The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Aji Fatou Faal
28 June 2011
The minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Sheriff ML Gomez, on Friday, 24th June 2011, presided over YMCA’s Youth Enterprise and Economic Opportunities (YEEO) forum held at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.
Speaking at the forum, Minister Gomez said the forum would be a unique one that would enhance youth enterprise, and provide the platform for leading young Gambian professionals and entrepreneurs to increase and improve economic opportunities for young people of the country. He said the forum is timely as it is organised just before the Gambia Economic Summit, on the theme: ‘Developing the productive sectors to accelerate growth and employment’.
The minister then indicated that youth development has taken centre stage in the development aspirations of the government of The Gambia. He went on to posit that that the enabling space for employment and sustainable livelihoods has become an important factor in this era of globalization and in understanding the progress of a nation, especially in developing countries like The Gambia. According to him, sustaining this progress calls for an explicit consideration of the future generation.
He said The Gambia government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and under the able leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh is determined to explore possible avenues in enhancing youth empowerment. With the introduction of the youth agricultural initiatives, youth farms, and the Program for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE), Gomez added, the ground is now set for a holistic approach to mitigate youth unemployment and other challenges impeding the realisation of national aspirations to this end.
Nonetheless, he said Government is aware of the quality contributions made by the Gambia YMCA and that it wants to register its profound gratitude to National Youth Board for being a distinct NGO that is branded to be in the business of youth.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Read the original post:
Gambia: Minister Gomez Presides Over YMCA’s Yeeo Forum