Abdoukabirr Daffeh, Program Manager, National Enterprise Development Initiative has said that his institution is committed to fulfilling the objective of the National Development Plan ((2018-2021) by leaving no youth behind.
“We recognized that youth are the engines of growth and will be the essential pillar for any development that The Gambia aims to achieve,” he said during the opening of a five-day training and coaching on business development in Brikamaba, Central River Region on Saturday.
The training supported by IMVF brought together 16 returnees from the Central and Upper River Region to build their capacity for business development.
The participants (Migrant Returnees) will be exposed to business concept, business management and leadership, entity concept in business, record keeping and financial management, and marketing and market research among others.
According to Mr. Daffeh, NEDI has over the years trained thousands of potential and existing youth and women entrepreneurs most of whom are doing remarkably well in their different enterprises.
He said NEDI has built a strong partnership with other government agencies and EU structures such as YEP and GIZ to implement training on entrepreneurship and related value chain areas for youth and women in the country.
“We also build the capacities of youth and women in Agropreneuship and related value chain areas and provide the platform for young entrepreneurs to explore opportunities and strengthen their entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.
He added: “NEDI works with and through young people to enable them re-position themselves as key players in the economic system.”
He said they have established a network of youth groups and chapters in LRR, CRR, URR, NBR, and WCR. The youth groups recently have been provided with farming equipment and have started generating income and employment. The chapters have also provided synergy among the young entrepreneurs of the country; they share new ideas and help to create employment opportunities for the youth.
Lamin Jabbie, Program Officer, Social Cohesion Component, Agency for Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) described the training as very important to the reintegration, advancement, and development of the migrant returnees.
He said business is very key to the growth of all as it’s one of the ventures that can effectively address poverty and unemployment among young people.
“The empowerment of youth with skills is vital to the development and addressing some societal problems,” he said.
He added that his office and IMVF entered into a partnership to support migrant returnees to be effectively reintegrated into society by providing them with skills training and development.
He noted that there are a lot of opportunities available in the country that one can take advantage of and become successful without leaving the Gambia.
“The pastures are also green in The Gambia. We can all make it here! Let’s just take advantage of the opportunities provided to us by the government and its development partners,” he said.
He challenged the participants to take advantage of the training while encouraging them to engage their fellows to stay in the country.
Prepared by Sulayman Ceesay
Senior Media Assistant – Ministry of Youth and Sports
