Ngasireh Irene Touray, a 21-year old Gambian girl, on Friday launched her first book entitled “Teenage life Crisis” at the Yahya Jammeh Joint Officers Mess in Kotu.

Irene, as she is commonly called, is also the president of the Bethel Youth Fellowship. Officially launching the book on behalf of the president, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Alahagie Cham, permanent secretary at DoSCIIT, described Ngasireh Irene Touray as  a hard working dedicated and determined young girl.

PS Cham also expressed hope that the author will improve to be a great writer.
“This is a milestone event in The Gambia. The youths  of this country should work hard and try to do exactly what she (the author) has done because most of us have the potential but we find it difficult to do what she has done,” PS Cham remarked.

He encouraged young people to take up writing as a hobby and also called on the public to support Ngasireh Irene Touray to continue the good job she has started.

For his part, Dr Pap Sey, deputy permanent secretary at the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, on behalf of the secretaries of state for  Education and Communication, Fatou Lamin Faye and Fatim Badjie-Janneh respectively, said the launching of this book lends credence to the educational system of The Gambia.

“The book is typically Gambian and it depicts the true Gambian social values in our daily activities. This shows that our educational system is not a failing one,” Dr Sey remarked.

In reviewing the book on behalf of Mrs Neneh Macdouall Gaye, managing director of the Observer Company, Thomas Kojo Quayson Junior, chief proof reader and deputy editor- in -chief at The Daily Observer , said “Teenage Life Crisis” is made up of three short stories. 

He added that the book focuses on teenage lives and its ups and downs with more emphasis on the latter.“It is also a book about women and the problems and challenges that they encounter growing up in our society,” Quayson remarked.

He commended the author for using simple English to express the ideas in the book.
He also described the book as an interesting publication that can be read by both adults and children.

For her part, Ngasireh Irene Touray, the author, said her book depicts a true Gambian social setup especially on issues like poverty, unwanted pregnancy, betrayal and other issues affecting the youths.

MS Touray also thanked President Jammeh for his support. She thanked the Daily Observer and all those who supported her in one way or the other.

Mr. George Gomez of the Gambia National Olympics Committee chaired the ceremony.  The book launching was attended by family members of the author, relatives, friends, well wishers and invited guests.

At the end of the ceremony, certificates of appreciation were presented to all those who contributed immensely to the launching of the book.