
In September 2000, based on his reputable character and dedication on duty and hard work, Ambassador Jaiteh was appointed as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Philippines to the Gambia.
Ambassador Jaiteh is the adopted father of many towns and villages including village in Kiang Lowe Town, Bakau, Ebo Town in the Kanifing Municipaliy, Kantong Kunda Villagte in Kiang Lowe River Region his home town of Njabba Kunda in the Central Badibu District of the Gambia.
Advisory
His Eminence Dr. Sheikh El-Hajj Osman Sharubutu
Grand Mufti of The Republic Of Ghana
National Chief Imam Of Ghana
Dr. Sharubutu is an Islamic cleric, Chief Imam of Ghana,[1] member of the National Peace Council[2] and founder of The SONSETFund and IPASEC.
Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu was born in Accra Old Fadama in mid April, 1923 to prominent and reputable parents. He studied under his father, the late Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, a pious mother, late Ayishatu abbas and his uncle, the late Sheikh Mazanwaje Abbas, who was the National Imam at the time. His parents taught him Qur`anic recitation and reading with the correct intonation as well as essay writing in Arabic.
By the age of 12 (twelve), Mr. Osmanu had mastered the recitation of the whole of the Holy Qur`an and had become one of the youngest Muslim at the time to have memorized numerous verses and chapters of it. When the father, Sheikh Nuhu, realized the potentials of his son, he decided to send him to a new learning environment in Kumasi where he studied under various Islamic scholars.
On the return of young Osmanu to Accra, his uncle, Sheikh Muhammad Mazawaje Abbas, introduced him to Tijaniyyah special programs for meditation. He continued working with the movement under the grand pioneer, Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass Kaola of Senegal. Sheikh Ibrahim was the foremost leader of the Tijaniyyah movement of the 20th century.
Sheikh Ibrahim thought Mr. Osmanu the deeper spiritual aspects of Sufism practice, the secret techniques and the rudiments of mysticism as well as other esoteric features of it. These exposures smoothly paved the way for young Osman to become a true leader in the Tijaniyyah Movement.
In 1974, after lengthy debates and consultations among the country`s traditional Muslim and tribal chiefs, scholars and other religious leaders, it was agreed by consensus that Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu should be appointed the Deputy National Imam of the Republic of Ghana. However, Sheikh Osman turned down the offer of appointment with the excuse that he was a professional Islamic teacher and educator with over 20 students under his care at the time and he was concerned about their future growth and development.
It was later and after further persuasions and persistence by the Islamic teachers that Sheikh Osmanu realized that the appointment was a divine call for him to serve Islam and the Muslim communities.
In 1993, he was appointed the National Chief Imam of the Republic of Ghana and invested at a simple but colorful ceremony. He succeeded his cousin, Sheikh Mukhtar Abbas, the then National Imam who was ill and physically weak.
Throughout his life, Sheikh Osman has had a reputation for promoting Islamic education and encouraging the establishment of educational institutions.
Currently there are 7(seven) educational institutions in the Greater Accra region which have been established and owned by Sheikh Osmanu himself and managed by various individuals. He undertakes some teaching assignments at the institutions. He has, in the past 15(fifteen) years, pioneered the establishment of 10 other educational institutions in all the 10(ten) regions of the country.
Sheikh Osmanu has been involved in the establishment of institutions and organizations for providing services that address the humanitarian needs and empowerment of the Muslim youth in and outside Ghana. He has personally sponsored hundreds of needy Muslim children mostly from the disadvantaged and vulnerable Muslim communities in Ghana.
In sum, Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu comes from a pedigree of Islamic Scholars and leaders. He has continued with this heritage and has, in the process, distinguished himself as a great Islamic leader. He has been engaged in promoting Muslim education, setting up various Islamic schools and encouraging the integration of Islamic knowledge and practice with secular education.
He is, today, the representative of the Muslim face in national affairs and continues to support development programmes that sensitize people to their social responsibilities and build bridges between Islam and other religions. The result is that he is a member of the National Peace Council.
He establish the Dr. Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu Education Trust Fund (SONSETFUND) a fund that support accelerates educational growth among the Zongo and other deprived communities with the vision of producing highly educated world class youth, visionary leaders and entrepreneurs for the 21st century.
Alh Demba Sanyang
H.R.H Paramount Chief of Gambia
HRH Alh Demba Sanyang isis from a Koring Sanyang Royal Dynasty dating back to the Kaabu and Mali Empire.
HRH is also the First Paramount Chief of the Republic of The Gambia and presides over the National Council of “Seyfolus” (National Council of Chiefs). The council was created to enhance the implementation of the governance policy and program, and support the mainstream of traditional values and practices in Government of the Gambia’s socio-economic development and dispensation programs.
HRH Paramount Chief was inaugurated on the 22nd Feb 2008 by The President of The Gambia H.E. Sheichk Prof Alhaji Yahya AJJ Jammeh “Babibili Mansa” at the Brikama town praying grounds.
HRH Paramount Chief’s inauguration ceremony forms part of activities marking the Gambia’s 43rd Independence anniversary. Since he assumed office, he has helped in addressing matters relating to the administration of Justice as well as cultural and traditional issues, and pave the way for a closer collaboration and consultation among “Seyfolus” (National Council of Chiefs).
HRH Paramount Chief Alh Demba Sanyang is known for his passion of promoting Culture, Tradition, Social integration, Peaceful coexistence and Youth Inclusion & Development. He also is an activist for rice self-sufficiency in the Gambian, a goal the government has set to promote rice farming and achieve food security.
HRH Paramount Chief Alh Demba Sanyang is from a Koring Sanyang Royal Dynasty dating back to the Kaabu and Mali Empire. The Royal Sanyang Clan along with the nyanchos are one of the 6th Custodians of the sacred white stone at Kansala, the imperial capital of Kaabu Empire and a former Mali Empire Military Outpost
Management
Shakeela Bagus
Programmes & Partnerships Manager
Inspired by a school volunteer program run by Habitat for Humanity, Shakeela began her humanitarian work at the tender age of 10 years old. From there onwards, she quickly developed a deep and insatiable passion for multi-dynamic community volunteerism.
Shakeela graduated with a BSc International Business and Economics at American Intercontinental University, UK.
Whilst at university, she undertook a volunteer job as a Youth Council representative for a Charity called Fight for Peace. The charity champions to be a voice for young people in inner city London, especially on issues such as gang crime, social exclusion and poverty.
Upon completion of University, she secured a full time employment with Fight For Peace as an Operation officer. She later rose to position of Career’s & Guidance Coordinator working with youths including ex-offenders and NEET ( Not in Education, Employment or Training) for period of 7 years.
Ariana Sofia Lomba
Communications Officer