The eighth batch of 152 corp members of tthe National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), on Thursday bade farewell to each other, after successfully completing a two-year long training programme.

A colourful ceremony was held at the President International Awards conference hall in Bakau, which marked the consecration of their devotion to national duty, Alhaji Mbaye Saho, chairman of the NYSS Board of Directors, elaborated on the importance of vocational training in national development and then commended the graduates for their hard work.

Presenting a report on the NYSS 2005-2007 activities, Musa Mbaye, executive director of NYSS, said the scheme has been imparting relevant skills to the Gambian youth in various fields crucial to their livelihood and socio-economic development of the country.

He said 139 of 152 corp members have performed successfully. He observed that the engagement of youth in agricultural sector will enchance the achievement of agricultural policy objectives of diversifying the country’s productive and export base; thereby reducing youth unemployment and offering opportunities forgainful income generating ventures on a sustainable basis.

Mr Mbaye reiterated that it was in the view of Government’s recognition and commitment to youth development that NYSS was introduced as a means of enlisting early school leavers from junior and senior secondary schools into technical training programme that would place them in productive engagements.

“Since its inception,” Mr Mbaye said: “The NYSS has trained over 1,556 young men and women in the areas of rice agronomy, accounts, auto-mechanics and carpentry, among other areas,” he said.

“101 corp members from the apprenticeship training programme have successfully completed their training and have since passed out from the scheme”, he added.

He also told the gathering that those young people who had no opportunity to attend school and who left school at primary education level can find their way through the NYSS training programme.  

Gawlo Nyang, director of the National Training Authority (NTA), who was the guest speaker at  the ceremony, classed technical training as the engine of development. Mr Nyang echoed his office’s commitment to ensure that Gambian youth are skillfully trained. “Education and training are tools meant for changes in development,” he said.

Alhaji Mass Axi Gye, secretary of state for Youth and Sports, described the graduation as a landmark in the history of NYSS, saying that President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh’s ushering of the scheme was as a result of his recognition enable Gambian youth to tackle the rising socio-economic challenges.

SoS Gye said the country is still reeling from the shock deaths of youth, who had embarked on perilous journey’s to Europe by the sea. “While this is predominantly a male youth affair,” SoS Gaye said,  “We equally recognise the phenomenon of increasing anti-social behaviours, lack of comportment and self-worth esteem in young girls and women folk.

”He reassured his department’s commitment in the development of the Gambian youths.

Marie Saine-Firdaus, attorney general and secretary of state for Justice and Ousman Sonko, secretary of state for Interior, Fatou Mbaye, director general of the Gambia Technical Training Institute, amongst other dignitaries, attended the ceremony.

Basiru Boye, one of the graduates, gave the vote of thanks, while Marcel Mendy, public relations officer of NYSS, chaired the ceremony.