One Pa Ousman Njie, a native of Jamali village in Central River Region (CRR), has established a new skills centre in Jamali Wakilary, in a bid to complement government’s effort in providing vocational training to the Gambian public.

The establishment of the centre was sponsored by Future In Our Hands (FIOH) in Sweden at the tune of one million dalasis.

The aim of the centre is to empower women by giving them training in various arts such as tie and dye, sewing and soap-making.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony held at Jamali Ganyado village, the leader of the women, Madame Wayne, said the initiative to construct the skills centre came out of a popular demand by the residents of the village.

For his part, the initiator of the centre, Pa Ousman Njie, said he was delighted and felt successful at establishing a skills centre.

He said the importance of a skills centre cannot be over-emphasised, adding that the skill centre is mainly for the community of Jamali Wakilary and its environs.

Mr Njie also commended FIOH for sponsoring the construction of the centre, saying it is a complement of government’s commitment in achieving social and economic development for the country.

Mr Njie appealed further to philanthropists, NGOs and the government to give an helping hand to the progress of the centre, saying that they also plan to establish a health centre in the community.

Other speakers on the occasion included Mr Baboucarr Gaye, the CDO officer in CRR, and Baboucarr Suwareh, Regional Education Director for the region