Africa-Press – Gambia. Youths from Wuli West and Wuli East have appealed to President Adama Barrow to establish additional skill centers to help curb irregular migration, a growing concern in their communities. The request was delivered by Ismaila Juwara during the president’s “Meet the People Tour” stop in Baja Kunda.
Juwara said new facilities would provide young people with viable livelihood opportunities, reducing the desperation that pushes many to embark on dangerous migration routes.
“As I am talking to you today, we have lost two people to irregular migration from Sutukoba,” he told the gathering.
He also noted that the very venue hosting the meeting was fenced through a self-help initiative led by local youths, and he appealed to the president to support them with a standard sports field—another measure he believes would help discourage irregular migration.
Juwara further highlighted that 31 young people from the area recently completed entrepreneurship training, but lack the financial support needed to put their new skills into practice. He urged President Barrow to fund their start-up efforts. He concluded by commending the president for infrastructure developments in the region, especially new roads and bridges.
However, URR Governor Samba Bah pushed back on the call for new skill centers, insisting that the region already has several underutilized facilities.
“Skill centers are available in URR for the youths—unless the youths do not want to work,” he said.
Governor Bah cited a village within the region that hosts a fully equipped youth center with accommodation, and he encouraged young people to seize such opportunities. He also pointed to the Insight Training Center, which President Barrow visited earlier in the day, noting that it offers training in carpentry, plumbing, welding, and electrical work. Another center, he said, is located in Basse Manneh Kunda.
“Today, President Barrow visited a skill center at the college called Insight Training Center. They teach carpentry, plumbing, welding, and electrical,” he added.
In addition to vocational training, the governor said the Ministry of Agriculture has significantly boosted farming opportunities, adding that “no young person should say they do not have work.” He praised President Barrow for upgrading URR’s regional college to a university—an achievement he described as once unimaginable. Bah urged the youths to support the president’s development agenda if they want “peace and work.”
President Barrow did not directly respond to the request for new skill centers, but assured residents that their concerns had been noted. “All cannot be done at once, but one by one it will be done,” he said.
Reaffirming his commitment to the region, the president told the gathering, “I am your servant, and I will do as you want. Whatever you have not had in 50 years, you will have under President Barrow. You have seen the electricity, roads, schools, and hospitals — these are evident.”
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