(JollofNews) – Alagi Yorro Jallow, former managing editor of The Independent, which was banned by the previous regime of President Yahya Jammeh in 2005, Thursday donated an assortment of (Journalism, Communication and History) books to the Gambia Press Union School of Journalism.
Mr Jallow also donated over 400 books covering various subjects to the University of the Gambia.
The presentation was made on his behalf by Tombong Saidy, chief executive officer of AMRA.
Mr Jallow, a passionate advocate for human rights, said the books will help to advance the knowledge of local journalists as well as enrich the young school of journalism in the country.
Mr Jallow worked for many years as a journalist in the Gambia during which he served as served vice-chairman of the Gambia Press Union.
He was among a group of private newspaper proprietors who successfully campaigned to disband a government controlled media commission with extensive powers to punish journalists.
However, his work as a journalist and human rights advocate has not been without opposition. In April 2004, a group of armed men entered the office of The Independent in the early morning and set it ablaze with the staff still inside.
Several staff were wounded and the office and printing equipment owned by the paper was destroyed causing huge financial loss.
The following year, his newspaper was arbitrarily shutdown by the government for its independent reporting.
A winner of the 2005 International Press Freedom Award, Mr Jallow has been living in the United States since December 2004 when he received several death threats after the murder of fellow Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara.
He was a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy, a 2007 Nieman fellow and is the author of Delayed Democracy: How Press Freedom Collapsed in Gambia published in 2013.
This is very commendable gesture.Investing in education is a win-win venture for both parties. Mr Jallow,may God the almighty return your efforts in abundance. It is a situation that only knowledge can steer our boat in rough waters.
We should also introduce adult literacy classes in the Gambia and Equipe the institution with academic facilities to upgrade the educational awareness and get the people more sensitised about the importance of seduction.
Imagine an adult parent consulting with his or her kids about lessons,there is a psychological as well partnership bond being created and when that spreads,we will be unstoppable no what obstacle stood on the way.
Radio Programms will certainly play a prominent role when initiating such a proposal. Bearing in mjnd that knowledge can be attained or achieved not only in the classroom but in cooperating the knowledge acquired by the illiterate person through experience in trade,occupation etc. Is another level of progress that we should not overlooked.