Africa-Press – Gambia. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has launched a youth-centred initiative aimed at tackling irregular migration by expanding access to skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities for young Gambians.
The programme, dubbed “Turning Tides,” was unveiled on Tuesday by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, during a high-level strategic partners’ breakfast meeting held at a hotel in Kololi. The meeting brought together key stakeholders from The Gambia’s higher education and development sectors.Professor Gomez explained that Turning Tides is designed to address the root causes of irregular migration by prioritising opportunity creation rather than enforcement measures.
“Turning Tides addresses irregular migration not through enforcement, but through opportunity,” he said. “We will train 3,000 young people in market-relevant skills, place them in 3,000 paid internships with a 60 per cent job conversion target, and support 150 start-ups.”
He underscored the government’s commitment to encouraging young people to build their futures at home, stressing that meaningful opportunities and pathways to success exist within The Gambia.
“This is a US$9.65 million investment in hope, in dignity, and in the productivity that comes when talent meets opportunity,” Professor Gomez added.
Highlighting the country’s demographic profile, the minister noted that The Gambia is at a critical juncture, with young people constituting a significant proportion of the population.
“The Gambia stands at a defining moment. With 64 per cent of our population under the age of 25, this demographic dividend can either propel us into prosperity or become a source of profound instability,” he said.
Professor Gomez further observed that many young Gambians possess the talent and ambition to succeed but are often compelled to undertake dangerous migration routes due to limited opportunities at home.
“Our young people are talented, ambitious, and hungry for opportunity. When that hunger cannot be satisfied at home, we witness the tragic phenomenon of irregular migration,” he stated.
He concluded by describing irregular migration not as a security challenge, but as a development issue rooted in limited economic opportunities.
“This is not a migration crisis; it is an opportunity crisis, and we have designed solutions,” the minister said.
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