By Haruna Kuyateh
The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) Wednesday conducted civic awareness engagement for educational institutions and civic clubs in the North Bank Region.
The engagement which was held with support from the UNDP and EU-UNDP GREAT Initiative came ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
The one-day training, held under the theme “Empowering Youth for Civic Responsibility and Peer-Led Learning,” aimed to encourage young people to take ownership of their civic duties and promote peaceful democratic participation.
The NCCE says the initiative seeks to position youths as ambassadors of democracy and a first line of defense against the erosion of civic values.
The council said investing in youth-led civic engagement would help build a stronger foundation for the country’s democratic future.
Speaking at the event, NCCE Program Manager Ansumana Ceesay described the training as timely, saying it would enhance public awareness, strengthen civic responsibility, promote peer-to-peer learning and reinforce commitment to electoral integrity among students and youth networks.
He says civic education has become increasingly important due to the rapid spread of misinformation and hate speech, which he notes pose threats to democratic values and social cohesion.
Ceesay reminds young people that civic responsibility goes beyond voting, stressing that it also involves protecting truth, promoting tolerance and acting responsibly, particularly in digital spaces.
He thanked the EU-UNDP GREAT Initiative for its continued support, describing the partnership as recognition that an informed and active citizenry remained central to national development.
“The NCCE remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a society where every citizen, especially young people, understands their civic rights and responsibilities,” he said.
The council says the intervention forms part of broader efforts to promote peaceful participation, democratic awareness and responsible citizenship among Gambian youths ahead of future elections.