World Youth Skills Day has become an official (UN Day) starting from 2015 and raises awareness about the importance of youth skills development.
Despite the youth employment rate increasing compared to the previous year, the number of young people without a job remains over 10 per cent in many countries (OECD, 2016). Perhaps, more alarming, the number of young people out-of-school and not in education, employment and training (NEETs) is increasing.
At the same time, young people are also faced with the question how they will address their country’s current and future challenges. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for a shift towards more sustainable and equitable economic societies, which will no doubt result in changes in the world of work and education.
The event was jointly organized by the Gambia Gold Award Holders Association (GAHA) and the Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC) in partnership with the Gambia National Youth Council (NYC) on the theme: the need for concerted commitment on skills and entrepreneurship development to mitigate illegal migration.
We joined the global actions in recognizing the valuable contributions and potentials of skills towards sustainable development. This is with the view to promote skills and entrepreneurship as means of curbing illegal migration and other social vices.
The event was able to bring Stakeholders in development of skills to present and deliver speeches and as well bring a panel before the youth for discussions, among these were MoHERST, NEDI, PIA, MOYS & NAQAA as key institution mandated with skills development in the Gambia. And the attendants of participant was 54 this include organisation, institution and Stakeholders in development of skills.
The ceremony was chair by Momodou Lamin Gassama, GAHA admin sectary and also a GYCC board member.
The welcoming remark was present by Ismaila Sambou GYCC board President, an also present a wonderful speck about youth in skills.
He said, According to a recent International Labour Organization (ILO) publication, 71 million young people were estimated to be unemployed in 2015 (13.1% youth unemployment rate) this is the global figure whiles in The Gambia 36% of the youths are unemployed and this figure is expected to increase in most regions by 2018.
The CEO of Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce (GYCC) and also a chairperson of Gold Award Holders Association (GAHA) Mr Baboucarr Kebbeh also deliver a wonderful joint statement for GYCC/GAHA.
Mr Sainey Darammeh (Executive Director of President International Award (PIA) also deliver a wonderful presentation about Youth inclusion in National Youth Development Policy.
The representative from the Minister of High Education Research Science and Technology also give a very important key note address to the ceremony.
Group photo
During panel of the world youth skills day Commemoration, Mr. Bumi Camara of the MDI presentated on ”Analysis of the contributions of skills acquisition and development in the socio-economic of the Gambia.
While Abdoulie Singhteh of UGYD Association presented on “career guidance and development.
This was followed by a panel from National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI), Gambia Immigration Department (GID) and National Accreditation & Quality Assurance (NaAQA). They all give wonderful presentation about skills development and opportunities available for young people in the Gambia in achieving national entrepreneurship policy.
