By Sulayman Waan
The National Youth Council (NYC) has held a summit under the banner of “deciding the future together; The NYC we Want” which discussed the council’s uphill tasks and solutions – as the nation’s youth council clicked 20 years of birth.
The summit was held at National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) in Bakau.
It brought together the country’s Youth and Sports Minister Bakary Badjie and 50 leaders of youth organisations across the country.
NYC was established in 2000 to help mobilize, coordinate, register, and supervise youth organizations, implement national youth programmes as well as advice the Government on youth matters.
Speaking at the summit, Honorable Bakary Y Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sport expressed delight for the celebration, as well as the youth national conversation, described it as significant.
“It is accepting it is an institution that has undergone a lot of changes and it is an institution that has tremendous work in its file. It is recognized that the youth governing institution has obstacles that all young people have to assess collectively to make the council work efficiently,” he told the summit.
He said NYC is neither a civil service organization nor established to be against the Government but it was established to serve as an advice-giving board to the Government on youth matters.
He disclosed that “It is established to look into the affairs of young people and come with programmes that will address the needs of the youth. And addressing the needs of the youth does not mean addressing the needs of youths on youth work.”
Mr Badjie said NYC has the mandate to address both the needs of youths working at youth organizations and youth who are working in all works of life.
He called on the youth to put their differences aside and contribute to nation-building, especially youth advancement across the board.
For his part, Alhagie Jarju, NYC acting executive director said the national youth conversation that coincided with the 20 years anniversary aimed to discuss success of NYC’s achievement. Also, he added, its challenges as well as identify its current administrative issues such as weakness and opportunities and look way forward to develop the council.
Dembo Kambi, outgoing chairperson for the NYC described the celebration as very important and timely that will help ensure Gambian youths to reflect on its success, challenges, and way forward for the youth council.
He urged all participants to discuss challenges affecting the development of youth as well put mechanisms in place to ensure projects that come to empower and support youth development matters are controlled by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He expressed optimism that the new Minister is energetic and determined to make sure all youth development projects are given to his Ministry.