Amid the joyous celebrations across the country over The Gambia’s Independence Day, the Patriotic Youth Movement on 18 February staged a public lecture on crucial concepts relevant for nation-building and the nurturing of effective and accountable governance.
The Patriotic Youth Movement (PYM) is a youth-led movement that aims to champion patriotism and purposeful political participation among Gambian youngsters.
The occasion, held at the National Youth Parliament Conference Hall in Kanifing on the theme ‘Turning a New Page: A Complete Constructive Change,’ drew the organisation’s members, and invitees from other youth organisations and higher education institutions.
The lecture featured distinguished national personalities. One of the Speakers was Halifah Sallah. The veteran politician and former National Assembly member delved into building sovereign citizens, the values of a sovereign citizens and how to nurture them.
Bakary Badjie, the National Assembly member for Foni Bintang Karanai and 2026 presidential aspirant, deliberated on the role of the National Assembly in shaping The Gambia’s destiny in the next six decades.
While the nation celebrated its diamond jubilee, the day marked as a pivotal moment for the youth of this nation to reflect onthe trajectory this country has travelled over the years and how they could champion change for a prosperous future.
The lecture equally provided an opportunity for high school students to learn from the firsthand deliberations of experienced state figures and engage in interactive discourses.
Among the highlights of the lecture are the concepts of independence and self-sufficiency, and the question of how independent is The Gambia, which heavily relies on foreign aid and grant. These crucial topics were handled and done justice to by the President of PANASA, Omar Sanyang, who is also a senior political science student at the University of The Gambia.
