Urges Youths to Change Attitudes

The Vice President, Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, deputising for President Dr Alh. Yahya Jammeh, on Monday officially opened the 7th edition of the National Youth Conference and Festival, NAYCOF 2006, in Brikama, Western Region. The event, according to Mrs Njie-Saidy, is a forum through which young people as a social grouping can discuss issues of critical concern to them and the rest of the society as a whole.

“The dignity of labour has to be respected at all costs, particularly in the area of skills acquisition. And be ready to take the non-formal sector of the country,” she said. Vice President Njie-Saidy also announced the contribution of President Jammeh towards NACONF: 200 bags of rice, 100 drums of oil, 21 bulls and D50,000.00.

She added that the challenges confronting the youths of this country is not unique to The Gambia.

She urged the youth to be proactive in national development.

According to her, youth make up over 50% of the population and therefore deserve great attention and support.

She maintained that there is no government in the world that can wholly address the problems confronting youths without the intervention of other key stakeholders.

She therefore called on youths to change their attitudes, particularly towards job selection Sheikh Omar Faye, Secretary of State for Youth, Sports and Religious Affairs, said that the youth of any nation is a force that cannot be ignored, while advising youths to learn skills and take advantage of the opportunities available.

Mr Alhagie Kebbeh, the Chairman National Youth Council, called on government to ratify the African Youth Charter and to provide at least one seat for the youth at the National Assembly. He also appealed to government for the sanctioning of the biannual event and back such by a Cabinet paper with a view to attaching a budget line for the event. The Governor of Western Region, Mr Abdou Badjie, made the welcoming remarks.