By Adama Makasuba
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has certified two hundred and eighty-eight (288) young entrepreneurs after ten months of intensive entrepreneurship training and coaching through a financial support from the UK government.
The group is part of 364 young entrepreneurs from Kanifing Municipality, Soma, and Basse where each person benefited a sum of 150,700 pound-sterling as a start-up for their businesses in the country.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony at Bijilo on Saturday, IOM Country Chief, Ms Fumiko Nagano outlined the purpose of the training which is meant to help “strengthen the skills in setting up and manage up small businesses enterprise” and “young entrepreneurs have access to funds to expand their business and contribute to their improvement to the local economy.”
She congratulated the graduates and described their completion of the programme as a testament to their drive and hard work.
British High Commissioner David Belgrove described supporting young people on the road to self-sufficiency and jobs creation as important success.
“The Gambian economics will develop faster if we can unlock the ability of entrepreneurs and help small businesses to grow. It’s in all our interests to invest in young people and in doing so we can help deliver development and improve jobs,” he said.
He said they can develop high quality migration intervention, focusing on the promises of the young people and hopefully shine a light on what influences their decision-making in term of migration, part of our safety support and solutions in this problem.
He explained that too many young people around the world take the perilous route to irregular migration and risked exploitation because of lack of opportunity in their own countries. “We need to better understand how we can intellectually address that dilemma,” he said.
Trade Minister, Seedy Keita, described the graduation as a ‘milestone for the government of The Gambia’ in what he called in the areas of skills development and training as well as entrepreneurship in the country.
“The government of The Gambia takes particular note of this approach and will endeavour to support similar initiative and is (government) committed to take lesson learned from this innovative programme so that it can be scaled up and replicated across other regions to reach a wider group,” he noted.
Talib Ahmed Bensouda, Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, assured his council’s commitment in supporting government’s initiatives to empower the youths of The Gambia.