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Saturday morning, I presided over the passing out and swearing in ceremony of the 3rd Batch of the NYSS – The Gambia Apprenticeship Training Program. This batch consist of150 young Gambians who have successfully completed weeks of in-camp intensive training at the Bakau campus and are ready to start their 2 years of technical and vocational skills training, with tuition and stipend covered by government in partnership with UNDP The Gambia.

Thirty young Gambian leaders, selected by the Ministry of Youth & Sports from various entrepreneurial backgrounds, have kicked off a two-week intensive seminar on Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership in Beijing, China. The training is facilitated by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) under China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), as part of ongoing China Aid programs aimed at supporting capacity building in developing nations. Day One got off to a powerful start, with sessions designed to broaden participants’ global outlook and strengthen their innovation mindset. In the morning, Former Ambassador Chen Mingming from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs delivered an eye-opening lecture on China’s National Conditions, tracing the country’s remarkable development journey, leadership structure, and its growing impact on global affairs—offering valuable inspiration to the emerging Gambian changemakers. Later in the day, the focus shifted to the booming digital economy, with a deep dive into Cross-Border E-Commerce Platforms and how such models can be adapted to the Gambian business landscape to drive youth innovation and trade opportunities. The seminar, which runs until July 22, 2025, is not just a learning platform—it’s a space for connection, exchange, and long-term collaboration between Gambia and China. Organizers hope the program becomes both a bridge of cooperation and a gateway to new ideas, empowering participants to return home with renewed purpose and a toolkit for driving national development.

The second batch of the 55-member delegation is now in Beijing for a two-week Seminar on Youth Entrepreneurship and Leadership for Gambia, hosted by AIBO under China’s Ministry of Commerce. This all-Gambian group of youth leaders and entrepreneurs was nominated by the Ministry of Youth & Sports , with support from the Chinese Embassy in The Gambia . The opening ceremony featured remarks from Mr. Mbye Saine project coordinator of The Gambia Songhai Initiative-GSI and Mr. Wu Wei the organiser in the China ministry of commerce who both emphasized the importance of youth empowerment, innovation, and China-Gambia cooperation. The seminar will explore China’s development model, digital innovation, and leadership strategies to help our young change-makers drive national progress.

On the invitation of the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Sports and Communication, Hon. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Hon. Minister of Ministry of Youth & Sports Bakary Y. Badjie is currently in Marrakech to attend the opening ceremony of the Marrakech OIC Youth Capital International Programme. While in Marrakech, the Hon. Minister held bilateral meetings with his host Minister and the President of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, H.E. Taha Ayhan. These engagements aim to strengthen the already existing relationships between the parties and explore ways to foster future cooperation for the mutual benefit of our youth constituents.

Saturday 28th June 2025. The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie paid a surprise visit to the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) headquarters to meet with corps members and assess their well-being following a heavy downpour of rain. During the visit, the minister took time to interact with the corps members, commending their dedication and resilience despite the temporary discomforts they may be experiencing. He reminded them that their presence at the NYSS is a patriotic sacrifice aimed at preparing them for deployment to various skill centres across the country. Hon. Badjie stressed the importance of being patriotic, responsible, and respectful, emphasizing that these values are the foundation of becoming good citizens. He assured the corps members that everything happening on campus from the training sessions to the physical routines is designed to ensure their welfare and physical well-being are develop.Equally build their capacity for national development. “The government wants to see young people become skilful, productive, and empowered not just job seekers, but job creators and employers” he said. He encouraged the corps members to take the skills training seriously, maintain discipline, and adhere to the principles of respect and order. He concluded by expressing confidence that the young people undergoing orientation today will emerge as valuable contributors to national progress.