By Olimatou Coker
Nova Scotia- Gambia Association (NSGA) in partnership with Venture 2 Impact, a Canadian organization has concluded training eighteen Gambian youth on entrepreneurship and business development held at NSGA conference hall.
The training drew participants from youth registered groups within the Kanifing Municipality and West Coast Region. It is aimed at equipping the youth with entrepreneurial and business skills to ensure they have ability to manage and operate business successfully.
The training identifies problems in business and turns the problems into opportunities. It also enables participants to conduct a competitive analysis, sales strategy, customer services, business model canvas, value proposition and among others.
In his remark, Abdou A. Kanteh, executive director for NSGA said the training is significant in enhancing business management and entrepreneurship skills of the young people.
“This is a pilot project we started with eighteen young people but we have the intention to expand the project countrywide because there is a need for this training in the up country,” he said.
He thanked the V2 Impact team for bringing the opportunity in the Gambia and commended NSGA staff for ensuring smooth implementation of the project.
Mr Kanteh advised the participants to practicalise the knowledge gained. “We will be happy to see all of you succeed on your various business ideas,” he said.
Fadi Al Qassar, executive director for V2 Impact in Canada said his organization came with the initiative because it believed that entrepreneurship is one of the key drivers in solving youth underemployment and unemployment in any given country.
“We feel it necessary to equip the youth with skills and knowledge of business in order to have business opportunities in their communities,” he said.
He assured that V2 impact will work with NSGA to ensure measures are put in place to sustain the training programme so that both the beneficiaries and others would benefit from further training.
He commended NSGA for contributing immensely to the success of the training, while advising participants to remain focused and add value in their community using the entrepreneurship skills.
Bintou Corr, volunteer and programme lead of V2 Impact on entrepreneurship said youth have a great influence in attaining economic independence through entrepreneurship.
She also thanked both NSGA and V2 Impact for giving her the opportunity to learn and teach others.
Amadou Sowe, participant expressed gratitude for NSGA and their Canadian partners for the initiative, adding “I have learned a lot about business and entrepreneurship. Before, I was not interested in business but now I have the interest and can manage a business successfully.”
