The five-day conference component of the National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) wrapped up on Wednesday at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.
In delivering his speech, Ibrahim Ceesay, chairperson of the conference sub-committee, said that over the past days discussions were had with delegates who came from all parts of the country.
He said they were able to deliberate on issues concerning challenges of drugs and corruption.
He used the opportunity to thank the National Youth Council (NYC), partners and collaborators in bring their vision to reality.
Mr Ceesay called on communities, stakeholders among others to be mentors and to involve in youth programmes for sustainable development.
“Drugs and corruption are great issues of concern,” he says, adding that they were able to come up with resolutions as well as worked with different people and organisations during the conference.
Delivering the keynote address on the occasion, the director of Youth and Sports and chairman of the NAYCONF national organizing committee, Malang Jersey, reminded the citizenry that investing in youth pays great dividends in national development.
“Through youth empowerment and partnership we can make The Gambia a nation free of drugs,” he emphasised.
He reminded the participants to reach out to others in their respective areas to sensitise people, especially the youth, on the dangers of drugs and corruption.
The deputy Mayor of KMC, Yusupha Sanyang, told the youth to be clear about the need of NAYCONF “Government has taken a giant strike to raise the standard of the youth for the development of your country,” he said.
As youth, we owe it to our country and our parents as well to be fruitful and better people tomorrow,” he says.
For his part, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alieu K. Jammeh, told the delegates that the abuse of drugs and the practice of corruptions have nothing to do with the Gambian culture, he reasoned, advising the youth to desist from involving in such practice.
He appealed to delegates to disseminate the lessons learnt from the event and to join the government in the crusade against drugs and corruption.
Abdoulie Jobe, a youth delegate from the KM, delivered the vote of thanks.
The forum ended with a signing and adoption of the resolution, which was handed to the NYC to be presented to the minister of Youth and Sports.