Delivering a statement on behalf of President Adama Barrow at the State House on Friday, Vice President Jallow said this year’s observance, themed “Realising the Hopes and Aspirations of Young People – Today and for the Future,” underscores the urgent need to equip young people with the education, skills, healthcare and opportunities required to unlock their full potential.
He stressed that The Gambia’s youthful population presents a unique opportunity for national transformation rather than a burden, noting that the country’s demographic profile position is to benefit from a significant demographic dividend if the right investments are made.
Quoting recent United Nations statistics, the Vice President said there are nearly 1.3 billion people aged between 15 and 24 worldwide, representing the largest generation of young people in history. He added that findings from The Gambia’s 2024 Population and Housing Census reveal that more than 60 percent of the country’s population is below the age of 25, making youth empowerment a national development priority.
“Our greatest national resource is not found beneath the ground, but in the minds, talents and aspirations of our young people,” he said, adding that sustained investment in human capital remains central to government’s development agenda.
Highlighting key achievements, Vice President Jallow disclosed that government has allocated D5.9 billion to the education sector to improve access to quality basic education. He further cited the expansion of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes, the transformation of The Gambia College and the Management Development Institute (MDI) into universities, and ongoing work on the permanent campus of the University of The Gambia as major steps towards strengthening the country’s education system.
The Vice President also pointed to continued improvements in maternal and child healthcare services, while reaffirming government’s commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women through initiatives such as the Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend Plus (SWEDD+) Project.
On climate change and migration, he said government is creating opportunities in the green and digital economy to enable young people become innovators and leaders in addressing environmental challenges while expanding employment prospects at home.
He added that government continues to promote safe, orderly and regular migration, while creating conditions that encourage young Gambians to pursue meaningful opportunities within the country.
Vice President Jallow expressed appreciation to development partners, including UNFPA, the World Bank, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, for their continued support in advancing youth-centred development programmes.
He concluded by urging government institutions, development partners, the private sector and communities to work collectively to invest in young people, emphasising that The Gambia’s demographic reality should be viewed as a strategic opportunity for sustainable growth.
“The demographic reality facing The Gambia is not a crisis to fear, but a profound opportunity to embrace,” he said, wishing Gambians a successful commemoration of World Population Day 2026.
