Continuing his nationwide tour, Sheikh Omar Faye, Secretary of State for Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs and delegation on Monday held a meeting with the NYSS regional committee and youth leaders in Basse, Upper River Region.

According to reports, SoS Faye told the gathering that as individuals, communities, and governments have a moral duty to care for the young people. He stated that we have a moral obligation to reach out to the poor and the needy and as well, owe it to our children and grand children to address the issue of youth empowerment as a strategy for dealing with various problems affecting our youths including youth poverty, resulting from many demographic, economical and social factors”.

The NYSS, he said, is a champion in advocating young people’s rights to education, health and employment. According to him, the government of The Gambia under the dynamic leadership of President Yahya Jammeh recognises that investment in young people promotes social and economic growth. SoS Faye lamented that youth development cannot be fully attained, if young people continue to demonstrate a lackluster attitude.

Speaking earlier, the new Executive Director of NYSS, Mr. Musa Mbye said studies carried out by a taskforce set up by the government to review the sustainability and cost effectiveness of the NYSS and the impact assessment and tracer study submitted in 1998, confirmed that, nearly 10 years after its creation, NYSS youth programme in its current form, still meets the needs of young people. “The passage to the new millennium has encouraged NYSS to offer two brand new programmes- the Apprenticship training programme and the maritine and fishing. These innovative programmes have been very well received. In a bid to improve its performance at all levels, the management team with the support of the Board of Directors, decided to introduce a nationwide result-based management method,” he noted.

Other speakers included Mambanyick Njie, deputy Permanent Secretary, DoSYS & RA, Baboucarr Mbye-Saho, and Chairman Board of Directors, NYSS and Pa Malick Ceesay, Executive Secretary, National Youth Council (NYC).