Africa-Press – Gambia. In a broader move to support undergraduates in gaining valuable professional work experience while enhancing internship opportunities, the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) on Tuesday convened a stakeholder engagement on its graduate programme at a ceremony held at Bakadaji.
The initiative comes as NYSS successfully concluded the deployment of service members of the second Cohort of the National Youth Service Programme, which comprises service members from various universities across the country. Further, this graduate programme is an initiative launched by the President of the Republic, H.E Adama Barrow and seeks to provide young graduates with practical exposure, skills development and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Welcoming the gathering, Mustapha Badjie, executive director of National Youth Service Scheme, recalled that the programme was initiated and also launched by His Excellency the President in 2023.
“That’s where we target to support young people, undergraduate, who complete their programs at universities. And they are able to support them through internship, so they can be able to have one set of experience.”
The event, he added, would also allow them to look at the impact of the programme while at the same time celebrate and reflect.
“To look at what are some of the challenges that we are able to have. And over the years, when we started, as we said, this is the second phase.”
Also speaking, Mucktarr M.Y. Darboe, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Technical at Ministry of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, on behalf of his minister, described the initiative as another moment to renew their commitment as they work to save the future of youth empowerment in the Gambia.
He also acknowledged the remarkable contribution and collaboration between the NYSS and the UNDP, which he said, has culminated in the successful development of the National Youth Service Graduate Program.
This partnership, he added, continues to demonstrate what is possible when national vision aligns with international solidarity, saying the Graduate Programme was to ensure that every Gambian young graduate has a fair and meaningful opportunity.
“To transition from learning to earning. Youth empowerment is not a slogan, it is a national duty and a moral imperative. So, today’s Stakeholder Engagement Forum embodies that duty. ”
Darboe reminded that it is a space where host institutions, service members and policy makers come together to deepen their understanding, as well as reinforce expectations and refine pathways that lead our young people toward productive and dignified employment.
He spoke of Minister’s Gomez’s interest in this graduate programme, as it represents one of the most strategic entry points for enhancing employability in the Gambia.
This, he further added, is in view of the fact that it would address the very gaps that too often hold our young graduates back.
“This includes lack of experience, limited exposure and insufficient practical skills.”
This programme, he added, thus confronts those barriers head on while placing young people in real world workplaces. ‘It enables them to apply theory to practice.’
Declaring the forum open, Bakary Y Badjie, minister for Youth and Sports, said the programme reminds him of the fact the development of a productive, empowered and purpose-driven youth population is not the responsibility of single institution; that is something that requires national mission.
“When young people are equipped with the right opportunities, they rise above unemployment and poverty; they become active contributors to national progress rather than passive observers.”
Minister Badjie emphasised that a nation with meaningful engaged youth is a nation destined for sustainable advancement and that is the Gambia ‘we collective stride to build.’
He reminded that this Graduate Programme is the collaborative efforts of the NYSS and the University of The Gambia, saying that it is funded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports with invaluable partnership support from the UNDP.
“Together, we aim to ensure that Gambian graduates acquire practical skills and exposure and confidence required to transition successfully into job markets.”
Youth minister, however, acknowledged that The Gambia is experiencing rapid demographic and economy change, adding that unemployment is no longer a challenge affecting only the unskilled.
“As the number of graduates increases, the labour markets become more competitive. It is therefore imperative that competent graduates are not left behind simply due to lack of experience or exposure.”
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
