By Saidou S Baldeh
The Gambia Telecommunication and Multimedia Institute (GTMI) Saturday graduates 120 Students in different fields of academic institutions.
Speaking at the colorful graduation, Malick Bah, acting director GTMI said the journey started way back in October 2018 when GTMI was tasked by the MoTIE under the Entrepreneurship and Private Sector Development Project [EPSDP] to train 80 Gambian youth on satellite and solar installations, repair, mobile phone and laptop repairs and Cisco Network CCNA.
He said Lamin Dampha, the DPS Ministry Trade, when some applicants for the CCNA were dropped due to limited spaces sponsored another cohort of 20.
“That brought the total number of sponsored EDSDP youths to one hundred and we salute that magnanimous gesture. The GTMI also sponsored an extra 10 as a way of modestly contributing to the project. This is why today we have 11 youths graduating,” he said;
He said the CCNA programmed which had the longest duration ended last June; “the completion of the training programmed marked the end of a journey”.
“The youths have been adequately trained and now is the time for them to enter the job market either as employed or self-employed,” he added.
For his part, Basriu Secka, the focal person- EPSDP Project said the Government of the Gambia has been committed to a private sector led policy program to drive growth and development.
However, he said policy implementation, especially over the last 5 years before the change of government has been weak which retarded the achievement of development objectives.
“The recent change of government provides a fresh impetus for policy action. The project is in line with the national vision of private sector led growth as encapsulated in the country long-term development plan vision 2020,the National Development Plan [2018-2021] the sustainable development goals and the strategic priorities outlined in UNDP strategic plans [2014-2017 and 2018-2021] the united Nations Development [CPD],” he stated.
“The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, in collaboration with the Gambia Bureau of Statistic (GBOS) through the United Nations Development Programs assistance conducted the Gambia National Labour Force Survey in 2018 and also reviewed the 2007 Labour Act to ascertain up to date information about the labor market and in turn promulgate laws and formulate sound policies that will best suit both the employees and the employers,” he added.
He said the Ministry is currently reviewing the Employment Policies and Action Plan 2010-2014 which are at advanced stages.
“Support to rural women; 800 rural women were trained by the project on micro-finance and their association banking techniques ;190 young women were trainer in NBR, 193 were trainer in WCR ,200 trained in CRR and 98 trainer in LRR. Support to youth; 36 trainer recruited by real training institution, 12 were trainer on flat panel TV repairs on web designing and on laptop and mobile repair he continues,” he said.
Sarjo Ceesay, Director Corporate Affair Company Secretary, Gamtel highlighted some of the development projects his institution undertook namely; feeding programmed for students as well.
Ceesay sent his special thanks to the entire students of the GTMI and other leaving their work to come and attend this graduated ceremony.