Launched in 2019, Tekki-Fii as widely referred to is anchored on the local concept that youths can be successful in The Gambia without travelling outside.
Years on, the programme has created and sustained more than nine thousand (9000) jobs, enabled more than seven thousand (7000) young Gambians to undergo skills training and worked with close to five thousand (5000) small businesses. This is indeed remarkable.
Let’s be realistic here, initiating development programmes for youth to exploit their skills would significantly help a great deal in curbing irregular migration and criminal activities in the country.
The achievements registered under the Tekki Fii, doesn't only offer opportunities for people to improve their skills, but also for employers to enhance productivity.
Since the start of the project in 2019, it has impacted the lives of some many Gambians by offering life training and job creation across the country.
The life-changing opportunities it created in the country are enormous and indeed worth commending. What is dear about this project is that it is all about helping young people to harness their talents by encouraging them to stay in the country rather than risking all what they have at their disposal in search of greener pastures in the West.
Though it has phased out, the tremendous successes and how it impacted the lives of people will forever remain for all to see.
We only hope that the launch of the succeeding project- National Employment Policy and Action Plan (NEAP) will achieve similar success stories. The coming of this new project is timely in view of the fact that the country’s youth face numerous challenges from skills training to employment among a host of others.
Meanwhile, the National Employment Policy and Action Plan, according to President Barrow, will form the cornerstone to tackle unemployment and to improve living standards in the country. This succeeding project, he added, targets to create 150, 000 jobs in five years.
What is even more worrying is the fact that the Gambia’s population is growing rapidly at a rate of 3.3% per year. The country’s unemployment rate stands at 35.2%, according to the 2018 Labour Force Survey. This is indeed scary. More work is needed to reduce the unemployment rate.
We have to admit that the crime rate in the country is so tied to the unemployment rate. Once youth are not positively engaged, then devils will play with their minds. This reminds us about the popular parlance that ‘an idle mind is the devil's workshop.’