The Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, has expressed firm belief that The Gambia’s hope for enduring peace, prosperity and progress depends on empowering the youth.
When the energy, talent and resilience of the youth are strengthened, prosperity and progress for the nation is assured, Mr Badjie said while speaking at the launching of the National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo today, Tuesday.
With an estimated 75% of the population under the age of 35, the Gambian youth’s vibrant majority has the potential to save the future of the nation, provided they are given the right support and opportunities, Mr Badjie stated, saying: “We frequently hear the narrative that young people are either perpetrators of violence or are active victims of social and economic inequalities.”
He challenged such a narrative, saying young people are far from being a threat: “The young people, the young citizens, are catalysts for positive change, active contributors to the peace-building process in their communities and beyond.”
He further emphasised the responsibility of providing meaningful opportunities for young people to get them participate in saving their own lives and the nation’s well-being.
According to the Minister, the action plan reinforces the emphasis by advocating for increased civic engagement, institutional reforms, job opportunities, and the efforts to remove barriers hindering the process of young men and women in the country.
He said utilizing quality tools like the National Youth Policy 2019-2028, the Children’s Act, the National Gender and Environment Policy would ensure the youth, not just as a demographic but as a multitude of faceted individuals with diverse experience, remain at the centre of the peace and security effort of the country.
UNFPA Country Representative Ndey Rose Sarr informed the gathering that The Gambia is now part of a global movement, a growing chorus of nations recognizing that sustainable peace is impossible without the active and meaningful participation of young people.
“We have witnessed the incredible leadership, innovation, and resilience of young Gambians as they build bridges, foster understanding, and drive positive change in their communities,” she stated.
Mandisa Mashologu, the United Nations Development Program Resident Representative in The Gambia,emphasised the importance of the National Action Plan, saying it aligns with the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan, ‘Yiriwaa’.
She also said with 77% of the population being between 15 and 35 years,youth participation in national development is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right, and the National Action Plan is a crucial step towards institutionalizing and protecting that right.
United Nations Resident Coordinator in The Gambia Karl Fredrick Paul advises young people of The Gambia to move from commitment to action in shaping the future of the country.
