1,087 Students to Benefit from Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Fund Training Grants

By Buba Gagigo

President Adama Barrow will officiate the awarding ceremony for the Skills, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund Training Grants, benefiting 1,087 students across 25 public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions nationwide. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (MoHERST) has allocated over GMD 396 million for the initiative.

As part of The Gambia’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations, MoHERST expressed enthusiasm for President Barrow’s participation in the event, which aims to strengthen technical skills and entrepreneurial capacities among Gambian youth.“The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) is thrilled to announce that His Excellency Adama Barrow, the President of the Republic of The Gambia, as part of the 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations activities, will officiate the award of the Skills, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SIE) Fund Training Grants to 25 public and private Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Institutions across the country,” the Ministry announced.

The Higher Education Minister said the Fund is expected to benefit 1,087 students who are pursuing TVET courses in priority fields that are aligned with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP 2023–2027).

“With an allocation of over GMD 396 million, the SIE Fund Training Grant is designed to strengthen technical skills and entrepreneurial capacities among Gambian youth through institutional, training, and start-up grants for five years. This initiative is part of the World Bank Resilience, Inclusion, Skills and Equity (RISE) Project, in collaboration with MoHERST and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA),” MoHERST said.

The fund supports TVET students in priority fields aligned with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP 2023–2027). To guide its implementation, MoHERST has developed a comprehensive manual for the project’s duration.

The awarding ceremony is set for Friday, February 28, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo, beginning at 10:00 AM.