By Mohamed Kargbo
The National Youth Council, Tuesday launched the Youth Peace Security Situation Room and Online Radio at a forum held in the council premises in Kanifing.
Speaking at the launching which brought together many dignitaries and some youths, Algie Jarju, deputy director of the National Youth Council, thanked the outgoing UNFPA Country Representative, Mr. Kunle Adeniyi for the immense supports that his organization has been rendering to youth groups in The Gambia.
Mr. Jarju mentioned numerous other assistance and especially the upgrading of youth centers in Basang and Pakalinding, which he said happened during Mr. Kunles tenure, 2016-2021, and wishes him well in his new assignment ‘wherever it may be’.
The UNFPA Country Representative, Kunle Adeniyi, said “the youth radio will serve as a strong tool in amplifying the voices of young people in maintaining peace, social cohesion, positive messaging and building resilience against violence including hate speech.”
He said the early warning crisis center through a network of monitors across the country will identify potential conflict triggers, disinformation and hate speech within hot spot areas and serve as an early warning mitigation mechanism’.
Mr Adeniyi highlighted on importance of peace saying “peace remains the critical bedrock of every developmental process and it does not mean the absence of conflicts, but rather the early identification of conflict triggers and their amicable resolution through dialogues, education, knowledge and human interventions.”
He added that sustaining peace is a shared task and responsibility which needs deliberation, consistent and concerted efforts from all parties and actors at all times. This, noted, cannot take place if duty bearers and right-holders do not create safe spaces for social engagement.
Speaking, on behalf of the Minister of Youth and Sports, Honorable Bakary Y. badjie, the deputy permanent secretary Mr. Musa Mbye said the government of The Gambia, under the able leadership of His Excellency President Adama Barrow remains committed to the development of the young people. “The government recognizes the crucial role young people can play in the maintenance of peace and stability,” he told the youth.
He expressed that the President of The Gambia has always cherished and championed the course of young people “he listens to them whenever their issues and concerns are raised.”
Mr. Mbye dilated on the importance of the early warning system, when he said that, the situation room and online radio will serve as a one stop information center for security alerts across the country as it will cover both situation report and incident report. Two critical elements of peace and security issues related to young people through an online dashboard.
According to him, the launching of a situation room and an online radio by the NYC, within a framework of genuine partnership, is indeed in line with the Ministry of Youths And Sports development objectives. And it will no doubt engender numerous developments in upholding strongly our shared values and common objectives.
More so, he said, the online radio would also create the opportunity for young people within the platform to share ideas and best practices. Promote peace, stability, and social cohesion and most importantly, it will serve as medium for the plight of the entire youth community across the country.
In addition to that, the recording studio will help the council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to maximize its output as it can also encourage and promote other young people in creative arts, entertainment and the music industry.