Launched earlier by His Excellency President Adama Barrow, the National Youth Service Graduate Programme seeks to ensure that Gambian young graduates have a fair and meaningful opportunity to transition from learning to earning.
Describing the programme as laudable and strategic, Minister Ceesay added: "It is the most strategic pathway to reduce youth unemployment and support sustainable national development. Now the government of The Gambia has done so much and has invested significantly to make tertiary education accessible and affordable, such that more youths are going into universities, colleges, and vocational institutes to obtain higher certificates."
He referenced to the investments in terms of educational infrastructures in the country, citing the University of The Gambia Faraba Banta Campus; University of Education, The Gambia (UEG); USET Skills Training Centre in Ndemban and Kanillai, to other specialised vocational training centers at Tujereng and Jahally Pacharr in the Central River Region.
This, he said, shows government’s commitment to building the skills of young people so they can get employed.
"Therefore, it is indeed timely that we as a government; start thinking about not only training the youth to degree and diploma levels, but also transforming them into worthy postures so that they can reap the fruits of education and become worthy citizens."
This graduate programme, he added, is an original, innovative and insightful intervention by His Excellency, the President, assisted by genuine partners like the UNDP, directed at solving the problem of graduate employment.
"And by the way, that problem is not only unique to The Gambia, but it is a problem that many countries today are facing, particularly countries in the developing world.”
He talked about the Gambia’s teeming youthful population, which he said, is a different situation compared to other countries.
"However, now the challenge is how we make sure this young population is given the right skills, both technical and soft, so that they can be employable when they finish their education."
Minister Ceesay referenced that in most countries in the West, every neighborhood has a playground where kids go to play.
"These playgrounds are empty. However, the old people's homes are full, and this is causing a problem for most countries in the West. So that is why they are trying to do what they call pension reforms, increasing the pension age from 60 to 65. And we saw the demonstration of that in Paris and other capitals in Europe."
To that end, he highlighted that strengthening the National Youth Service Graduate Programme is essential for enhancing employability in the Gambia.
Thus, he lauded the initiative as a milestone achievement, noting that investing in such schemes is very strategic.
