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Attitudinal change towards development

Jan 4, 2012, 12:08 PM

How sorrowful it is to see the youthful population of a country, most especially in a developing nation, loitering about doing nothing.

They should at least be seen doing something productive to fend for oneself, not live a parasitic lifestyle.

However, this does not apply to all, as there are a good number of youths who are engaged in meaningful enterprises.

This is where the government and the state are important, since they have a responsibility to create a conducive environment, through the policies pursued in diverse sectors, for individuals who make an effort to succeed in their legitimate endeavours, in the country.

Another aspect to this issue is the fact that a good citizen should not avoid working for a living, under the pretext that there are no available office jobs.

Many African countries, and The Gambia is no exception, have lost many of their citizens, mainly the youths, on the dangerous sea voyage to the Canary Islands and beyond.

The reality is that one should find ways to develop oneself, in terms of having principles and awareness of one’s role in society.

“There are no jobs in this country. Things are very difficult here,” you will hear them say.

However, even if that happens to be the case, one should understand that it is individual efforts all added together that would make a difference.

A country rich in well-trained and well-mobilised human resource is bound to be far more prosperous, than the one with an ill-trained and poorly co-ordinated human resource.

There are many countries that have no natural resources, yet they are able to create stupendous wealth due to efficient application of their human resource.

One should not look up to others, before putting in any effort in whatever one does.

As we enter yet another new year, we encourage our youthful population to engage in something productive, especially skills training, for the betterment of our dear motherland.

A good citizen is expected to live up to expectations, not to live an idle life.

One thing that our youths should understand is that not all that glitters is gold.

“Each man is the architect of his own destiny.”

Appius Claudius Caecus.