The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Kalipha M.M. Mbye, has urged young Gambian parliamentarians to carry the lessons of the National Youth Parliament beyond the chamber and into their schools, communities, and homes, reminding them that the future of the country’s democracy is already taking shape among them.
Delivering his statement at the closing of the 2026 sitting of the National Youth Parliament on Saturday at the SDKJ International Conference Centre, Mr. Mbye praised the youth parliamentarians for their maturity, discipline, and depth of engagement, describing the Youth Parliament as a living classroom of citizenship and a training ground for democratic participation.
“You have debated with passion, argued with conviction and, most importantly, demonstrated the capacity to listen, engage and disagree with respect and parliamentary decorum,” he said.
He called on them to return to their communities as ambassadors of positive change, choosing dialogue over confrontation and evidence over assumption.
“Take the lessons you have learned here back to your schools, communities and homes. Be advocates for positive change,” he said.
He assured them that the National Assembly would continue to encourage the transmission of Youth Parliament resolutions to relevant committees and institutions of government, adding “Your voices may be young, but they are not without consequence.”
Mr. Mbye expressed confidence that among the young parliamentarians sat future leaders of the nation, noting: “The future of our Republic will be shaped not merely by the leaders we elect, but by the citizens we prepare today.”
