President Adama Barrow has inaugurated the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) Multi-Purpose Skills Centre at Madina Lamin Kanteh in Wassu, a fully furnished facility built to train young people from rural Gambia.
The centre, built with support from MRC Holland Foundation, has accommodation for 124 male and female students. Its proximity to Wassu and surrounding communities is expected to play a crucial role in equipping young Gambians with practical entrepreneurial and technical skills for self-reliance.
Speaking at the inauguration, President Barrow described the infrastructure as enormous and important, saying government is partnering with the Holland Foundation to obtain diamonds in education.
"Looking at the infrastructure alone, it's enormous. I think this is a very important infrastructure. This government is in partnership with the Holland Foundation, and we want to obtain the diamonds in education," President Barrow said.
Barrow said government is diversifying education to focus on skills training because not everyone can work in an office.
"Because everybody cannot go into the office. That is why we are now diversifying, to make sure we train our people in skills. When you are qualified in skills, you are empowered. That means you can work for yourself; you can even employ others. I think that is the area where there were a lot of shortcomings. But now, with the partnership with the Holland Foundation, I think the sky is the limit," he said.
The President announced that the first batch of students will receive full scholarships from the MRC Holland Foundation.
"You cannot find that anywhere in the world. You can find it only here, in The Gambia. The Gambia government is in partnership with the Holland Foundation," he said.
Barrow called on youths to come forward to build their skills and fill the skills gap in the country.
"We want to empower them. People always complain that there is unemployment, and there is no job. But now we are creating jobs for you. We are empowering you. I think you can stay in this country," he said.
He said skilled youths will not need to travel overseas, recalling his own experience abroad.
"If you are skilful, you will never think of going overseas. Because what you can make in this country, you can make outside. And I think it is just psychological. People think that Europe is the best place where you can go and earn money. Many people have been to Europe. I have a lot of friends, and I have a family. Some of them have been there for 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, and 40 years. They only make a little difference. I have a cousin who has been in Germany since I travelled to Germany; he is still there. He built only one house. One house. And he has been there for 40 years now because I travelled there in 1986. Fortunately for me, I was deported. That is why I am president," he said.
He thanked MRC Holland Foundation for its long-standing support, noting it is building more than 11 classrooms.
Higher Education Minister Professor Pierre Gomez said the centre has academic blocks, administrative blocks, separate two-storey dormitories and a restaurant. He added a second centre in CRR South, Pacharr, will focus on agribusiness.
MRC Holland Foundation's Henrietta Sonko thanked Barrow for the partnership.
President Barrow also visited the construction site of a new 56-bed health centre in Njau, which will serve Niani and surrounding districts.
