142 young people have on Thursday graduated from The Gambia National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) on accelerated apprenticeship training program after nine months to acquire skills for self-employment, with funding from the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP).
Speaking at the ceremony at franchise hotel in Bakau, Hadrammeh Sidibeh, the minister for youths and sport said the project is in line with the government’s national development plan priority of youth empowerment and development for economic growth and poverty reduction. He added that the program is a clear manifestation that the government is committed to enhancing youth employment.
“We as government have a moral duty and responsibility to care about our young people and address their issues as a strategy for dealing with various problems affecting our youth, including youth poverty resulting from many demographic, economic and social factors.”
He explained that unemployment, particularly among young people, is a large and growing problem in many countries including the Gambia. He said creating more and better employment opportunities for young people is not only a way of poverty reduction but also an investment in our common future.
He added that the skills young people acquired will help contribute to the development of the local economy of our country.
“Government will continue to partner with development partners in accelerating skills development among young people in order to tackle unemployment and poverty.”
He emphasized that the ministry of youth and support through NYSS serves as a place of hope for young people and we share the yearning and aspirations of our government, in its commendable drive to build a progressive and stable nation that all Gambians want.
Emanuel Mendy, the director of NYSS explained that the project came as a result of several consultations and working sessions with both the ICT and YEP team, NAQAA and the private sector. He added that the project aims was to support young people acquire skills for a sustainable livelihood.
“The grandaunts were selected from all regions of the country to undertake initially a six months training but was extended for another three months, making it nine months of intensive training in five skill areas ranging from Auto Mechanic/Electrical, Brick-Laying, Plumbing, Tailoring and Rice Agronomy.”
He thanked YEP for funding the training and that young people of the country are ready and willing to learn skills that are vital for the socio economy development of the country.
