The National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) has presented two fishing materials and two outboard engines to two youth groups in Barra and Kiang, to promote entrepreneurship and reduce youth unemployment.
The items worth over D360,000 were presented to the beneficiaries - Genieri Yiriowa Kafo in Kiang and Teroubi Group of Barra - in Banjul on 23 August 2013.
According to officials, the material given is on a loan basis, which will be paid by the groups on installment basis to help more youth groups in the country.
Presenting the materials to the beneficiaries, Landing B. Sanneh, coordinator of NEDI, said the presentation of the materials is a follow-up to President Jammeh’s call for young people to go back to the sea.
The loan is meant to help young people to take part in the productive sector of the country’s economy, which is dominated by non-Gambians.
“NEDI is here to help the young people and women to realise their potentials in the enterprise development sector,” he said. “We will continue helping the young people and women in this area at all time.”
Perrie Minteh, APRC National Youth Mobilizer, said the presentation of the materials will go a long way in helping the two groups of young people and solving the problem of fish shortage and its rising prices in the communities they operate.
It will also help in reducing the unemployment rate among young people and help them earn income, he added.
Malang Jassy, deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the initiative is aimed at providing employment for young people of the country.
Since the formation of NEDI in 2004 the president of the country has been helping his office in making sure that it delivers what is expected of it, he said.
He commended President Yahya Jammeh for his tireless effort at helping the Gambian youth.
He advised the two groups to make best use of the materials and use them for the intended purposes.
Modou Dibba, Member of Teroubi Group of Barra, expressed delight, saying the materials would go a long way in solving their problem of board and good machine.
“I am very happy; to me today is like I am taking a new wife. Our lives depend on fishing; it is where we survive. Anything we have is from fishing, so having something that will easily enhance that is really welcome,” he said.
He assured NEDI and other stakeholders that the materials will really be put into good use and for the intended purposes.
He also thanked NEDI, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Government of The Gambia for their stance in youth development.
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