Fatoumatta Njai
Fatoumatta Njai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1950 (age 75–76) |
| Education | University of Kent, University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | politician |
| Known for | a woman elected in The Gambia |
| Political party | People's Progressive Party => Independent |
| Children | 3 |
Fatoumatta Njai (born 1950) is a Gambian politician. She has served in the ECOWAS parliament. She is a pan-Africanist and a women’s leadership advocate.
Life
Njai was born in Banjul in 1950. She took her first degree in politics at the University of Kent at Canterbury. She then studied law in London. She has taken an MBA at the University of Edinburgh.[1]
In February 2017, she announced her intention to enter politics.[2] In the 2017 parliamentary elections, Njai ran as a candidate for the People's Progressive Party (PPP) in the Banjul South constituency and won, defeating four opposing candidates, with an absolute majority. During her term in office, PPP members, including later party leader Kebba Jallow, announced her expulsion from the party, but she rejected this.[3] She became a member of Gambia's parliament and she has chaired the Gender Committee.[4]
In the 2022 parliamentary elections, Njai again won the most votes in the constituency as an independent and became a member of the 6th Gambian National Assembly.[5] She was one of one three women in the parliament.[1] She is known as a Women’s Leadership Advocate.[6] Njai is a pan-Africanist and she went on to be a member of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament.[7]
She was one of the 15 women chosen in the second wave of women leaders identified as part of the Amujae initiative by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development.[6] She was the second Gambian woman as Oley Dibba-Wadda had been chosen in the inaugural year of the initiative.[8]
In 2022 she put forward a proposal to increase the number of parliamentarians in the National Assembly. The objective was to increase the number of women involved in politics.[1]
Results
| Election | Votes | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.411 | 58,52 % |
| 2022 | 1.538 | 39,77 % |
References
- ^ a b c "Hon. Fatoumatta Njai Profile". AfriSoc 2024 Website. Oxford African Society. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ "'I Endorse Touma Njie, PPP National Assembly Member For Banjul South' Madi Jobarteh". The Fatu Network. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Njai, Fatoumata (16 July 2021). "Fatoumata 'Touma' Njai National Assembly Member, Banjul South". The Standard (Gambia) (Interview). Interviewed by Manneh, Alagie. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ Ceesay-Bah, Isatou (8 January 2025). "WOMEN & SOCIETY: From Grandmother's Wisdom to Global Recognition: The Inspiring Journey of Banjul South's Fatoumatta Njai". The Point. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ "National Assembly Final Results 9th. April 2022". Independent Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 30 January 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
- ^ a b "Teju Abisoye for Ex-President Johnson Sirleaf's leadership initiative". The Nation. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ Atungwu, Matthew (11 September 2025). "Natasha: Quite disheartening women face struggle in Senate - Njai". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ Peyton, Nellie (6 March 2020). "Africa's first elected female president to train 'wave' of women leaders". Reuters. Retrieved 28 September 2025.