Group Photo Of The Stakeholders At the Conference Center
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC) hosted the Youth SkillRise and Innovation Forum on Thursday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo. The event brought together young leaders, industry experts, and policymakers for a day of inspiration, collaboration, and learning.
The forum aimed to empower youth through keynote speeches, discussions, and workshops centered on skill-building, technology in education, and entrepreneurship. It provided practical tools to help young people drive innovation and create sustainable pathways for the future.
This year’s forum, according to GYCC, sought to unite passionate youth leaders, industry experts, policymakers, and community advocates to explore innovative approaches to skill development and youth empowerment.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, highlighted the government’s commitment to addressing youth-related challenges through various intervention mechanisms.
Hon. Keita also encouraged young people to refine their skills, broaden their knowledge through extensive reading, and prepare themselves to take on leadership roles in shaping the nation’s future.
“If you look at the allocation to youth matters it is easily more than 30% to 35% of the national project, but that’s not the only intervention there are different arms of Government that are there to support the youth agenda and I will hasten to say under the Ministry of Finance we have a dedicated entity that is the social development fund that is there to provide access to finance for the youths and entrepreneurs,” he told the youth.
He emphasized that the timing of the event is highly fitting, as it focuses on skill development within the framework of a youth forum.
He also pointed out that, beyond the national budget, the Social Development Fund has a resource allocation exceeding 300 million dalasis, intended to provide financing for entrepreneurs, women, and farmers to help tackle the pressing issue of limited access to funding.
“For you as youth you are the future, and you are the hope of the nation. I am particularly concerned and hopefully that you will not be in the despair mode thinking that the government can do everything. We need to have a meeting of minds, you bring your ideas to the table, and you approach the right and relevant Institutions to knock on their doors to shake up the status quo and request for the rightful assistance that has been provided,”Hon. Keita emphasized.
He urged young entrepreneurs to embrace persistence, resilience, and a go-getter mindset in pursuit of their goals.
Saine also encouraged them to be proactive—seeking opportunities and knocking on the doors of authorities to address challenges, while requesting information and support whenever necessary.
In his remarks, Wally Saine, Vice President of the Board for Industry at the Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that the forum is more than just an event. He described it as a movement that celebrates and nurtures the skills, ambitions, and dreams of young people across the nation.
“At the Gambia Youth Chamber of commerce we believe deeply in The power of youth driven innovation, we believe that every young person deserves a platform to develop so case and transform their ideas into real world solutions. This is why we are here today to support you, to inspire you and to help you grow,” he said.
Mr. Saine emphasized that, when observing the world today, it is clear that many challenges in fields such as technology, agriculture, healthcare, and business require innovative thinking and a willingness to push beyond traditional boundaries.
” As we celebrate the diversity of skills and the ideas in this room, let’s also recognize the incredible resilience it takes to pursue a dream. The journey of an innovator is never an easy one. It demands courage, creativity and is often sacrificed so let us applaud the courage you have shown bringing your ideas to life and pursuing excellence in your chosen fields. You are already a source of inspiration to others,”
The Commercial Councillor of the People’s Republic of China Embassy in The Gambia, Tong Zhang, emphasized the ongoing collaboration between The Gambia and China in youth development initiatives. He particularly highlighted the importance of cooperation in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) sector for empowering young people.
Modou Lamin Gassama, the Board President of the Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce, urged young entrepreneurs to actively engage in the session.
The Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce serves as the umbrella organization and voice for young entrepreneurs in the country. It is a youth-led trade support body dedicated to helping micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) connect with the business environment, create market opportunities, and enhance potential for growth and income.
One of the organization’s key objectives is to advocate for the development of policies that foster a well-organized, vibrant, and sustainable trade environment that is conducive to young entrepreneurs and their businesses.