BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY.

The  foundation  stone  of  the  Yoruba  community  in  the Gambia  was  laid  on  the  15^th  day of  July  2001 by  a  small group of  concerned  Yoruba  men  and women  resident in the Gambia,  who  strongly  felt  the  need  for  a  forum  to bring  together  all  Yoruba  people  in  The  Gambia  and  those  in Diaspora  under  an umbrella  body  which  is  called  Egbe  Isokan  Yoruba. Notable among the founder are the followings

The initial aims and objective of Egbe  Isokan  Yoruba  are as  follows ….

1.   To  help  in the early  settlement  of  new community members  through the provision  of  vital information in the area of  immigration laws, job opportunities, and  business  opportunities.

     

2.To  unite and promote  our  cultural  heritage and the sublime legacy handed over  to  us in the  area of  respect, welfare, moral dignity and the spirit of togetherness and brotherhood.

3.To  serve as a forum for  social and economic  integration

 of  all  Yorubas in The Gambia and in Diaspora.

4.To  help in uplifting the  image  of  Nigeria as a nation at the community level  through exemplary  and model character development, instruction on business ethics  and moral instruction.

 The said  body  was  originally  structured  to  have  a  presiding  King, Elders  council,  executive  council  and  general  membership,  all which  are  tailored  after  our  cultural  model. The pioneering executives are as follows

Barrister  Olulana     -----  President

Mr.  Olusesan  Olatunde  -- Vice  President

Prince  Adeoye Matthew ------ Sec  General

Mrs.  Abiala    ------ Asst  Sec General

Mr.  Adeyemi  J Olugbenga  ---- Fin Sec

Prince  Taiwo  Adeniyi    ------ Treasurer

Mr.  Wale        ------   Social  Secretary

Mr.  Akim  Adeleke ------  Welfare  Officer

Barrister  Akimbo  ------  Legal  Adviser

While  the  elders  council  was  headed  by our  late  father  Alhaji  Salaudeen  A. Jinadu, prominent  among  the  elders  are  the  following:

Alhaji Ganiyu  Olawoyin   who  is  the Otun,

Chief  Tajudeen  Adelaja  Alimi  as the Osi,

Mr.  Kasim Sikiru as  Balogun,

Dr.  Emmanuel  Bamgbelu as  Bashorun,

Mr. Fatai  Gbadamosi  as  the  Are  Ona  Kakanfo,

Mr. Tunde Ajao as  Baba Alaje,

Mrs. Maimunatu  Salami  as  Iya  Alaje,  

Mrs. Muyibat  Musa Alabi  as  Otun  Iya  Alaje,

Alhaja  Ashorona  as  Erelu,

other  notable  member  of  the pioneer  elders  council  includes  Madam  Titi  Showunmi.

Internal  strife  marked  by  power  struggle  within  the  group  led to polarisation  and  a  brief  lull in the activities of  Egbe Isokan  Yoruba. However,  this  could  not  undermine  the noble  motivation  of  the  founding  fathers  who  rallied together  to  keep  the  group  intact. The  executive  council  in  the  year  2003  proposed  a  change  of  name  from  Egbe  Isokan  Yoruba  to  the  Yoruba  Community  in the Gambia which  was  adopted  by the  congress.

Challenges

 Foremost   among  the  initial challenges that  confronted  the  group  was  winning  the  trust and confidence  of  the  Yoruba  people  in  the  Gambia,  most  especially  the  elite community  of  technocrats  and  professionals  from  different  walk  of  life, who are  resident  in  the  Gambia. In  order  to  increase  the  level  of  participation  and  involvement  in  the  activities  of  the  community. A  major  breakthrough  came  in  the   wake  of  the  official  recognition  and  empowerment  of  the  community  by  the  Nigeria  High  Commission in the Gambia  under  the  mantle  of  Ambassador  Jacob  Ayuba  Ngbako  in  the  year  2003  at  the  Kairaba Beach Hotel  in The  Gambia. At  this  summit,  a  new  executive  council  team  was  inaugurated  headed  by  Mr. Olusesan  Olatunde  as  the  new  executive  president  of  the  Community. This  new  executive body  embarked  on  a  series  of  pivotal  changes  and  charted  a  new  course  for  the community  to  follow.

Achievement  of  the  Community.

1.  Secretariat  Complex

The  first  priority  of  the  new  team  of  executive is  to  find  a  base  for  all  their  administrative  work, which  will  also  serve  as  a  venue  for  the  community meetings. The  secretariat  complex  was  secured and  was officially  opened to membership in the month  of July  2005.

2.   Scholarship  Award  Scheme

The  community  was  strongly  motivated  to  seek  for  ways  and  means  of   contributing  positively  to  our  host  community development, through  the  Scholarship  award  scheme  to  indigent student.

3.    Credit  Union Scheme

The   Yoruba  Credit  Union  was  officially  inaugurated  in  November 2005  and  it  serves  an  interest  yielding  saving  deposit  for  members  of  the  Community  and   as  a  source  of  short  term  loan  facility  for  credible  and  committed  members, for  short  term business ventures.

4.  Odua’s  Day

This  is the  community  epoch making  annual  cultural  event  which takes  place  every  third week  in  November. The  community  had  successfully  hosted  three ODUA  anniversary. The  program  celebrates  our  cultures and  traditions  as  Yoruba  people. (  please  include pictures  of   previous  odua  celebration )

5.  Welfare  Scheme

A  welfare  scheme  for  members  was  established  in line with  the  founding fathers  aims  and  objectives. It  provides  free  medical services  as  well as  accommodation to  stranded and  displaced  people, in the  community.