The nationwide tour and townhall engagements on youth and sports development have officially come to an end with a well-attended meeting held Tuesday at the Wesleyan School Hall on Dobson Street, Banjul. The final engagement brought together young people, religious leaders, the council of elders, community members, sports administrators, youth committees, athletics officials, and other key regional stakeholders to openly discuss issues affecting Banjul and the wider youth population. Discussions centered on major concerns including the state of sporting infrastructures, the challenges surrounding the Banjul Mini Stadium, the need for indoor sports facilities, and calls for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, The Gambia and the Ministry of Youth & Sports to partners for sporting structures such as Gambia High School and others schools. Other issues raised included the status of the Manneh Sillah basketball Lounge, the creation for sports department at the University of The Gambia, lack of ICT labs, the need for a volleyball court, and Banjul’s representation on the The Gambia National Sports Council – NSC. Dodou Oley Janko, Secretary General of the Regional Sports Committee, highlighted Banjul’s absence from the National Sports Council board, while Modou Lamin Sawo of the Banjul Youth Committee raised concerns over limited access to ICT facilities. Ebrima Jaiteh called for improved volleyball infrastructure, and Musa K. Ceesay, Commissioner of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) in Banjul, spoke on the growing threat of drug abuse among young people. The town hall revolved around six key thematic areas: youth employment, skills and entrepreneurship; youth leadership, participation and governance, sports development and infrastructure; inclusion of women, persons with disabilities and rural youth, health and well-being; sports for development, partnerships and innovation. Representing the Banjul City Council, Sandigie Njie commended the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports and his team for successfully touring the country and closing the engagement in Banjul. He expressed confidence that the outcomes of the consultations would be consolidated into actionable reports to guide future interventions. Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bulli Dibba , emphasized that youth employment remains a top priority, noting that government alone cannot create all the jobs. He stressed the importance of private sector partnerships and entrepreneurship, explaining that skills development empowers young people to become self-reliant and even employers themselves. Executive Coordinator of Banjul, Ebrima Jawo, welcomed the delegation and described the visit as a strong demonstration of the Ministry’s commitment to grassroots engagement. He noted that while Banjul boasts a vibrant and talented youth population with a rich sporting culture, sustained investment and collaboration are needed to fully harness this potential. Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie , reaffirmed that the nationwide tour was not only about town hall meetings but also about witnessing firsthand the impact of youth programmes across the regions. He described Banjul as a strategic location, noting that decisions made in the capital shape the direction of the entire country. Also speaking was Isatou Jallow Banjul Regional youth chaired Aji Ndey jagne Banjul council of elders amongst others. Responding to concerns about Banjul’s representation on the National Sports Council, Acting Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Mahmoud Lamin Jawla, assured participants that the matter is being addressed in line with existing regulations and urged patience as steps are taken to resolve it. Other contributions came from Papia Badjie, Director of Urban Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock & Food Security , who explained youth and women support schemes and value-based grants, and called for inclusive participation in upcoming community food production initiatives. The Executive Director of the NYSS – The Gambia Mustapha Badjie, highlighted how the scheme equips young people with practical skills for self-employment, while Pa Malick Ceesay spoke on the The President’s International Award,the Gambia programme and its benefits for youth development. Immediately after the town hall engagement, the delegation paid a visit to the Banjul Youth Centre in Tobacco Road before proceeding to Lamin CDC, where land has been allocated for the construction of a second stadium. The town hall series is a strong conclusion to the nationwide engagement, reinforcing the importance of dialogue, partnership, and collective action in addressing youth challenges and advancing sports and development in the country.
