By Lamarana S. Jallow
Barely a month after the launching of the National Organising Committee (NOC) of the National Youth Conference and Festival (NAYCONF) 2022, the committee, under the guidance of the National Youth Council and its line ministry – Ministry of Youth and Sports – is set to embark on a seven-day regional and municipal tour from 18th to 24th October, 2022.
The tour is meant to assess the level of preparedness of the regional stakeholders with regard to the upcoming NAYCONF.
The tour is expected to start from Kanifing Municipal Council, Banjul City Council, where the entourage will pay courtesy to the lord mayor and mayoress then proceed to North Bank Region Governor’s office and Kerewan Area Council with same meetings. The delegates will then move from NBR to Mansakonko Governor’s office, Mansakonko Area Council in LRR then head to Janjanbureh Regional Governor’s office and Janjanbureh Area Council then procced to the Upper River Region, where the delegation will pay courtesy call on the Governor and Area Council Chairman.
Reacting on NOC tour , Pa Malick Ceesay Deputy Executive Director of National Youth Council said the event that is expected to host thousands of youth is not a small one; hence the need to meet the stakeholders and do a thorough briefing.
He said The Gambia has a young population with more than 70% below the age of 35; that NAYCONF intends to bring the youth together to discuss critical issues of national development. “It’s not only going to be jamboree but also an avenue to come up with resolutions. The government, and the NGO’s will all be there. It’s happening in Banjul in December and a lot of work is needed”.
NAYCONF is biggest youth gathering in The Gambia and this year’s is set for December 15th to 23rd, 2022 in Banjul.
The biannual event is expected to bring together more than 2000 young people across the country and beyond to discuss issues of national development.
The theme for this year is, “The Role of Young People in the Maintenance of Peace and Security for Socio-Economic Development of the Country; Challenges and Opportunities”.
