NYC boss calls gov’t to finance youth development agencies

By Juldeh Njie The executive director of the National Youth Council Lamin Darboe has called on the new government to start giving financial support to agencies established to bankroll the development of youths in the country. Lamin was speaking in an exclusive chat with The Standard at his office. “I called on the new government to see the possibility of financing youth development agencies. Institutions like NEDI which were established by the former regime should be built upon by the government to ensure that NEDI is adequately resourced to provide training and to also provide young people with the services in terms of employment. “The young people in this country are highly anticipating for a drastic response from the new government especially in the areas of employment and empowerment. If you talk about the transition or the change of the regime is widely acknowledged from all corners that young people play a critical role,” the youth leader said. He said the role played by NYC even during the Jammeh administration cannot be overemphasised. “During Jammeh’s reign the national youth council was the only institution which used to invite all political parties to their events. So beyond that we had organised several governance trainings where we continue to invite all political parties to ensure that they participate. All this was geared towards ensuring that we played fair between the actors in the country’s political domain,” he added. He said if all other sectors played their part like the NYC did then Jammeh would have not done all that he did over the twenty-two years, saying “We refuse to be used as a tool to either intimidate or to exclude a section of the society base on our political parties. Our role continues within that process to create a critical mass that will respond to the need of the youth. “We knew the consequences and the risks involved asking the government of the day to resign, so with the coming of the new government expectations are very high. Gambians especially the young people take a great responsibility to usher in the new government and they expected that those that usher in a new government should be given due consideration,” he said. He said the expectations of the young people are not just having positions but also for their social challenges to be addressed.]]>