By Ramatoulie Njie
The Government of The Gambia has reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs, innovators and startups to thrive, as the Afrimakk Initiative was officially launched with the pilot of the Young Innovators Challenge.’
The launching ceremony brought together stakeholders from government, education, entrepreneurship and innovation sectors and featured an inter-school entrepreneurship competition involving nine schools in the region.
In his official launching statement the Honourable Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mod K. Ceesay said the launching comes at an important time when young Gambians are increasingly contributing to the country’s economic transformation through entrepreneurship, innovation, job creation and the development of practical solutions to national challenges. He emphasized that young people should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries or spectators of development, but as active participants, creators, problem-solvers, innovators and future employers.
“This is why entrepreneurship and innovation must be encouraged and nurtured from an early age, taking into consideration our local realities, resources and opportunities,” the minister said. Hon. Ceesay noted that the Afrimakk Initiative is particularly important because it introduces young people to entrepreneurship and innovation while they are still in school. he said, the programme can help produce a generation of confident, innovative, resilient and responsible entrepreneurs capable of contributing meaningfully to The Gambia’s socio-economic development.
The minister however, cautioned that talent and ambition alone are not sufficient to guarantee entrepreneurial success. According to him young entrepreneurs also need an enabling environment in which they can formalise their businesses, access finance, acquire relevant skills, connect to markets, utilise digital technologies and compete fairly.
He highlighted several interventions being pursued by the Government through the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, including the Digital Single Window Business Registration System, developed in collaboration with UNCTAD and the Ministry of Justice. Once fully operational, the minister said, the system is expected to simplify business registration, encourage formalisation and make registration services more accessible to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Minister also highlighted targeted enterprise development programmes supporting young and women entrepreneurs, including the SheTrades Gambia Hub, which the minister said is helping women-owned businesses strengthen their operations and participate more effectively in the economy.
The trade minister stressed the importance of quality standards, infrastructure and fair competition in creating an environment where innovative businesses can grow. He pointed out that the Gambia Standards Bureau has developed close to 500 national standards aimed at strengthening certification and improving the quality, safety and competitiveness of locally produced goods.
According to the minister, The Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, continues to promote consumer protection and fair competition, which are essential for building consumer confidence and supporting sustainable businesses.
He tasked young people to take advantage of opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He noted that The Gambia, as an ECOWAS member state, has gazetted the provisional AfCFTA tariff concessions and established the necessary customs processing code The minister encouraged the students to be creative, innovative, resilient and committed, noting that entrepreneurship requires determination, discipline, sound management and continuous learning.
The Young Innovators Challenge will give participating students an opportunity to develop entrepreneurial ideas, strengthen teamwork and communication skills, engage in practical problem-solving, and gain mentorship and networking opportunities.
The initiative ultimately seeks to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, strengthen collaboration between schools and stakeholders, inspire youth-led enterprises and community solutions, and increase young people’s participation in innovation and development initiatives.
