President Yahya Jammeh Wednesday donated D2, 563, 138 to
the organizing committee of the forthcoming National Youth Conference and
Festival (Nayconf).
The money, earmarked for this year’s event to be held in the Central River Region, was presented to the organizing committee by the Vice President and Minister for Women’s Affairs on behalf of the President at a ceremony held at State House in Banjul.
The committee, earlier in August, said it needed 2.8 million dalasi to cater for the 1500 delegates from across the country and beyond.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, chaired by the minister of Youth and Sports, Alieu K. Jammeh, Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy lauded the gesture and noted that President Jammeh is always hopeful of where he is leading the country because the group who are giving out support to him consists of mainly young men and women.
Describing the Gambian leader as a man with foresight, the Vice President described the youthful population as a group to be reckoned with.
According to her, if the youths are not well-orientated and properly guided, the country will not move forward.
Dr Njogu Bah, the minister for Presidential Affairs, who is also the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, described the gesture as magnanimous.
He also described President Jammeh as the father of the youths who has been there for the youths in all aspects of life.
“President Jammeh believes in the idea of Nayconf, and that is why he wasted no time in addressing the financial problem facing the organizing committee,” he said, while advising the organizing committee to maintain the Central River Region as the venue for the Nayconf 2012.
Other speakers at the ceremony included Susan Wafa-Ogoo and Francis Liti Mboge, ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Works, Construction and Infrastructure respectively, Fabakary Kalleh, chairperson of the National Youth Council, who is also chairperson of the organizing committee, and Pa Suwareh Faye, the acting director of Youth and Sports.