By Lama Jallow- Information Officer, MoYS
The National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) has started a six-day entrepreneurship training program for migrant returnees at its Secretariat located at Kanifing in Kanifing Municipal Council.
The workshop, which commenced, Friday, 18th March 2022, is meant to enable returnees build their capacity in entrepreneurship program, create employment opportunities and re-establish them into society so they can participate in the socio-economic development of The Gambia.
The training will also motivate and harness the returnees in their diverse creativity as regarding enterprise creation, at the same time instill in them the virtues of economic empowerment to be drivers of their own economy.
In his opening remarks, Saikou K. Sanyang , Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) disclosed that one of the key challenges facing youth in the country is unemployment and this is a common issues in other countries, too.
The government of The Gambia and development agencies is concerned with youth employment creation and reduction of irregular migration, he said. While added that it has prompted development strategies to mitigate these challenges by ensuring that youth who are faced with challenges of unemployment and irregular migration are provided with training and capacity building skills in entrepreneurship management to enable them start and manage their own business enterprises.
PS Sanyang stated that the Ministry recognized the important contributions from key development partners in managing irregular migration challenges and youth entrepreneurship development.
He thanked the European Union funding through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for partnering with the NEDI to train 400 returnees with target of 40 participants in batches.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that the skills and trainings will assist the beneficiaries to to manage their business profitably if the knowledge gain is implemented in the skill acquires after the training.
Abass Bah General, Manager at NEDI disclosed that the programs they have will help to support in no small measure the success of the returnees by reintegrating them in Gambian society.
He added that if the returnees utilize the training it will link to jobs opportunity and it will ensure effective and sustainable creation of youth enterprise within the country as it will bridge the gaps of unemployment.
“We will do monitoring and evaluation to know the impact and challenges faced by these beneficiaries, during the implementation of their enterprises,” he informed the trainees.
Mr Bala Musa Konateh project Assistant IOM said the joint initiatives aims to contribute to the strengthening of migration governance and sustainable reintegration of returnee migrants in the Gambia.
He explained that IOM The Gambia signed an agreement with NEDI to support The Gambia to improve the reintegration of returning migrants and to strengthen national structures and capabilities in term of managing.
He therefore urged the beneficiary to demonstrate commitment and take the training seriously.
Honorable Pa Malick Ceesay, Deputy Director of National Youth Council said his agency with other institution under MoYS is always committed to supports young people especially those interested in starting and running their own business enterprises by providing coaching and mentoring in capacity building.
