Hon Joof made the remarks during the recent graduation of the first cohort of 150 youth and women held at the Friendship Hostel.
The 3 month business training organised by Njie Charakh World Market Business Enterprise in collaboration with Moth Sarr-Njie Charakh World Market Foundation was geared towards ensuring that women and youth are empowered to be self employed. It also aims to support the entrepreneurs to turn their smallest investment into major successes.
Topics covered during the training included basic business training and strategies or techniques, marketing and market strategies, business financial literacy, business planning, among others.
At least before the end of the year, 600 women and young are expected to benefit from the training being held at Serrekunda Lower Basic School ground.
“It is our responsibility as a government to create opportunities for you and connect you. You are the first batch and i am watching you. I will follow you to know what you do with this knowledge. We will provide you mentorship, coaching, support and were we can, provide you the grant, we will give it to you through projects,” he told the Class of 2023.
He informed them that the government has set up the women empowerment enterprise development fund at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare that they could start chasing immediately.
“It is a fund that the government created to provide specific support to women that are enterprising,” he added.
He further said that it is their role together with the National Assembly Members to ensure the laws permit and protect enterpreneurs to do what they are doing but also ensure the environment is conducive. “We need to give you support and empower you so that you develop and employ other people.”
He thanked Moth Sarr, chief executive officer of Njie Charakh World Market for his lausable initiative, saying “it is amazing that we have an initiative that combines trade and employment in a very special way. You are helping me accomplish my manade as a minister.”
“What you are doing complements very well government efforts to create jobs in the country in a way that leads to employment,” he also told him.
The Trade and Employment minister highlighted that jobs do not reward unless they turn into employment, telling graduates that “you have been empowered to get out of poverty, therefore if you do not succeed, you deny it youselves.”
“Make best use of the knowledge to better yourselves and others,” he advised them.
