By: Fatou Krubally
The Gambia yesterday witnessed the opening of the 2nd Edition of the National Youth Forum and Youth Pitching Contest.
This gathering is designed to amplify youth voices and support entrepreneurship, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center under the theme “Building Resilience for a Common Future.”
Organized by SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia in partnership with Access Bank and other corporate sponsors, the event brought together youth leaders, government representatives, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The initiative is part of SOS’s five-year strategic plan (2023–2027), which focuses on preparing young people to become independent and positive contributors to society.
In his welcoming address, Jean-Pierre Kouamin, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia, described young people as “independent and positive agents of change in their families, communities, and nation.” He highlighted SOS’s broad interventions, ranging from education and vocational training to entrepreneurship incubation, stressing that over 12,000 young Gambians have already benefited from programs in literacy, catering, hotel management, sewing, crafts, and social work.
Kouamin warned against the tragedy of irregular migration, known locally as the “back way,” which continues to claim the lives of Gambian youths. He said initiatives like the pitching contest are designed to provide safer, more sustainable opportunities at home. “Anything you want to do for me and you are trying to do without me, you may end up doing it against me,” he reminded, echoing a youth statement from an SOS General Assembly.
Access Bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Stephen Abban, the lead sponsor, pledged long-term support for youth entrepreneurship. “We are not here just to launch a pitching competition. We are here to unveil sustainable possibilities for you,” he said, urging participants never to give up on their dreams. He stressed that persistence and resilience are key to success, adding that Access Bank will provide start-up funds for the best eight contestants this year, with hopes of scaling up in subsequent editions.
DHL Gambia’s CEO, Olalekin Oyele, reaffirmed his company’s partnership with SOS, citing global commitments under DHL’s “Go Teach” program. He assured young people that the competition is not just about winners and losers, but about building resilience and learning from setbacks.
Closing the opening session, Ismaila Badjie of the National Youth Council called the forum “a strategic intervention,” praising SOS for transforming thousands of lives but warning that challenges such as peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse continue to hold back Gambian youth.
As the pitching contest kicks off, 50 young Gambians will compete for funding to turn their ideas into businesses, a step organisers believe could inspire broader change and reduce the exodus of youth seeking opportunities abroad.