By Lamin Kujabi & Lamarana Jallow
Friday, September 8th was the official launching of the maiden edition of the National Youth Service Graduate Programme by His Excellency President Adama Barrow at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
Supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the programme is being implemented by the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, in partnership with the University of The Gambia. This pilot phase targets 100 young graduates from the University of The Gambia who will be serving a year’s internship in various institutions in the country.
In his inauguration speech, President Barrow declared that the long-term plan is to make the National Youth Service Programme compulsory and a precondition for employment in the civil service, in which every young Gambian who graduates from university would have to enrol and serve the country before going elsewhere.
He affirmed that the key objective of the National Youth Service Programme is to prepare the youth to undertake national duties with utmost seriousness and dedication. “Rooted in this undertaking is their preparation for leadership roles and execution of other national functions and responsibilities,” he added.
He said funding of this programme by his government demonstrates their strong desire to ascertain that the UTG graduates are gainfully employed within and outside the country.
He assured that the Programme will be expanded gradually through the collaborative links established between the NYSS and the UTG and their partners like the UNDP.
“I assure you all that, after the successful implementation of this pilot programme, we will increase the funding level to accommodate more Gambian graduates from the UTG, as well as other universities in the country”.
The President called on government institutions and the private sector to support the programme and take on board some of the participants as interns or on-the-job trainees.
Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports said the graduate programme is designed to empower young people and avail them opportunity to serve their country as well as create pathway for knowledge building, skills acquisition and employment opportunities.
“You being the first batch means you will serve as the ambassadors of this programme; its success will largely depend on how well you do in a place where you are going to be placed,” he told the graduates.
Abass Bah, Executive Director, National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) said by funding these types of programmes for youth graduates, government is laying the foundation for building a well-trained, dependable, respectful and competent civil and public service now and in the future.
“I am confident if we can increase these programmes sooner than later we can quickly move this country forward,” he said.
Commending the President Mr Bah said: “The amount of resources provided by your government to youth development is unprecedented.”
Prof. Herbert Robinson, Vice-Chancellor, University of The Gambia (UTG) challenged the graduates to make good use of the opportunity and build themselves.
“Your success will effectively impact the future of this programme, “ he told them.