Whatever you do, no hugging and no French cheek kissing.

Was this the advice given to Youssour Ndour, Jaliba Kuyateh and all the other dignitaries that attended First Lady Zineb Jammeh’s Breakfast Meeting last week?

Madam Jammeh was launching a five-year strategic plan for her foundation, Operation Save the Children. The main purpose of the Breakfast Meeting was to build partnerships with stakeholders and mobilise resources to supplement that of the foundation.

Some of the guests were invited on the stage to receive awards from the First Lady. However, it seemed that hugging the president’s beautiful wife or getting closer for a French cheek kiss was pretty much off-bounds that morning.

Madam Jammeh only offered her hand and all the awardees took it gently before posing for the cameras.

According to a protocol officer that spoke to What’s On-Gambia, there are no obligatory rules when meeting the First Lady.

This could be true, because most of the time children and elderly women are allowed to be touchy feely with her.

The protocol officer said: “During events like the Breakfast Meeting, most people restrict themselves to a handshake. But with children and elderly women, they always insist on hugging the First Lady.”

Speaking at the Breakfast Meeting, one of Madam Jammeh’s closest aides, Fatoumatta Ndour described her as a marvelous example of humility. According to her, the First Lady’s optimism and energy is an inspiration to many.

Operation Save the Children Foundation, which works closely with the Vice President’s Office, is focused on helping women and children’s health and education.

Editor’s note: It was disappointing that no media house was offered an award that morning. If a restaurant like Luigi’s can receive one, why not the media? I don’t know who advised the First Lady, but her foundation has been benefitting from the free services of the media to get the exposure it needs.