Banjul, 3rd March 2025: His Excellency President Adama Barrow on Friday, 28th February 2025 presided over a grand award ceremony of the Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund Training Grants meant for 25 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions in The Gambia.
Worth about three hundred and ninety-six million, seven hundred and sixty-one thousand, three hundred and twenty-one Dalasis (GMD396,761,321.00), the SIE Fund is part of the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity (RISE) Project, aimed to build a competent and skilful resource for the socio-economic development of the country, by enhancing access to technical, innovative and entrepreneurial skills for Gambian youth while improving the relevance and quality of TVET education in the country.
Speaking at the award ceremony, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, His Excellency President Adama Barrow said the project is in line with his government’s decentralisation and social inclusion drive. “As planned, the awards will give much prominence to submissions into programmes that target widening access to TVET within the regions. By doing so, enrolment will increase for the physically challenged and other disadvantaged persons,” he added.
On his part, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez posited that no country develops without the skill set and a highly skilled citizenry. “Thus, the government under the leadership of President Adama Barrow is giving the youth the opportunity with unfolding developments”, he affirmed
The Minister declared 2025 as a year of delivery and a year of human capital development. He thanked stakeholders and the World Bank for being true partners in supporting sustainable development.
“Educating the youth means you are liberating them and giving them the opportunity to stand for today and tomorrow so that they will be in charge of their development,” he asserted.
Honourable Gomez therefore urged the student beneficiaries to make best use of the opportunity while he promised for government’s additional support.
The representative of the World Bank, Franklin Mutahakana, said the SIE Fund Training Grant initiative is not just an investment in education and training but also an investment in the youth and the future of The Gambia.
“At the World Bank Group, we are committed to fostering human capital development, recognising that a nation’s greatest asset is its people. The Gambia, with 63.7% of its population under 25 years old, has a powerful opportunity before it, to transform its youth potential into economic prosperity,” he stated.
The World Bank representative informed that both public and private TVET providers have been included, to ensure equitable access to skills training across urban and rural areas. This, he said, is critical to bridging socio-economic divides and ensuring that young people, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to thrive.
He applauded the Government of The Gambia for placing gender equality at the heart of this initiative, with a target of at least 50% of beneficiaries being women. He therefore encouraged young women to pursue careers across all sectors, breaking barriers and contributing to a more equitable workforce.
Additionally, Mr Franklin Mutahakana urged that the Fund continues to promote inclusivity for persons with disabilities, ensuring that TVET programmes are accessible to all.
The ceremony was moderated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ambassador Jainaba Jagne.
By: Fatoumata Joof & Lamin Kujabi
