A UK-based Gambian woman, Amie Jobe has been praised for raising money for a Gambian centre housing a masjid and a madarasa in Nottinghamshire.

The Secretary General of the Gambian Community in Nottinghamshire, Edrissa Touray described Amie as a warrior who deserves commendation for her kind assistance.

“She's a local Gambian businesswoman who used her entrepreneurial skills to our community's good by initiating a Friday Lunch Club to raise funds for the centre's upkeep.”

According to Edrissa, it was in 2015 when the elders in their community took the bold, risky but yet necessary decision to hire a building in Nottingham.

He said: “This enabled us to establish a Gambian masjid with functional regular and Friday prayers, madarasa for children, space for adult religious education and other traditional religious functions.

“The risk was the financial challenge for the upkeep. We put community contribution strategies in place and also an annual community family park event to raise funds to help pay for the centre.”

Edrissa disclosed when Amie Jobe heard about the constraints they were facing, she decided to initiate the Friday Lunch Club to raise money for the centre.

“The support has now empowered the community to a point we have now declared our intention to purchase the building. A Gambian community own centre in the UK shall be historic and also ground-breaking for our younger generation. The centre has given these children a space to interact with their culture and a confident boosting sense of identity.”

The Gambian Community in Nottinghamshire is one of the most organised Gambian communities in the Diaspora.