Through the partnership and collaboration, the programme supported the Gambia government development goals as the initiative was rolled out to support youth employment through entrepreneurship, skills development, access to finance and market opportunities.
Bakary Badjie, the minister for Youth and Sport, said from 2017 to date, “we have seen skill development and employment among young people.”
This programme delivered exceptional results in small scale enterprise development, marketable skills creation and most importantly supporting the access to finance in the form of a grant.
The minister urged the young people who are beneficiaries of the Tekk Fii project to utilise the opportunities they gained from the project to improve their lives and their families.
Dorothy Tembo, deputy executive director, ICT, said she has seen bright young Gambians who have skills and are eager to make a difference with the new generation of entrepreneurs that are coming up with solutions.
“The International Trade Center and our partners stand ready to help activate these opportunities and leverage trade and investment to support the development of the country,” she said.
Corrado Pampalon, the EU ambassador to The Gambia, said the partnership with the Gambian government and its citizens is based on inclusive and sustainable development as The Gambia and European Union are firm partners to recognise youth empowerment and employment as a strategic priority.
“The Tekki Fil programme has registered important gains and showed that the combination of skills training, entrepreneurship drive and investments in small business is effective to create economic opportunities,” he pointed out.
Saffi Kandeh and Kawsu Jaiteh who are beneficiaries thanked the International Trade Center ( ICT) and its partners for changing their lives through the Tekk Fil project.
