Seven youths of the President International Award (PIA) were, on Wednesday, awarded with the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council Certificates by the acting British high commissioner, Birse Graham, at a ceremony held at the British Embassy in Fajara.

The PIA, in collaboration with their Scottish counterparts, annually organise youth exchange programmes, aimed at exposing participants to different socio-cultural and leadership programmes.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Abdoulie Bah, chief executive, PIA, said the award program first started in Scotland and later spread to other countries including The Gambia. Mr Bah added that the young people have a crucial role to play in the socio-economic development of any nation. The exchange programme, according to Mr Bah, was meant to equip the youths with leadership qualities. He thanked the awardees for a job well done.

For his part, Griham Birse, acting British high commissioner to The Gambia, said his office will do their best to support youth development initiatives in the country so as to contribute effectively to national development.

He expressed his office's continued support for youth empowerment initiatives for the development of the country.

Speaking earlier, Mambanjick Njie, permanent secretary at the Department of State for Youth Sports and Religious Affairs, hailed the PIA for their outstanding efforts in the area of youths development in the country.

He urged them to venture into skills training to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the development of The Gambia.

He advised participants to take their work seriously in order to serve as role models in society.

The award ceremony was also graced by some senior officials of the British Embassy, and representatives from Scotland.