In view of this growing youthful population, most African countries are doing less to close the income gaps, while unemployment continues to rise forcing youth to embark on activities that are inimical to their societies. Irregular migration continues to make international headlines with many dying in hot deserts and high seas. This, therefore, calls for a rethink and change of approach to meet SDGs.
There is a need for government and development partners to collaborate and create more opportunities to improve the condition of youth and put them at the centre of development. Having the world’s youngest population, such a large youthful population might ordinarily symbolise an ample and energetic workforce, a boon for the development prospects of any region. But the dire employment situation for young people across Africa continues to snuff out their potential.
It is in the news that the Gambia Start-up Chamber of Commerce (GSCC) in collaboration with Jaama Youth Agro-Entrepreneurs Network recently trained 31 young entrepreneurs on agro-food processing, labeling and packaging. The initiative seeks to arm participants with the requisite knowledge and insights into processing, labelling and packaging of agro-foods using cereals, nuts, herbs and other vegetables.
This training could not have come at a better time than now when there are growing calls to empower youth to undertake meaningful initiatives to help contribute to national development. Supporting youth entrepreneurs is helping to close unemployment gaps and thus contribute to poverty eradication.
Africa’s youth employment problem is a global problem; however, our leaders could do more to help change the dynamics. Government needs to act now and address youth unemployment by initiating tailor-made programmes to help fight poverty.
The Gambia is blessed with abundant arable that supports crop cultivation. And support in the form of grants to set up gainful ventures would only help the country in meeting its ambitious goal.
Let’s support our youth entrepreneurs with the necessary support to help intensify their agro-food businesses using the country’s fertile lands.
We therefore, call on the government to open up avenues to support youth entrepreneurs to help eradicate poverty. We have a role to play in creating opportunities to save our nation. The growing unemployed youth is a burden to the nation. This also gives rise to criminality and other vices that are uncalled for.
When we engage our teeming youthful population wisely, the country can make significant strides in meeting its target goal. This will also help in addressing unemployment and by extension the surge in crime rate in the country.