By Haruna Kuyateh
The government, in partnership with the UNDP, has established the Gambia Songhai Initiative (GSI) to equip youths with skills in agribusiness and enterprise development. The initiative provides one-year training programs at Chamen, while the Holistic Agribusiness Solution under the Rural Development Office (RDO), supported by the Sabab Lou Foundation and partners from Germany, offers two-year integrated agricultural and entrepreneurship training.
Governor of the North Bank Region, Lamin Saidykhan, disclosed this during a recent youth engagement session. He highlighted the importance of youths taking advantage of opportunities offered by government and development partners to enhance skills in agribusiness, create jobs, and improve livelihoods.
Governor Saidykhan expressed concern over the low enrolment of youths from the North Bank Region in the GSI, Holistic Agribusiness Solution at Balingho, and the President’s International Award Scheme in Kerewan. He emphasized that these training centres were established to support youth skills acquisition, enabling them to excel in food production, become job creators, and address challenges such as irregular migration.
On access to finance, Governor Saidykhan noted that certificates from these training centres would facilitate easier access to matching grants from projects and other development partners.
