“The opportunities at your disposal are amazing. The technologies at your fingertips are tools to shape your lives, change the fortunes of your families, and transform your communities and the nation. To succeed, however, you must pay heed to good advice, be respectful, hardworking, and law-abiding. Do not be deceived by the stories you hear about other lands. There is no land of milk and honey. This is a world of hard work, and no one can change this reality,” he urged at Gambia Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Banjul yesterday.
He said young people are endowed with immense potential and, therefore, able to drive the nation's growth. Yet, too many young people venture into irregular migration.
“Let me assure you that my government stands in solidarity with you, and we are determined to create various pathways for you to succeed here, at home.”
“As we march on, we must acknowledge the struggles that many Gambians face, particularly the youth. The Gambia's youthful population is our greatest asset, and this includes you, the school children and students in our educational institutions.”
“Today, we are a proud nation of over two million, four hundred thousand (2.4 million) people. This milestone calls for reflection on how to better utilise our human resource, skills, knowledge, and the vast potential that resides in the people and the land for better and faster results.”
The president underscored that skills training programmes have equipped thousands of women and youths with practical skills, thus allowing them to start businesses, enhance employability, and contribute to national development.
“To further tackle unemployment, the recently launched Land for Agricultural investment initiative presents a significant opportunity to engage the youth in farming and agribusiness, hence offering sustainable livelihoods in the agricultural sector. Besides this, my administration is actively promoting the establishment of light industries to create more gainful employment opportunities and foster economic growth.”
“We are accelerating efforts to ensure that every community, no matter how remote, is powered, connected, and exposed to the comfort of modern life. Two hundred and three thousand (203,000) meters have already been connected to the national grid, all geared towards reaching our target for universal access to electricity by end-2025. This is a huge challenge, but so is our resolve unyielding.”
“As we strengthen bilateral cooperation and invest in our nation's future, let this Independence Day anniversary celebration remind us that we are all together on a transformative journey. No Gambian should feel left behind! Our unity, resilience, and unwavering hope must propel us forward to build a brighter future for ourselves, our children, and future generations. Let us draw strength from the past and march forward, confident and determined,” he said.
“We honour the countless Gambians, at home and in the Diaspora, who continue to contribute to our national development. These collective sacrifices have to inspire us to uphold the values of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law. This way, we will maintain a stable Gambia where all citizens can realise their potential.”
“The strength, resolve, and efforts of every Gambian constitute the heartbeat of the nation, but we must be thankful to our development partners, neighbours, and friends for accompanying us on our development journey.”
