By Sailu Bah
Journalist Kebba Jeffang of the Foroyaa Newspaper Company received a 
historical award for his commitment as an executive member of the Young Journalists Association of the Gambia (YJAG). The award was given to him during the celebrations marking the seventh year anniversary of the young media organization held at Tango hall on Saturday, 18 October, 2014.
The ‘Founder President’ Award is an annual award designed to honour committed executive members of the association. This is the fourth award since its inception.
Speaking at the presentation, Mr. Nfamara Jawneh, the President of YJAG said the ‘Founder President Award’ is an annual award presented annually to the most committed executive member of the association. He said there have been previous winners of the award including the former president of YJAG Mr. Modou S. Joof and the present Secretary General. He stated that this year since this executive took over office, Mr. Jeffang has been committed in delivering his duties as a co-opted executive member of association despite his tight schedule. The YJAG President called on the award receiver to remain committed while calling on other young journalists to imitate the hard work of the receiver.
In another development, the young Foroyaa reporter was unanimously selected to occupy the position of an acting treasurer after given up his co-opted position.
In his reaction to the award and the new task, Mr. Jeffang said: “I first thank the Almighty God for making me the lucky one to win this award which has been previously won by my colleagues. Besides, I thank my colleagues in the executive of YJAG for the cooperation. This is a total surprise to me as I was never thinking about it. It is me who is lucky to win the 4th Annual Founder President Award but many of us deserve it as far as commitment and vibrant membership is concerned. I believe patience is very important and it pays all the time you render it. Being an executive is a big task especially in a journalist organization simply because everyone is a watchdog and you have to do enough to win membership trust which is very necessary. As a reporter there are so much work one needs to do daily to be able to file quality news for the public which itself is not easy much more adding such a complex task to it but with patience and perseverance together with proper time frame for each of them, it can be better. I implore for more commitment from the executive including myself, to do more in order to make a remarkable and a life time legacy for ourselves as far as YJAG is concerned before the expiration of our term. In the same vein, I call on the general membership to also be more committed and hold the executive accountable for better delivery. At this juncture, I want to sincerely thank and dedicate this award to Foroyaa Newspaper Company for shaping up my journalism career up to this maturity stage. Without their understanding, I may not win this award today because I may not be as active as I am.” On his new role, the young reporter said he is ready to be even more committed to ensure that the trust people have in him is well served for the development of the association, he concluded.
