Fatim Badjie

Fatim Badjie (also spelled Badgie) is a Gambian communications professional, entrepreneur, and former government minister, best known for becoming one of The Gambia’s youngest cabinet ministers under President Yahya Jammeh.[thepoint][thepoint]

Background

She was born in Banjul in November 1983 and is the daughter of Dembo M. Badjie, a Gambian diplomat who served in Sierra Leone, India, and China. She studied communications at Tennessee State University and later earned an MSc in ICT for Development from the University of Manchester.[lg.wikipedia][linkedin]

Government roles

• In March 2008, Badjie was appointed Minister of Communications, Information and Information Technology, becoming the youngest member of Gambia’s cabinet at the time.[thepoint][lg.wikipedia]
• She was removed from that role in February 2009.[thepoint]
• In February 2011, she was appointed Minister of Health and Social Welfare, replacing Dr. Abubacarr Gaye, and served until November 2012, when she was removed from cabinet.[thepoint][thepoint]

Business and later work

Badjie founded Ace Communications Executive (ACE) in 2009, a communications consultancy specializing in public relations, training, media consulting, branding, research, and strategic communications.[thepoint][linkedin]

She later expanded into property development through Khidra Developments, focused on real-estate development and management in The Gambia. In 2022, she helped launch YOBAAL, an e-commerce marketplace designed to help Gambian and African creative businesses sell fashion, art, crafts, music, literature, and cultural services online.[lg.wikipedia][linkedin][voicegambia]

Recognition

Her LinkedIn profile lists a National Order of The Gambia award in 2009 and recognition as a “New Generation Leader for Africa” by the African Leadership Network in 2012. She has also remained publicly active in Gambian civic and cultural events, including launching books focused on women’s experiences and social issues.[linkedin][thepoint]