A group photo at the award ceremony
By Fatou Sillah
As part of The Gambia’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations, His Excellency President Adama Barrow presided over 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 award ceremony took place on Friday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo.
The initiative, amounting to GMD 396,761,321, is aimed at enhancing the technical and entrepreneurial skills of Gambian youth. The grants will directly benefit over 1,087 students enrolled in TVET programs that align with The Gambia’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan, which prioritizes long-term economic growth and development.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Barrow reaffirmed his government’s commitment to youth empowerment through education and skills development.
“I am proud to announce that my government will disburse about three hundred and ninety-six million, seven hundred and sixty-one thousand, and three hundred and twenty-one Dalasis (GMD396,761,321. 00) of the SIE Fund to empower our youth. An initial distribution of thirty-one million Dalasis (GMD 31 million) will be done today. Altogether, the Government will award one thousand and eighty-seven (1087) scholarships across twenty-five (25) public and private TVET institutions,” He stated
The President emphasized that the initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (MoHERST) to build a skilled and competent workforce that will drive The Gambia’s socio-economic development.
“The SIE Fund is a component of the World Bank-funded Resilience, Inclusion, Skills, and Equity Project (RISE). This is an ongoing project being implemented by MoHERST towards building a competent and skilled resource for the socio-economic development of the country. In part, it seeks to fulfill one of the targets in the higher education sector Strategic Plan (2021–2025) and the Recovery Focused on National Development Plan (2023-2027),” He Said.
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, reiterated that the primary objective of the SIE Fund is to expand access to technical, innovative, and entrepreneurial training for Gambian youth while improving the relevance and quality of TVET education. He also expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its continued support of youth development initiatives.
The World Bank Resident Representative in The Gambia, Franklin Mutahakana, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the country’s future. “It is an investment in the youth and the future of The Gambia. The World Bank remains committed to fostering human capital development, recognizing that a nation’s greatest asset is its people,” he remarked.
The 25 beneficiary institutions include Sass Cosmetology and Skills Training Academy, Gaye Njoro Skills Academy, Future Starts Now Gambia, Sahel Films Academy, USET Regional Centers, Sterling Technical Centre, Media Academy for Journalism and Communications, Crab Island TVET Centre, Chamen Technical Training, Fajara Skills Development Centre, Gambia Telecommunications and Multimedia Institute, Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute, Hugs Training Center, and Insight Training Center, among others.