NEDI on small business management training for youth

The National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI), in partnership with the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) recently concluded a-five-day training for the youth on micro and small business management, attracting 134 participants from across the country.

The training which was held at the President’s International Award was meant to expose the participants to enterprise development and business management concepts. It was also meant to acquaint them with key concept models that are essential to enterprise development.

 “We want to enhance the potential of these young people in the said areas of enterprise development,” said Landing B. Sanneh, Coordinator for NEDI.

He said the participants are part of the youths that undergo five months training on various enterprise development sectors through NYSS.

Mr. Sanneh, who disclosed that after the training four youth groups would receive support from NEDI, said two of the fishing groups will benefit from fishing out board engines, while Epuuk Bakassouck local soap-processing youth group in Darsilameh village, Kombo South District, West Coast Region would receive support from his institution.

“More youth groups will follow in the future, because we did not want to train youths and leave them like that, their issues are our concern,” he said. 

He challenged the youth to wake up and participate in developing themselves. “We can never have food on the silver plate at all times, never wait to be spoon-fed, gone are the days when we sit and wait on our parents, brothers, and uncles to help us,” he said.

 “We must be involved in our own development and play a central role and take responsibility in developing ourselves, not to rely on others to develop us. If we want our development to be sustainable, we must take responsibility of our own development,” he stated.

He then called on the youth to take advantage of the enabling environment created for them, by the government and its development partners.  

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Alieu K. Jammeh said there are numerous opportunities created by the government and its partners for the youth of this country. These, Jammeh said, include agricultural, educational, sports, among other sectors of development.

While stating that in the agricultural sector there are many projects and programmes for the youth and women, he challenged the youth of the country to exploit the opportunities provided to them by the government of The Gambia.

The Deputy Director of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), Ebou Sowe, who explained that the training would cover areas like marketing concepts, data consideration in business and other relevant areas, said it would build the capacities of the participants.