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Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth & Sports , accompanied by H.E. Dr Fatou Bensouda, The Gambia High Commission in UK, Deputy Head of Mission Suntou Touray, and Mr Mahmoud Lamin Jawla, Acting Executive Director of The Gambia National Sports Council – NSC, today attended a reception hosted by Rt Hon Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, First Minister of Wales, in Glasgow. During the reception, Hon. Badjie and the First Minister discussed opportunities for sporting partnerships between The Gambia and Wales. Both sides highlighted the importance of small nations sharing ideas, experiences, and best practices to strengthen their sports and youth sectors. H.E. Dr Fatou Bensouda noted that there is a sizeable Gambian community in Wales, particularly in Cardiff and other major towns. She emphasised that Gambians are hardworking, peaceful, and make positive contributions to their communities. The First Minister acknowledged the cordial relationship between the Gambian community in Wales and the wider Welsh society. H.E. Dr Bensouda also reiterated that the High Commission is actively searching for a suitable Honorary Consul of The Gambia in Wales to further strengthen bilateral relations and support the Gambian community.

Fresh from a historic season, Domestic Double champions Berewuleng Football Club on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Youth & Sports , Bakary Y. Badjie , at the Independence Stadium in Bakau, where they presented their league and cup trophies, along with their medals. The Brikama-based side secured the GFF Women’s League One title and the FF Cup, completing an impressive domestic double. During the visit, the team expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Minister for his continued support and commitment to the growth of sports, particularly women’s football, in The Gambia. As a gesture of appreciation, the club presented special awards to Minister Badjie in recognition of his leadership and the Ministry’s efforts to promote and develop sports across the country. With their sights now set on the CAF/WAFU Zone A Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, which will be hosted in The Gambia next month, Berewuleng FC informed the Minister that preparations are already underway. As reigning national champions, the team will proudly represent The Gambia in the regional competition. The club also appealed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for financial support to facilitate their participation in the tournament, noting that such assistance would strengthen their preparations and improve their chances of success. In his remarks, Hon. Badjie congratulated the players and officials on their remarkable achievements, describing their domestic double as a proud moment for Gambian football. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing sports development, especially women’s football, and urged the team to remain focused, disciplined and determined as they prepare to represent the nation on the regional stage.

The Ministry of Youth & Sports , under the leadership of Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie , warmly welcomes the approval by His Excellency President Adama Barrow of the appointment of Elizabeth Kinta Gomez (Lizzy K Gomez) as the Youth Representative on the Board of the National Population Commission Secretariat – The Gambia, in accordance with the National Population Act, 2025. Nominated by the Ministry, Elizabeth’s appointment marks a significant milestone in strengthening youth participation in national governance and ensuring that the voices and aspirations of young people are reflected in population and development policies. A National Youth Council – The Gambia Council Member and Chairperson of the Kanifing Municipality Youths Committee-KMYC , Elizabeth brings over a decade of experience in youth leadership, advocacy and community development. Her three-year appointment reinforces the Government’s commitment to empowering young people and promoting inclusive decision-making. The Ministry congratulates Elizabeth Kinta Gomez and wishes her and the entire Board every success as they work to advance sustainable national development. Congratulations, Elizabeth Kinta Gomez!

The 21st Executive Council UTG-Social Sciences and Humanities Students’ Association today honoured the Honourable Minister of Youth & Sports,Bakary Y. Badjie, with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of his unwavering commitment and support to students initiatives. The presentation, led by the President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Students Association (SoSHSA), Sainey M. Saho, and accompanied by the Vice President of the 20th Executive Council, Oumie Badjie, recognised the Ministry’s unwavering support and continued investment in creating opportunities for young people across the country. Receiving the award, Hon. Badjie reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to empowering young people through education, leadership development, sports and skills training. He assured the students of the Ministry’s continued support and encouraged them to remain dedicated to their studies, give back to their communities and play meaningful roles in national development. The Minister further underscored the Ministry of commitment to working closely with tertiary institutions to promote youth leadership, academic excellence and community service, noting that investing in young people today is an investment in The Gambia’s future. Chairing the presentation, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical), Lamin J. Gassama, commended the association for recognising public service and encouraged stronger collaboration between government institutions and student bodies to advance youth development. Also speaking was Oumie Badjie and Sainey M Saho whom both express gratitude to the Ministry for its continuous support to the youth of the country especially their Executive Council.

The Ministry of Youth & Sports has approved D2,456,800 in support of the Gambia Volleyball Federation – GVBF to facilitate the participation of The Gambia’s U-18 Male and Female Beach Volleyball National Teams at the 2026 FIVB U-18 Beach Volleyball World Championship. This investment reflects the Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, sports development and providing young Gambian athletes with the opportunity to compete on the world stage. Congratulations, Team Gambia! Go and make the nation proud.

The Gambia Volleyball Federation – GVBF today presented its beach volleyball and indoor volleyball trophies to the Honourable Minister of Youth & Sports , Mr. Bakary Y. Badjie , during a ceremony at the Ministry in Banjul. The event was attended by the athletes, coaches, team managers, and GVBF President Bai Dodou Jallow. Hon. Badjie praised their commitment to raising The Gambia’s flag high and pledged to re ward the teams in recognition of their achievements. Team Managers Ansumana Sanyang and Alhagie Jammeh highlighted the teams’ remarkable achievements and commended the players for their dedication. Congratulating the athletes on their outstanding success, Congratulations, Team Gambia!

