The National Youth Council (NYC) in collaboration with the National Youth Parliament (NYP) and other youth organizations and youth advocates would today November 1st observe African Youth Day.

This was disclosed recently at a press conference held at the National Youth Council in Bakau.

Speaking on the occasion, Pa Malick Ceesay, Executive Secretary National Youth Council said the event is for the first time to be observed in The Gambia.

He thanked the Department of State for Youth and Sports for their support to his Council. He expressed that the African Youth Charter has been highly recognized by the Gambia government and expressed hope that it would be soon ratified.

Mr Ceesay also called on youth organizations, donors and philanthropists to contribute for the success of the event.

For his part, Osman Conateh, Clerk Banjul Youth Parliament, said the African Youth Day was adopted during the 7th African Union Summit held in Banjul to be commemorated every year across the continent. The theme for this year is Youth-Adult partnership for sustainable development.

He reveals that the day would focus on the signing and ratification of the African Youth Charter, dialogue between the National Youth Council and The National Assembly Members, inter-governmental dialogue, distribution of the copies of the African Youth charter, week-long television and radio shows and displaying of banners and T-shirts.

For his part, Honorable Lamin F.Bojang, speaker of the National Youth Parliament, said that statistics have shown that 60% of the African population are young people and are faced with unemployment, rebellion due to lack of enough social amenities, migration, among other factors. Noting that the day is being set aside for young people to reflect on the realities surrounding them.

Honorable Bojang expressed the belief that the day would serve as an opportunity for adults to change their perceptions on young people.

Other speakers on the occasion include Fabakary Kalleh, Executive Secretary Youth Ambassadors of peace, and Saihou Sarr, a youth advocate.