The graduating students were exposed to various skills such as hair dressing and make-up among others. Officials, teachers as well as parents graced the occasion.
Established in 1999, the centre continues to provide career opportunities to early school leavers while catering for job needs for both women and men.
Welcoming the gathering, Victoria Tamba, managing director of Vicky’s Training and Skills Center, said the center is committed to providing quality training and skills designed to suit the needs of the growing market force.
“Its bottom-up approach of inclusive development has changed lives of many, and has led the path to sustainable development through training in various skills,” she explained.
Mrs Tamba further explained that the centre has a fully-fledged skill upgraded programs, which she added, has transformed the lives of hundreds of youths in The Gambia by providing gainful skills to contribute as productive members of society.
“Over the year, our training center has been receiving students under the sponsorship of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), and NAQAA sponsored by ECOWAS Migration, Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), and Spain Migration Fund (SMF) under the umbrella of ECOWAS, Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project (GGCP), and other relevant agencies.”
She thus advised the graduating students to make the best of use of their knowledge to contribute to national development.
Demba Sallah, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of National Association of Vocational Skills Training Institution of The Gambia (NAVSTIG), said the association has members across the country.
Sallah informed that the objectives of the association are to collaborate with stakeholders in order to bring about the much-needed skills development to help the youths of this country.
This, he added, would ensure that skills development remains a key priority, as skills are the only way to develop a country.
“Each and every one of you is a winner today because you have demonstrated through hard work and consciousness. So I wish to congratulate you all the best in your future endeavors.”
He enjoined them to make the best use of their skills so as to contribute to the human resource of the country.
“I have much confidence in you all because you have the skills and the government has setup a lot of support which you can make best use of.”