Hon. Seedy Njie, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly
By Buba Gagigo
Hon. Seedy Njie, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, emphasized the need for global unity in leveraging science and innovation for peace and sustainability during the 149th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Our global challenges—from pandemics to climate change and cyber threats—transcend national borders. This is why international cooperation is critical for harnessing the full potential of STI,” Njie said on Tuesday.
He highlighted that The Gambia’s government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Adama Barrow, is dedicated to achieving universal electricity access, with a goal of 100% coverage by mid-2025. .
“The 23 MW Jambur Solar Power Plant, completed in 2023, is a landmark achievement in expanding our renewable energy capacity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Gambia offers the world valuable lessons in community-based natural resource management and climate resilience. In 2017, The Gambia gained global recognition for being one of the few nations to meet its national climate goals under the Paris Agreement. This success stems from our proactive approach to environmental challenges, focusing on local climate adaptation solutions,” he said.
Using the Nema-Chosso project, co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as an example, Hon. Njie remarked, “By integrating STI, the project has boosted food security in rural areas, addressed climate change, and promoted local food sufficiency mechanisms.”