By Omar Bah
The Global Youth Innovation Network, GYIN, Gambia and Managers’ Prescription Consultancy Firm recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding and contractual agreement that seeks to support youth in the area of entrepreneurship through a three months mentorship programme.
Under the MoU and the Contractual Agreement, both institutions commit themselves in supporting rural developments through a mentorship programme that will promote entrepreneurship in rural areas.
This, according to officials of both institutions, twenty-five rural youths will undergo the three months mentorship programme of which fifteen males and ten females have already been selected for the programme which will commence in the first week of August, 2017.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the executive director GYIN Gambia, Mamadou Edrissa Njie said the need to support youth especially those in the rural areas in entrepreneurship mentorship cannot be overemphasised.
“My office is aware of the lack of mentorship that many rural youth lack, therefore, we’re piloting this programme to fill the gap and we hope that the programme will become a bigger one,” he said.
He said the mentorship Programme is to create and support an enabling environment under which young people in the country can act on their own behalf and on their own terms, “to facilitate exchange of experiences, learning and networking for young entrepreneurs.”
“As part of the signing, the two institutions entered into an official agreement to promote and support rural underserved youth in the area of agriculture and small scale agri-business thus learn and share entrepreneurial experiences, best practices between and among young entrepreneurs for the benefit of young people,” he said.
He said the pilot programme on mentorship will also facilitate a social youth platform that would develop the leadership potential of Gambian youth and prepare them to take charge of their leadership roles and responsibilities in national development.
Meanwhile, the Managers’ Prescription Consultancy Firm, Managing Partner Ousman Sonko whiles thanking GYIN Gambia for entrusting them with the implementation of the partnership on youth mentorship, said his institution is committed to work towards a successful implementation of the pilot phase.
“But we will not only stop there we also we want to further support GYIN Gambia in their future endeavors in contributing to the fulfillment of the wishes and aspirations of Gambian youth.
The passion we have to help youth empowerment as the catalyst for sustainable national development cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
