By Lamarana S. Jallow
Stakeholders including National Assembly Members (NAMs), CSOs, implementing partners, partners from the media and young people across the country gathered at the National Assembly chambers for the inauguration of the 9th National Youth Parliament, where sixty-four young parliamentarians were sworn-in.
The newly-elected members who took the prescribed oath of office, include the Speaker , Deputy Speaker, 53 constituency representative s, 7 nominated women and 2 differently able persons.
The Minister of Youths of Sports, Honourable Bakary Y. Badjie said the Ministry, through National Youth Council (NYC) will not hesitate to collaborate with NYP in its common goal of raising awareness on issues confronting young people in this country as well as build capacities of young people, empower communities and advocate for the participation of young people in the political and governance processes.
Minister Badjie assured the new parliamentarians of government’s support; that they will continue to engage the youth to further strengthen their collaborative work in all areas of concern.
“I want to challenge your leadership, while building on your previous gains, to do more work in areas of drug abuse, climate change and livelihood skills acquisitions. From all indications, these three issues are among the major challenges confronting our young people, and thus deserve concerted efforts from government, UN agencies and youth associations like National Youth Parliament,” he noted.
Honorable Omar Cham, the newly elected Speaker of the youth parliament said National Youth Parliamentarians are tasked with the mandate of representing the voice of young people of the country, giving them the opportunity to give a new face to the strive in promoting youth participation in leadership and decision making processes.
He said this new parliament will therefore give youth the opportunity to critically assess the status quo of young people and as well the laws, policies and initiatives governing young people.
He mentioned that during the sessions the august assembly will discuss and debate on the key matters confronting the lives, welfares and wellbeing of the youth of this country.
The Speaker called on the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Youth Council; partners and donor agencies, to not let the new spirit of youth involvement in governance die.
The founding father of NYP, and Director of RAID Gambia, Samboujang Conteh, , said their first session on 8th March 2002 was to intervene in human rights, good governance and democracy.
Madam Aisata Dae , United Nation resident representative said UNDP is fully committed to expanding partnership to strengthen women’s participation in leadership in the National Assembly.
At the conclusion of the swearing in of the 9th National Youth Parliament and ahead of its first sittings a day after the inauguration, a motion to adopt a new logo that embodies the spirit and value of the NYP was adopted.
Since its inception in 2002, the National Youth Parliament has involved youth from across the country, built their capacities in the three arms of the state, and parliamentary democratic procedures ,with the aim to prepare and enhance their knowledge on leadership, governance, administration, policy advocacy, debate etc.
