By Mariam Williams
As the country’s umbrella youth body commemorated its two decades of existence, the recently appointed of Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Bakary Y. Badjie, a prominent youth right activist whose appointment is highly welcomed by the youth folk, has called on all and sundry to give him a helping hand in carrying out his mandate.
The National Youth Council (NYC) over the weekend marked its 20 years of existence, and the celebration took the form of a “conversation” with the youths of the country from different departments such as Chairpersons across the country; and also the registered youth association which talked about their challenges as well as achievements, and the way forward.
Held at NaNA Hall in Kanifing, on the theme: “Deciding Our Future Together with the NYC We Want”, the celebration was graced by new Minister Badjie, who appealed for everyone’s support in order complete his mission. Badjie said he knows some people are resistant to change but he posited that they have to try.
“The ministry was established in 1982, it was when the first Minister of Youth and Sport was appointed. And the Youth Council is 20 years and cannot succeed, then something is wrong. Despite the investment, despite the time spent, they can’t still achieve their goals,” he lamented.
Minister Badjie further said NYC is not claiming that they are perfect, but they accept the fact that it’s an institution that had gone through a lot of challenges, and had obstacles. “So, what can we do as a youth of this country to make sure the country is developed?” he rhetorically remarked, before urging that politics should be put aside when it comes to the development of the country.
Executive Director of NYC, Mr. Alagie Jarju, in his remarks, recalled the Council was established in the year 2000, advising that “we need to have a conversation among us the youths, to see what they have done the past few years, what haven’t they done right and where do they need to improve to better serve the future of young people of this country”.
Jarju promised that they would not only stop at the youth conversation but they would reach all the regions in the country to see what they [regional youths] want from the NYC.
Mr. Dembo Kambi, the outgoing Chairman of NYC, mentioned some of the challenges they had been facing and said the people often say ‘they need a Youth Act’; some are saying their project is not met.
In the year 2015 to 2016, there was a review of the National Youth Act of The Gambia and they came up with a Bill that was supposed to be presented at the National Assembly; but as Kambi informed his audience, the then Minister said he could not present it; so they had to wait for the next Minister so that “he can submit it”.
