By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Minister of Youths and Sports, Hon. Bakary Y Badjie on Friday inaugurated the Farafenni Youth Center at a colorful ceremony held at Farafenni, North Bank Region.
The center was designed to serve as a hub for youth innovation, skills development, sports, and dialogue. It will be a safe space where young people can gather, learn, and take part in initiatives that will shape their futures and the future of the nation.
Hon Bakary Y Badjie speaking at the inauguration ceremony noted that the Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, remains committed to creating an enabling environment for youth empowerment, skills training, and sports development.
The “Government committed to creating opportunity for young people, and under the leadership of President Adama Barrow we will continue to work with our development partners, local authorities, and the private sector to expand opportunities for Gambian youth across all regions,” he emphasized.
He added that the youth center will provide services that include the rental of the multi-purpose hall for events, conferences, and community engagements, as well as accommodation facilities designed to support youth programs, visiting partners, and other initiatives.
More so, the center aims to serve as a hub for capacity-building, networking, and youth empowerment, providing a conducive space for skills development, innovation, and collaboration.
Therefore, he said, “We look forward to engaging with all stakeholders to explore potential partnerships and opportunities that will enhance the impact of the Youth Center.”
Hon. Badjie encouraged young people of Farafenni and other stakeholders to take total ownership of the facility, protect it, and make the best use of the opportunities it presents while using the moment to thank EU through the EU Development Trust Fund, ENABLE, TEKKI FI and ITC.
Governor Lamin Saidykhan tipped the facility to be another significant milestone for youths in the region, noting that it will empower and elevate youths for their development aspiration.
He asserted that it would showcase the region’s development trajectory and a place where skill can be nurtured, vocational training, job placement, to discuss sexual and reproductive health issues among others that will strengthen youth’s capacity to showcase their potential.
The Governor challenged the Regional Youths Committee to promote community consultation on the management of the youth center to embrace effective management strategy to enhance governance, and proper upkeep and promote sound financial discipline while assuring his office monitoring and accountability.
Governor Saidykhan congratulated the youths of the region for their outstanding performance during the last NAYCONF and called on them to reciprocate the unity, collaboration, consultation, and social accountability wherever they are.
He thanked implementing partners and the EU for complementing government efforts in youth development.
Chief Mustapha Dibba of Upper Badibou also thanked the International Trade Centre (ITC) and affiliated EU partners for the construction of a youth center for young people of Farafenni and its environment. He noted that the space created would empower and uplift the next generation to showcase their potential through skills acquisition and sports development.
Chief Dibba also thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports for championing youth development.
Mariama Ida Jatta, Chairperson of the National Youth Council said the center’s vision is to create a safe space for youths, to harness new potential skills, and an aspiration to foster a spirit of civic engagement.
Enrica Pellacani, Head of EU Cooperation said the center constructed under the EU TEKKI FI program by ENABEL will create opportunities for working and personal development, thus will be a place where young people can contribute to the community and nation.
She stressed the need for proper upkeep of the facility, saying the youth center is a practical demonstration of EU support to the government for the development of young people. EU recognizes the importance of young people in shaping the future of any country. The Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) contributed significantly to skills acquisition and development, and self-employment creation.
More so, she disclosed, the EU is supporting the government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) to improve and enhance effective learning at Senior Secondary Schools to boost performance.
On migration, she said, a significant number of young people use all forms of means to get to Europe in search of opportunity and unfortunately many lost their lives before they could reach it. So, “The center would promote self-center in skills development, EU will support the government and people to enhance resilient economy for the betterment of its citizenry. Use the space to showcase talent and a brighter future in all spheres of development.”
Pa Modou Gaye, Chairperson Regional Youths Chairman, described the moment as historic for young people in the region saying it would help to nurture their potential and skills.
