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The Ministry delegation continued its nationwide townhall engagements in the Central River Region (CRR) with a courtesy call on the Regional Governor, Hon. Ousman Bah, where discussions focused on strengthening youth and sports development. The Governor reaffirmed the region’s commitment to working closely with the Ministry in advancing the interests of young people. The Townhall meetings was centered on six thematic areas youth employment skills and entrepreneurship, Youth leadership participation and governance, sports development and infrastructure, inclusion gender disability and rural youth, health wellbeing and sports for development and partnership and innovation. At the townhall interface, youth leaders , Deputy Governor Hon . Sainey Mbye and technical advisory committee (TAC) stakeholders raised concerns over gaps in youth development infrastructure, calling for recreational facilities, especially football pitches and wrestling canters, in the northern part of the region. Challenges related to mobility during major national events, including the biennial NaYCONF, were also highlighted. Several speakers noted that young people in northern CRR often feel left out of development efforts and urged authorities to ensure balanced and inclusive interventions across the region. Addressing the forum, Ebrima P. Bah emphasized the need to empower Regional Youth Committees, describing them as vital structures for youth engagement and calling for stronger institutional support. Modou Lamin Badjie, a District Youth Chairperson and NEDI beneficiary, shared his entrepreneurial journey and highlighted challenges such as limited access to packaging materials, which continue to affect the growth of youth-led businesses despite strong demand. In response, Permanent Secretary Bulli Dibba, alongside Minister of Youth and Sports Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, assured stakeholders and youths that their concerns have been heard, reaffirming government’s commitment to protecting the interests of young people and translating dialogue into action.

The Gambia Songhai Initiative-GSI under the Ministry of Youth & Sports , today marked a major milestone with the graduation of its 12th cohort, as 47 young Gambians successfully completed a one-year intensive training in modern and climate-smart agriculture. The Class of 2025 includes 21 men and 27 women, among them two persons with disabilities and one migrant returnee, trained under a programme implemented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in partnership with UNDP The Gambia , and modelled on the renowned Songhai model from Benin. Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie , reaffirmed government’s strong commitment to GSI, describing it as a centre of excellence for agricultural training and youth employment, aligned with President Adama Barrow’s vision for self-reliance and food security. He also acknowledged the continued support of partners, including UNDP and FAO, and announced ongoing expansion efforts to increase student intake in the coming years. Permanent Secretary, Mr . Bulli Dibba applauded the graduates for their resilience, reminding them that they were selected from over 100 applicants, making their achievement both rare and commendable. Also speaking was Mbye Saine, Project Coordinator at The Gambia Songhai Initiative-GSI under Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the initiative was created to respond directly to youth unemployment, rural poverty, and the need to modernise agriculture, making it productive, sustainable, and attractive to young people. Representing the Governor of North Bank Region, Deputy Governor Dembo Samateh described agriculture as the backbone of the economy, noting that the skills acquired by the graduates are life-shaping tools that reposition farming as a dignified and profitable profession, not a last resort. Speaking on behalf of UNDP Resident Representative, Samba Jallow said the graduation goes beyond certificates, stressing that it reflects a new development narrative for The Gambia — one that places young people, innovation, and resilience at the centre of national transformation.

The National Sports Policy 2024–2034 places gender equality, safety, dignity, and safeguarding at the heart of sports development in The Gambia. Because when women and girls are empowered, sports grow stronger—and so does the nation. #WomenInSports #GenderEquality #NationalSportsPolicy #SportsForDevelopment #SafeSport #EmpoweringWomen #TheGambia

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports shared the following message on his official Facebook page after attending and sponsoring the final of the 2025 Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie Naweetan League in Kukujang Keitaya: “A usual weekend- this time in Kukujang Keitaya where I took the kickoff and presented the medals, trophy and cash prizes to the winner, runner-up and 3rd place team of the 2025 Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie League final of the area’s Naweetan. A thrilling encounter between Real de Daru and Young Stars F.C, which was watched by football enthusiasts from the area and district leaders including Seyfoo Ousman Gaye ended 3 – 0 in favor of the former. As a sponsor of this year’s naweetan league, I was honored with a certificate of appreciation by the sport committee.”

A huge congratulations to The Gambia Volleyball Federation – GVBF, the Coach and players of the National U17 team for winning the Zone II Championship in Senegal. A thrilling encounter at the Lat Dior Stadium in Thiès that ended 3 – 1 makes The Gambia the Zone’s champions, adding to the earlier African champion title on beach volleyball in Nigeria.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, presided over the opening of the 2025 President’s International Award, The Gambia, currently underway in Kaur, Central River Region. The six-day camp brings together over 250 young participants from schools, clubs, and award centres nationwide to engage in leadership and life-skills training, community service, wellness and fitness activities, and cultural exchange.

This morning, I delivered the opening statement at the Orientation of the 2nd Cohort of the National Youth Service Graduate Programme (NaYSGraP), hosted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the NYSS – The Gambia. This initiative is very close to my heart, as it is designed to create meaningful employment opportunities for recent graduates from various universities in the country. With the support of our valued partners, UNDP and UTG, we are helping to build a pathway for young Gambians to gain professional experience, contribute to national development, and prepare for leadership in the future. Our young people are our greatest resource, and programs like this reaffirm our commitment to investing in their potential. I congratulate the new cohort and wish them every success in their service.