Gambian president gifts Jackie Appiah, Nollywood stars free land

The President of the Gambia Prof Dr Sheik AJ Jammeh has presented plots of land to some movie stars in Ghana and Nigeria.

The Gambian leader presented the land to the stars, including Jackie Appiah, at a presentation ceremony held at the Presidential palace in Banjul, the capital of Gambia Saturday.

Speaking on behalf of the president, Vice President Dr Mrs Isatou Njie, said the gesture was to reward the stars for their enormous contributions to telling the African story.

According to him, the initiative is to demonstrate his belief in Pan-Africanism and also to encourage the stars to come and make the Gambia part of their own.

“Nollywood and Ghollywood have been able to capture and tell our stories better than any outsider can do. Africans relate to your stories and same with those in the Diaspora and the Caribbean and around the world,” he said.

The president urged the stars not to rest on their oars but take it as a big challenge to do more and add value to what they are already doing.

“You are great African ambassadors,” he said and added that, “you must continue to achieve and surpass what you have today. You have made us proud.”

The Gambian leader urged the stars to see themselves as Gambians and take advantage of the land and build their future home.

Apart from Jackie Appiah, other beneficiaries of the land include Francis Duru, Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda, Patience Ozokwor, Eucharia Anunobi,Ejike Asiegbu,Tony Umez, Ngozi Ezeonu, Kanayo O Kanayo, Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya), Harry B Anyanwu, Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme.

In his response, leader of the group, Mr Francis Duru thanked President Jammeh for his generosity and expressed his colleagues’ gratitude and how humbled and honoured they are to receive the plots of land.

Mr Duru and his colleagues pledged to work hard to create opportunities for emerging and budding Gambian stars.