The third edition of the National Child Friendly Award (NCFA) is scheduled for Saturday, February 16 at the Paradise Suite Hotel in Senegambia.

The event is organised by Young People in the Media (YPM) to recognise the giant role played by individuals and institutions in protecting and promoting the rights and well being of children in The Gambia.

According to reports from YPM, the award ceremony is expected to be attended by the vice-president, the speaker of the National Assembly, secretaries of state, diplomats, amongst other dignitaries.

Commenting on the event, Fatou Camara-Saidy, chairperson of the Board of Directors of YPM, said the award seeks to spur the population to invest and promote child-friendly activities in the country. Mrs Camara-Saidy crowned this year's award as a milestone as it coincides with the one-year anniversary of YPM, adding that a lot has been achieved within this period.

Satang Nabaneh, secretary general of YPM lauded the efforts of individuals and institutions for have paid attention to plights of young people.

Ms Nabaneh, who is The Gambia's child representative to the World Children's Parliament, commended the heroic contributions that have been made towards the cause of Gambian children.

Abdou Jatta, president of YPM, expressed similar sentiments, amplifying calls for more resources to be directed to the cause of children.