#National News

NSGA ends 2-month virtual youth business mentorship programme

Sep 2, 2021, 1:07 PM | Article By: Sulayman Waan

Nova Scotia- Gambia Association (NSGA) in partnership Venture 2- Impact, a Canadian organization has concluded training of eighteen Gambian youth on entrepreneurship and business development.

The training which attracted participants from youth registered groups within the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region, was held at NSGA conference hall.

It is aimed at equipping participants with entrepreneurial and business skills to ensure they have ability to manage and operate business successfully.

However, the training also seeks to identify problems confronting youth development especially in businesses and come up with means to turns these problems into opportunities.

Abdou A. Kanteh, executive director for NSGA, described the training as significant in enhancing business management and entrepreneurship skills of the youth.

“This is a pilot project and we started with eighteen young people but we have the intention to expand the project countrywide because there is a need for this training in the up country,” he said.

Kanteh thanked the V2-Impact team for bringing the opportunity in The Gambia and commended NSGA staff for ensuring smooth implementation of the project.

He advised participants to be focused and steadfast and to practice the knowledge gained from the training.

Fadi Al Qassar, executive director for V2-Impact based in Canada, said his organization came with the initiative because it believes that entrepreneurship is one of the key drivers in solving youth underemployment and unemployment in any countries.

“We feel it necessary to equip the youth with skills and knowledge of business in order to have business opportunities in their communities,” he said.

He assured that V2 impact will work with NSGA to ensure measures are put in place to sustain the training programme so that both the beneficiaries and others would benefit from further training.

He commended NSGA for contributing immensely to the success of the training, while advising participants to remain focused and add value in their community using their entrepreneurship skills.

Bintou Corr, a volunteer and programme lead of V2-Impact on entrepreneurship, said youth have a great influence in attaining economic independence through entrepreneurship.

She thanked both NSGA and V2- Impact for giving her the opportunity to learn and teach others.

Amadou Sowe, a participant expressed gratitude to NSGA and their Canadian partners for the initiative.

“I have learned a lot about business and entrepreneurship. Before, I was not interested in business but now I have the interest and can manage a business successfully.”