Society often times sets limits for women, most especially in male dominated areas like the food industry which in The Gambia is run by men most of them foreigners.
But for Mina Jallow – young entrepreneur of the year 2017 - there are no limits to what she can achieve in taking ownership of what has over the years been a male dominance.
She is the founder of Chop Shop—one of the few restaurants purely owned and run by Gambians and very popular among young people.
Mina has not only cracked the glass ceilings, she is also transforming the country’s food industry with the recent launching of a food factory which now supplies seasoned food to some of the country’s major super markets .
Chop Shop in expanding and has recently opened a branch in Banjul.
A social media commentator Dabakh Malick, has this to say: Chop Shop is a Gambian born, Gambian made for us restaurant that offers you a one in a life experience of delicious upscale menu served anywhere in the world. They offer excellent service to their customers which none can beat, coming into to existence after seeing the need to have a restaurant that caters for both facets of society with delicious and affordable life experience.”
A replica of Mina’s success story is what The Gambia craves for in the long road towards economic empowerment for young people.