On Tuesday, The Gambia lost one of its illustrious sons who was a personal friend of mine for 31 years. Momodou Njie Samateh, known to some as Njie or Samateh. He was a great Geography teacher at Gunjur Secondary School in 1983, where I was a student at the time. It was during his posting at Gunjur when he and I became close as a student and a teacher. Because of my desire of handwriting, I sometimes helped him write classroom notes on the chalkboard while he was handling other classroom tasks. He was a very serious educator and always come to class totally prepared to pass on knowledge to his students. While student /teacher friendship may be deemed inappropriate or perverted in some societies, his and mine was a friendship that borne out of my desire for knowledge and his desire to help a student who have shown some interest. Samateh has been a great mentor, role model and I used him as template today for most things that I do in the daily challenges of life. He has been instrumental in my educational trajectory starting at the Muslim High school, Gambia College and my teaching profession before I traveled to the United States. Sam, I usually called him! You have been influential in all my educational choices that I have made since we first met to this very day! You have been a kind husband, father, brother, uncle, educator, friend and a national treasure. It was kind yet emotional to see that the casket bearers were some of the many students who will for eternal life hold you dear to their hearts because of the caring parental figure you have been over the years during your professional carrier. You have played key roles in the lives of many Gambians both morally and professionally and today we are all brokenhearted on this sad occasion of your passing. Today we are all mourning you in death and also pray that you will be met at the gates of heaven by God’s Angels as your reward for the good you have done for your fellow citizens for the short time you have been with us. Prior to Tuesday, I never finish my daily prayers without praying to God for your longevity, protection and guidance. Now I am altering my prayer for forgiveness from God for eternal peace for your soul. I pray that you will join our other friends in heaven such as Oustas Omar Bunn Jeng and Kabiru Darbo both from Gunjur and many others who preceded you in death, in the holy name of God/Allah, Amen.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 01:31:50 +0000
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