In an interview with this medium, deputy speaker of NYP and chairperson of the Organising Committee, Hon Ndegen Jobe, said going by the demographics of young people in the country, they consist of 60% of the population who are striving to contribute to the national development, yet they are not celebrated enough.
“The Gambia boasts a vibrant and dynamic youth population, actively contributing to various sectors and driving positive change within their communities. However, despite their remarkable achievements and relentless efforts, young people often go unrecognised and overlooked in traditional award ceremonies, which predominantly honour individuals outside the youth demographic. This glaring gap in acknowledgment not only diminishes the morale of young achievers but also stifles their potential for greater impact and influence,” she pointed out.
She added: “In response to this critical need for recognition and empowerment, the National Youth Parliament-The Gambia is proud to introduce the inaugural National Youth Award. This ground-breaking initiative is born out of a collective commitment to celebrate and honour the exceptional achievements of young Gambians across diverse fields, ranging from climate activism and good governance advocacy to entrepreneurship, sports, and leadership.”
She revealed that there are two special awards namely, “The Youth of the Year” and “Friends of Youth”, alongside 18 more awards.
The rest of awards are Climate Action Award, The Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Award for Democratic Governance, The Sise Sawaneh Award for Peace-building, Agriculture Award, The Sankung Sillah Award for Entrepreneurship, The Biri Biri Award for Sport, The Fatim Badjie Award for Tech, The Alieu Jaiteh Award for Persons With Disabilities, The P.S Njie Award for Youth in Politics, Creative Art Award, The Ousu Njie Senior Award for Performing Art, The Jaha Dukureh Award for Sexual and Gener Based Violence Advocate of The Year, The Fr Bruno Turpan Award for Education, The Deyda Hydara Award for Media, The Fatou Saine Gaye for Vocational Skills, The Sambujang Conteh Award for NYP, Youth Organisation of The Year, The Youth in Security Award, and The Humanitarian Award.
She assured of the independence and credibility of the judges to ensure deserving persons win. She said they have set up relevant committees that will run specific areas to make the awards a success.
She also urged young people to nominate people who are really doing their best or even themselves if they feel they are worthy.
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