By Adama Makasuba
TAF Leadership Academy on Saturday graduated 152 fellows in leadership roles after months of mentoring and training during its graduation ceremony held at the International Conference centre, Bijilo.
The group of the young leaders trained on 12 key leadership values including integrity, commitment, and empowerment among others.
Addressing the graduands president of the academy, Mustapha Njie, said: “by investing in them we are investing in the betterment of this country.”
“We want to inspire them, if they look up to people like us who are being successful, they are inspired. Not only me, but all other role models, that have lectured them. So, they have to be inspired to look up to somebody as a role model, I want to be like this successful role model Gambian when I grow up,” he added.
He urged the graduates to go back to the society to influence and share knowledge with their peers that will help the country to gain a productive leadership in the society.
Mr Njie said: “the future of The Gambia is super bright because we have very young able youths who if they are trained and guided then they will succeed. Most time we blame the youths (but) if they are trained and shown the right direction most likely majority of them will be successful, because we were at one time in their ages.”
He called on leaders of Africa to focus on changing the lives of the people they are leading, saying “who would be other leaders and not followers.”
Mustapha Njie also said his company commits 1% of its global turnover to the foundation, adding they are training 25 masons and 87 young architects.
Meanwhile, Pastor Forbes, a guest speaker, commended the foundation saying it aims to “curb youth unemployment globally.”
He urged the graduates to make use of time and opportunity, adding “Take hold of opportunity and make good use of time.”
He said there are multi-talented people in The Gambia, but said they are disorganised by not making good use of their time and opportunity.
Pastor Forbes again urged the fellows to respect and safeguard their integrity to earn respect and attract much opportunity.
“Be helpable and we can help you. Have that mindset that you can do something. Never be a quitter because quitters never succeed,” he told the fellows.
