By: Fatou Krubally
The second edition of the National Youth Forum Pitching Contest kicked off on Saturday with 50 young Gambians presenting their business ideas before a panel of judges.
This marks the start of a four-week competition designed to promote youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
The contest, part of the wider forum themed: “Building Resilience for a Common Future,” is organised by SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia in partnership with Access Bank and other corporate sponsors. It aims to empower young people with practical opportunities to turn their ideas into businesses, while reducing reliance on migration for better prospects.
During the opening of the pitching session, Fatou Jallow, National Programme Development Manager at SOS, urged contestants to be bold and seize the opportunity. She praised partners such as the Gambia Youth Chamber of Commerce, Start-Up Incubator Gambia, and Access Bank for their role in sustaining the initiative. “This is one step you have taken to be courageous enough to pursue your dreams,” she told participants.
Judges drawn from the Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), private sector, and business support organisations explained that presentations would be evaluated on problem-solving, innovation, scalability, financial viability, and team capacity.
Aisha Jallow, one of the judges and a trainer who has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs across the country, reminded participants that the process is not only about winning but also about growth. “Every presentation here is valuable because it helps you refine your idea and prepare for bigger opportunities,” she said.
The pitching contest is expected to run for four weeks, after which the most promising projects will receive funding and mentorship support.
The initiative builds on SOS’s five-year strategic plan (2023–2027), which prioritises preparing young people to become independent and productive citizens. With 50 contestants competing, organisers believe the program could spark a wave of innovation among Gambian youth and help address pressing challenges such as unemployment and irregular migration.