The Ministry of Youth & Sports (MoYS), through the Department of Youth and Sports (DoYS), has kicked off a three-days Capacity Building and Team Building Training for its youth and sports personnel at Sindola Safari Lodge in Kanilai. Funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through ActionAid International The Gambia under the Youth Promotion Initiative (YPI) Project, the training has brought together technical and administrative staff of the Department, along with regional youth and sports coordinators, their assistants, and heads of satellite institutions. The retreat seeks to strengthen teamwork, sharpen leadership and communication skills, improve coordination, and equip participants with the tools and knowledge required to deliver more impactful youth and sports programmes nationwide. Declaring the training officially open, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Bulli Dibba, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the very people who drive youth development in The Gambia. He reminded participants that institutions are not transformed by buildings or policies alone, but by dedicated individuals committed to making meaningful change in the lives of others. “You are important to youth development in The Gambia,” Mr. Dibba told participants, encouraging them to embrace teamwork, commit to lifelong learning, and use the platform to strengthen collaboration across the department. He further challenged the participants to fully engage throughout the sessions, stressing that the true worth of the programme would not be judged by the certificates issued, but by how well the knowledge gained is applied in their day-to-day duties. “Youth development is nation-building. Every young person who walks into our offices comes with hope. Never underestimate the power of one encouraging conversation, because changing a life can begin with a single smile,” he said. Delivering the welcoming remarks, the Director of Youth and Sports, Mr. Abass Bah, expressed gratitude to ActionAid International The Gambia and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their sustained support toward strengthening the department’s capacity. He explained that the workshop goes far beyond ordinary training, describing it as a platform to build trust, sharpen leadership, foster collaboration, and review institutional programmes for improved service delivery. “Our staff are the heartbeat of this department. The knowledge and experience gained here will prepare us to lead better, work together more effectively, and deliver quality services to young people across the country,” Mr. Bah stated. He also urged participants to engage openly, learn from one another, and come up with practical solutions to both institutional and individual challenges affecting service delivery. Over the course of the three-day retreat, participants will take part in facilitated workshops, peer learning sessions, expert-led presentations, and interactive discussions covering leadership, youth programming, sports management, communication, innovation, accountability, and organisational development. The training forms part of the Ministry’s wider effort to build a stronger, more united, and results-driven workforce capable of responding effectively to the needs and aspirations of Gambian youth, while advancing sustainable youth and sports development across the country. The resource person for the training, Alhagie Sainey Nyang, guided participants through the administration of the pre-training knowledge assessment, standard administrative procedures in the civil service based on the General Orders 2013 foundation, and coordination in the execution of duties — including inter-unit coordination, reporting lines, and the popular marshmallow challenge team-building activity.

As part of its June 2026 fund disbursement, the Ministry of Youth & Sports has provided financial support to two national sporting bodies to strengthen The Gambia’s participation and hosting of regional competitions. Gambia Athletics Association (GAA) received D497,000 to support The Gambia’s participation in the CAA Region II U-20 & U-18 Athletics Championships in Dakar, Senegal. Gambia Volleyball Federation – GVBF received D600,000 to support the hosting and participation of The Gambia in the Zone II Indoor Volleyball Tournament. Total Investment: D1,097,000 This investment reflects Government’s continued commitment to youth empowerment, talent development, and sporting excellence while enhancing The Gambia’s presence on the regional stage.

The Ministry of Youth & Sports was on Saturday honoured by the Gunjur Sports Committee (GSC) in recognition of its outstanding contribution and unwavering commitment to the growth and development of youth and sports in Gunjur. Representing the Ministry at the event were the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bulli Dibba , and the Executive Director of the National Youth Council – The Gambia, Mr. Alagie Jarju , who received the award on behalf of the Ministry. Held under the theme “A New Era of Sports Development,” the event brought together sports stakeholders, community leaders and youth advocates to celebrate achievements and strengthen efforts aimed at transforming sports development at the grassroots level. The award serves as a testament to the Ministry’s continuous investment in youth empowerment, talent development and the promotion of sports as a vehicle for social inclusion. It also reflects the strong partnership between the Ministry and communities working tirelessly to create opportunities for young people through sports. The Ministry expresses its sincere appreciation to the Gunjur Sports Committee for the recognition and reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives that advance youth and sports development across The Gambia.

The momentum towards hosting the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament (TOLAC) continues to build as members of the National Organising Committee (NOC) convened a strategic meeting yesterday to review and fine-tune preparations for the highly anticipated regional event. The meeting provided a platform for members to scrutinize ongoing activities, assess progress, and strengthen coordination across all committees tasked with delivering a successful tournament. Members reaffirmed the NOC’s central role in supervising and coordinating the overall planning process and maintaining strong liaison with the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Office. Updates were presented by the various sub-committees, highlighting key areas including technical readiness, logistics and protocol arrangements, finance and fundraising efforts, as well as communication and publicity strategies. Each committee outlined its roadmap, focusing on delivering a well-organized, competitive, and memorable tournament that meets ECOWAS standards. From ensuring athlete preparedness and compliance with competition rules to coordinating transportation, accommodation, and venue setup, the NOC reiterated its commitment to leaving no detail unattended. Efforts are also underway to mobilize resources, strengthen partnerships, and amplify visibility through effective media engagement. The NOC remains resolute in its mission to position The Gambia as a capable and proud host of this prestigious regional wrestling championship.