By: Fatou Krubally
The SOS Children Villages The Gambia National Youth Forum Pitching Contest entered its second stage on Saturday, as 15 young Gambian entrepreneurs went head-to-head for a place in the final round of the competition.
The contest, which began with 50 participants, is part of a four-week program aimed at nurturing youth entrepreneurship under the theme “Building Resilience for a Common Future.” Organised by SOS Children’s Villages The Gambia in partnership with Access Bank and other corporate sponsors, the initiative seeks to equip young Gambians with practical tools to build businesses and reduce reliance on migration.
At Saturday’s session, contestants presented ideas ranging from eco-friendly charcoal briquettes to digital marketing solutions and food services. Judges evaluated the presentations based on clarity of problem and solution, business models, market opportunity, financial projections, and long-term sustainability.
Judge Aisha Ceesay reminded participants that strong financial planning and clear links between problems and solutions were crucial for success. “Most of you had issues with your financial projections, and in some cases, your solutions did not connect well with the problem you identified,” she told contestants. “These are areas you need to improve if you want to make it to the final round.”
Organisers also introduced stricter measures to ensure fairness, including random selection of presentation order. Contestants were given six minutes to pitch their ideas, followed by a one-minute Q&A session with the judges.
Among the standout ideas was Jamal’s eco-friendly briquette start-up, designed to replace traditional charcoal and firewood with cleaner, affordable alternatives. Another promising project came from Fatou Jatta, founder of Big Bites Restaurant, who offers affordable local and western cuisine for busy workers and students.
Following deliberations, eight of the 15 participants will be shortlisted for the grand finale this coming Saturday, where they will present before key stakeholders and potential investors. Winners are expected to receive funding, mentorship, and business development support.
For many of the young entrepreneurs, the contest represents more than just a competition. “This is an opportunity to refine our ideas and show that Gambian youth can solve real problems,” said one participant.
As the final approaches, anticipation is growing that the event could spark a new wave of innovation among Gambian youth.