By Ismaila Sonko
The Gambian President Adama Barrow has vowed that his government ultimate target is to reduce the unemployment rate of the Youth from 38% to 25% in the medium term.
He made the remarks on Wednesday at the opening of the Youth Connekt Gambia Summit on 16th -17th January, 2018 at a Local Hotel.
It is being held under the theme: “Youth & Innovation Harnessing Talents for Economic Transformation”
The Youth Connekt Gambia Summit brought together relevant government ministries and all stakeholders to discuss and strategies on how to achieve Youth Connekt Gambia goals of creating 100,000 jobs by 2021 in sustainable job environment in emerging industries.
‘‘We have increased the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and its satellite agencies for the better performance through the Ministry and the National Youth Council,’’ he said.
President Barrow said a new policy will be formulated soonest and aligned to the National Development Plan (NDP, 2018-2012).
President Barrow noted that this discussion is government firm commitment to strengthen the National Youth Council as the interface between government and young peoples.
He also said that this will be fully operational in all the districts and the underlying strategy is to make the council better channel to communicate government policies and sharing the concern of the youth across the country.
‘‘It is expected that the infrastructure projects inaugurated recently launched in the Upper River Region will strengthen and improve the economic activities of young entrepreneurs in the region,’’ he pointed out.
According to him, a high impact solution to harnessing the demographic dividend in Africa, the Youth Connekt Africa has been embraced for its innovative design and implantation strategies.
He added that it is for providing the youth with the much needed skills, network and opportunities for them to scale-up their initiative and acquire decent jobs to contribute to economic growth.
President Barrow also said this unique Pan-African Regional Initiative is quite important and relevant for his government as it focuses on very important components of the NDP.
He then pointed out that the goal and target of the Youth Connekt Africa Initiative aimed at addressing youth unemployment, skill gaps, youth leadership and bridging the gender gaps in all sectors are matters concerned.
He also said that these goals are rooted in local context and linked with the strategic priorities of the NDP making the initiative highly commendable.
‘‘We appreciate that the goals cast a sharp focus on education, entrepreneurship and employment for the youths to harness their potential for socio-economic transformation,’’ he noted
‘‘I have noted further, and with satisfaction that Youth Connekt Gambia seeks to create education and skills training opportunities for the youth while facilitating job creation and placements for their identify and nurturing leaders that provide solutions to participate in advocacy and become role models in their communities,’’ he observed.
He called for the development of sustainable initiatives and policies that will reduce gender inequality in education technology, leadership roles and in the world of work.
He urged the Youth Connekt Africa to support the Youth Connekt Gambia with technical support to establish a central hub that connects all innovation centers across the country.
He also called for Nurture Digital Ambassadors in each region to collectively help connect and digitally empower Gambian youths through decentralization.
