The maiden National Youth Awards attracts stakeholders from different institutions ranging from Ministries, National Assembly, Civil Society Organizations and media among others.
The speaker of the National Youth Parliament, Hon. Omar Cham, in his welcoming address, emphasised the importance of recognising the achievements of youth in their respective fields.
He announced that while this is the maiden edition of the National Youth Awards, the ceremony shall be conducted annually.
He thanked the NYP secretariat and organising committee for successfully staging the ceremony and urged young people to continue striving and making impacts in their respective fields.
Hon Bakary Y. Badjie, the minister for Youth and Sports, commended the initiative and congratulated all nominees and awardees.
“The fact that you are nominated alone shows that you are doing a work that people see and recognise. Thus, you are all winners,” he encouraged.
“I hope that this serves as a motivation for the rest; being a young person or an adult for that the fact that you are doing something to improve lives and communities.”
He tasked the awardees to go back and continue the work they have been doing and serve as inspiration for others and push The Gambia forward.
The special award which was dubbed: ‘Friend of the Youth Award’ was awarded to Mr Njundu Drammeh – a child rights activist with many years of experience in training child-focused organisations and groups on UN and AU legal instruments and standards relating to children and on child rights programming.
He has impacted the lives of several young people who are immensely contributing to national development.
Ismaila Fadera, who wins the P.S. Njie Award For Youth in Politics and the Raymond Gibba Award for the Youth of the Year, extended his heartfelt thanks to everyone who has played a part in his growth. “I remain your humble learner, always ready to listen, grow, and serve. Special thanks to the @GambiaNYP for celebrating the young people of our country in a style truly worth applauding,” he wrote.
There were two special awards namely, “The Youth of the Year” and “Friends of Youth”, alongside 18 more awards.
The rest of awards are: Climate Action Award, The Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Award for Democratic Governance, The Sise Sawaneh Award for Peace-building, Agriculture Award, The Sankung Sillah Award for Entrepreneurship, The Biri Biri Award for Sport, The Fatim Badjie Award for Tech, The Alieu Jaiteh Award for Persons With Disabilities, The P.S. Njie Award for Youth in Politics, Creative Art Award, The Ousu Njie Senior Award for Performing Art, The Jaha Dukureh Award for Sexual and Gener Based Violence Advocate of The Year, The Fr Bruno Turpan Award for Education, The Deyda Hydara Award for Media, The Fatou Saine Gaye for Vocational Skills, The Sambujang Conteh Award for NYP, Youth Organisation of The Year, The Youth in Security Award, and The Humanitarian Award.
