Speaking at the opening of this year’s NAYCONF, Mayor Bensouda extended a warm welcome to participants from all regions of The Gambia, emphasising the event’s legacy as the country’s largest youth platform for representation and dialogue. He reflected on its evolution from National Youth Week in the 1970s into a biennial celebration that integrates sports, culture, and intellectual engagement.
“The youth are the heartbeat of our nation, representing energy, innovation, and the potential to drive transformative change,” Mayor Bensouda stated.
This year’s theme: ‘Enhancing Youth Participation in the Attainment of RF NDP 2023-2027’, highlights the crucial role young people play in achieving shared national goals. Mayor Bensouda encouraged the youth to seize the opportunity to inspire bold ideas, form meaningful partnerships, and transform challenges into opportunities.
He reaffirmed Kanifing Municipality’s readiness to support participants: “KM stands ready to work alongside you. We aim to deepen our collaboration, invest in your potential, and intensify your contributions to our development journey.”
The mayor’s remarks underscored the importance of harnessing youth energy to advance the country’s development agenda, setting the stage for what promises to be an impactful and unifying NAYCONF.
