Speaking during the opening ceremony held at the Paradise Suites Hotel, Mr. Babucar Cham, director of Human Resources at the Central Bank of The Gambia, who represented Governor Buah Saidy, stated that management is about directing, coordinating, planning, and executing while leadership is about getting things done through the injection of a participatory approach.
He further noted that it is essential for organisations to prepare leaders and managers towards addressing the challenges of “today and tomorrow”. According to Cham, the course is designed to develop leadership skills for the achievement of organisational goals and objectives.
“Leadership in the 21st century requires new thinking, innovation, and passion to bring change for the development of the organisation. Our lives are a bit complex today, considering the global access to information which may sometimes become useful and at the same time catastrophic, if the information overload is not managed with care and due diligence,” he stated.
Dr. Alvin Johnson, WAIFEM director of governance and institutional development department, representing WAIFEM director general, explained that developing leadership and management skills play a vital role in driving organisational success. He added that effective leadership doesn’t only influence the productivity and performance of teams, but also has a profound impact on employee engagement and professional growth.
“By investing in leadership and management skills development, organisations can cultivate the essential skills and competencies required to navigate complex challenges, foster a positive work environment, and inspire their workforce to achieve their full potential,” he added.
Dr. Johnson further reiterated that leadership training empowers individuals to develop strong communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, enabling them to lead with confidence and adapt to ever-evolving demands.
He stated that WAIFEM has distinguished itself as a leading capacity-building institution in the sub-region and internationally for two and a half decades, while disclosing that it has achieved this distinction due to its extensive coverage of capacity-building programmes, technical assistance, collaborative partnership and networking with reputable international organisations.
