National
Youth Parliament (NYP) The Gambia, a youth network in human rights, good
governance and democracy, on Saturday 18 March celebrated their 15th
anniversary.
NYP
also inaugurated their executive members in all regions, after an election was
conducted by IEC in a free, fair and transparent manner.
The
ceremony was held at the National Assembly auditorium grounds.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Kawsu Badjie gave an overview of the Nation Youth Parliament
as a legally-registered youth entity.
The
NYP was established with the help of RAID Gambia, a local NGO funded by UNFPA,
mainly to advocate on youth, drug abuse and health issues.
In 2007, the organization began to operate
independently, and diversify into other areas like good governance and
democracy, gender mainstreaming in youth participation, youth and reproductive
health and rights, road safety, environmental protection and preservation.
He
added that their organization has 30 representatives in 7 regions, 5 elected
and 2 nominated at the national level; adding that they have up a total of 217
youth parliamentarians.
NYP
aims to inculcate responsible citizenship in the mind and heart of young
people, toward understanding their role in national development.
They
train their members in civil engagement, voter education, and election
observation and also create a forum for asking questions to National Assembly
Members and ward councilors on the advancement of their constituencies.
He added that the youth group works toward
development of young people as stated in their constitution, and to be
non-partisan.
The
founding father of NYP, Samboujang Conteh, the director of RAID Gambia, said
their first session on 8 March 2002 was to intervene on human rights, good governance
and democracy.
The
role of youth is very important in development, he said, adding that he was
proud when the NYP showed their full potential in a debate held between them
and the National Assembly members.
“It
enhanced the leadership of young people and the betterment of our nation.”
Lamin
Darboe, executive director of NYC, congratulated the ones voted into office,
and urged them to work on expectations and be leaders by example not by titles.
“As
young people, we have huge challenges ahead of us as role models in our family
and community to serve by example,” he said.
He
said the council is ever prepared to work with all youth organizations in the
country, and it is important that they register under the council, which is a
legal requirement in The Gambia.
He
said the government of The Gambia would continue to see that young people are
empowered to handle the mandate of development in employment, entrepreneurship,
leadership and skills development.
The
youth constituted 37 per cent of the population, therefore, they should occupy
the driver’s seat and pull the development process over.
He further said the youth should change their
attitude and see agriculture as a variable business, and stop seeing
white-collar jobs as the only source of livelihood; and take advantage of
opportunities created for them in the country.
The
newly-elected members were sworn in by Lamin Jarju, a state counsel at the
Ministry of Justice, and they are: Kawsu Badjie speaker, Fatou Jawo deputy
speaker, Lamin W. Sanneh clerk, Saffiatou Sowe deputy and Baboucarr Nyang
financial officer.
