A
two-day Credit Union managers’ conference on youth participation in Credit
Union on Saturday ended at the Region one office in Kanifing.
The
conference, organised by the National Association of Cooperative Credit Union
of the Gambia, brought together managers of credit unions, and was funded by
Youth Empowerment Project.
Speaking
at the conference, Baboucarr Jeng, General Manager of the National Association
of Cooperative Credit Union of The Gambia, said the conference was the first of
its kind, adding that the conference would aid the credit unions to support
each other.
Mr
Jeng applauded Youth Empowerment Project, Ministry of Trade Industry and Youth
and Sports for bankrolling the conference.
John
Frankie Mendy, chairman of National Association of Cooperative Credit Union of
The Gambia, supported that the conference was funded by Youth Empowerment
Project.
For
his part, Raimunda Moser, Project Manager of Youth Empowerment Project-The
Gambia, said the objectives of the project are to building the new Gambia by
creating employment and income generating opportunities for women and youths.
It was also to enhance the economic
empowerment and independence of young people by mobilising and organising them
to participate in Credit Union activities amongst others, Moser pointed out.
Mr
Moser stated that the conference forms part of the activities to be implemented
under the above project and seeks to bring together Credit Union managers to
brainstorm on innovative products and services that are attractive to the young
and encourage youth participation in Credit Unions.
In
a related development, The National Association of Cooperative Credit Unions of
The Gambia and the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), under the Ministry of
Trade, Regional Integration and Employment recently signed a Memorandum of
Understanding for the implementation of key activities to enhance youth
participation in Credit Union.