In his guest speaker remarks, the Hon. Minister Bakary Y. Badjie emphasised that the government, under the leadership of H.E. Adama Barrow, is cognizant of the challenges confronting the youth and will continue to provide the policy environment and funding to train young people and prepare them to manage both the informal and formal sectors of the economy, as well as contribute to the general development of the Gambia.
The Youth Minister stated that the abovementioned responsibilities are the ones that the government, along with their development partners, are taking steps to fulfill through various interventions. These include the Recovery Focused National Development Plan (NDP), National Employment Policy 2021-2026, among others all geared towards creating opportunities for young people.
Badjie mentioned that the establishment of the University of Science and Technology and the various new TVET training institutes across the country by the government is an indication of its commitment to developing skills for the youth. He added that in the future, the University of the Gambia will produce experts in engineering and other technical skills required for the country's development.
The Hon. Minister's speech also touched on climate change, wherein he implored the participants "to take action now, rather than later, to mitigate the effects of climate change on our country and planet. This can start with small actions such as not littering our environment, properly managing our waste, and advocating for care of our environmental"
