Pleroma School's Kumba Sowe, Crowned 2025 COMMOM Champion
Contestants at COMMOM 2025 Competition © COMMOM
By Fatoumata Jaiteh
Kumba Sowe of Pleroma School in Busumbala has emerged the winner of the 2025 COMMOM Championship Finals, held on 29th November 2025 at the Babucarr O. Joof Conference Centre in Brikama. The annual competition continues to grow in significance as schools across The Gambia celebrate excellence, discipline, and academic commitment among young learners.
The event was organised by Take M Transformation Organisation, a youth-focused educational initiative known for promoting academic excellence, moral development, and community transformation. Through programs like the COMMOM competition, the Take M Transformation Organization aims to nurture confident, intellectually curious, and disciplined Gambian children who can excel in both academic and personal pursuits.
Take M was founded by Mr Tunde, the proprietor of the organisation, who is widely admired for his dedication to empowering young Gambians through education, discipline, and positive values. His vision for Take M is rooted in the belief that every child has potential that can be ignited when given the right guidance and opportunities. Under his leadership, Take M has grown into a respected platform that nurtures academic excellence while promoting character development. Mr Tunde’s commitment, passion, and hands-on involvement in programs like the COMMOM competition, Wordland Africa, and The Spelling Bee continue to inspire students, teachers, and communities across the country. His work stands as a testament to what visionary leadership can achieve in shaping the next generation of Gambian leaders.
Winner Kumba Sowe of Plemora School © Sirra Chorr
A strong partner in this initiative has been Africell, which continues to sponsor the COMMOM competition for the second year. Africell supports the event by providing prizes, logistical support, and motivation for participants. This year, the company rewarded the top ten finalists with simple mobile phones, further demonstrating its commitment to youth development and educational empowerment in The Gambia.
The final event brought together parents, teacher coordinators, and students from various participating schools. The first round featured 25 participants, all selected from the preliminaries held on 22nd November 2025. During the final, each participant was given 2 minutes to complete reciting the multiplication table. Contestants were eliminated for mistakes or exceeding the allotted time, gradually narrowing the competition down to the required 10 champions.
After identifying the top ten, each received their Africell-sponsored prize, but the competition continued with one last decisive round. Participants were now given only 1 minute to complete their recitations. From this intense final stage emerged the top three champions:
1st Place – Kumba Sowe (Pleroma School, Busumbala)
2nd Place – Mariatou Jarjue
3rd Place – Isatou S. Ceesay
Top three finalists © Sirra Chorr
One of the judges, Mr Sainey Aminata Badjie, emphasised the broader purpose of the contest, stating that the competition is about “nurturing and moulding a Gambian child, not just about who came first.”
Speaking to Askanwi, the champion Kumba Sowe expressed joy and pride in her achievement.
“I came out second during last year’s COMMOM competition, and taking first this year is more than an achievement,” she said, reflecting on her improvement and determination.
