By Lamarana S. Jallow
The Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie recently presided over the orientation of 100 young graduates for the maiden National Youth Service Graduate Programme.
The programme, supported by the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and University of The Gambia (UTG), is meant to inculcate discipline, hard work, and loyalty to the nation by the National Youth Service Members, as well as create employment opportunities for the graduates.
Minister Badjie mentioned that one of the objectives of implementing the National Youth Service programme is to nurture young people to undertake national duties with utmost prominence and dedication to the state.
“The two-week orientation you are attending is part of the capacity building aspect to develop and prepare you to be able to work in both the public and private sectors with the highest attributes of competency, discipline, commitment, respect, accountability, and dedication to duties and the state,” he posited.
He further mentioned that the graduates will be deployed to various institutions for a period of 12 months. He urged them to demonstrate professionalism to earn trust, respect, and admiration of their colleagues at work and the people they serve.
Minister Badjie affirmed that he is confident that the graduates will exhibit the highest competence and deliver quality service at their various workplaces compared to those who do not pass through the NYSS orientation programme.
“Being the first batch of graduates for the programme, your success cannot be compromised and it has to make a difference in the ways and manners you conduct yourself in your daily work to serve our country. This must be recognized in how you execute your official functions and interactions with the people you serve at work,” he said.
He assured of his ministry’s continuous support of the programmes of the National Youth Service Scheme to enable the young people of The Gambia excel in their lives and that will accord the required technical preparations towards acquiring decent employment opportunities both in The Gambia and outside.
In conclusion, Minister Badjie pointed that the focus of his ministry is to help and create the enabling environment for decent employment opportunities for our youth to support the socio- economic development of The Gambia through harnessing the huge potentials provided by the demographic dividends of the youthful population especially utilizing the youth capabilities with the right educational qualifications built on a solid foundation of competent, discipline, loyalty and dedication.
Executive Director, National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) Mr. Abbas Bah said the programme will provide the youth or graduates the opportunity to acquire work experience. He went on to explain that, as a pilot programme, its expansion will depend on the success of this first batch.
Ms. Ndey Marie Njie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports said this activity has been in the constitution of the Gambia but has never been implemented, adding that its success will depend on the young graduates of the first group.
Other speakers included Lamin Darboe, Rep. UNDP; and Ousman Touray and they both noted the relevance of the programme.