The just-concluded 9th edition of the National Youth Conference and Festival, NAYCONF 2010, has been rated a big success.
Indeed, the organisers and delegates have declared this year’s NAYCONF as successful, despite some limited constraints.
It is for this reason that we must commend the National Youth Council and Ministry of Youth and Sports for the achievement.
The host Kanifing Municipality should also be commended for a job well done in hosting nearly one thousand young people from The Gambia and beyond for a week.
According to our reporter, who covered the event, this year’s NAYCONF was a great event.
We were also pleased to learn that delegates, from all regions, were all given the opportunity to express themselves.
Similarly, they all were able to interact with ministers and permanent secretaries, during the week-long conference.
However, we want to urge the organisers for NAYCONF 2012 to begin raising funds in earnest, for the next edition of the biennial event.
We also strongly recommend that NAYCONF Daily Newsletter be maintained to enable participants henceforth know all the activities going on throughout the event.
Also, since malaria is endemic to our part of the world, we urge that mosquito nets and sprays should be provided by the host committee or national organising committee to prevent delegates from getting malaria.
Our commendation goes to the young people themselves for their active participation and coming up with sound resolutions.
For the fact that you were able to come up with good resolutions is an indication that you all were fit to represent your regions and organizations as delegates to this important national forum.
Resolutions such as urging the government to consult with the National Youth Council and National Youth Organizations for the nomination of a youth representative in the National Assembly is a good recommendation.
As future leaders, the voice of young people counts a lot, and this recommendation should be well considered.
Your call for a dialogue between The Gambia and
The recommendation calling on local government authorities to make a special budgetary allocation, of at least 5% of their budgets, for youth initiatives at both the regional and municipal level is also pertinent.
We, therefore, challenge the government, civil society organizations and youth council to help our youths realise their dreams.
“There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring in your life and the lives of people you love”
Sophia Loren
