By Mustapha Jarju
The President`s International Award (PIA) will today garland 1,650 young Gambians with gold medals.
The youth are expected to be medalled in the full glare of senior government officials and well-wishers.
The Gambian leader, His Excellency Adama Barrow, is the Chief Guest of Honour for the maiden award event to be held at the Never Again Memorial Arch in Banjul.
The National Organizing Committee (NOC) chairpersonFatoumatta Singhateh told a press conference on Friday that about 640 young people from three schools in Banjul will be garlanded while 340 will be awarded in the KanifingMunicipality.
“In Region Two (West Coast), we have about 200 participants that are expected to be awarded,” she explained.
Mrs. Singhateh further explained that the 19 young people, who received their silver medals in the Lower River Region, have yet to receive their gold medals.
She explained that the young people would not only be decorated with gold medals but would be also awarded certificates that the Gambian leader signed.
The Chairperson of the Board of PIA, Nfamara Darboe, said theboard is “very committed” to youth development in The Gambia, adding that it is their responsibility to provide support to young people by creating an enabling environment for theirdevelopment.
Darboe described the gold medal awards as unparalleled in that the President’s signature will be appended to the certificates.
“And let me put a footnote here… People will collect the signature of the President and they just send it to the printer to replicate this and put it on the certificate but I must tell Gambians that our President, His Excellency Adama Barrow,personally took his time to sign all the 1,650 certificates,” board chairperson Dabo acknowledged.
