Cognisant of the youthful nature of its population, and given the significant role this category of the country's growing population has to play in its development, the leadership of this country has never wasted any opportunity when it comes to emphasizing its stance in ensuring that the youth get all it takes for them to give the nation their maximum contribution.

However, the greatest challenge this country faces today, despite all efforts, is the indomitable obsession of its youth folk, the urge to travel abroad. For some of these youth, experiencing life in Europe or the US is a matter of life or death. It must be admitted though, that a few have seen enough sense.

I caught up with a group of young boys the other day, whose preoccupation revolves around some unusual. Apparently, all of them had tried at least on two occasions, for entry visas into either US or somewhere in Western Europe. While they appeared divided on possibility of given it a try any further, they appeared unanimous in their condemnation of the authority at the two major embassies in the country.

Alhajie, not his real name, fascinated me by his off-putting desire for "Babylon". He told me how he felt so cheated by the consular officer at one of the major embassies. The following represent the transcript of his interview with the consular:

The consular: Why do you want to go to the US

candidates answer: I am going there for studies.

Do you know anybody in the US? Yes, I do

Which are you going to ?

The counsilor: Who is your sponsor? My uncle is my sponsor.

The consular: How is he your uncle?

He and my mum are from the same mum and dad.

What do you want to do after the completion of your course?

I want to come back to the Gambia and help my uncle in running his business.

I cannot issue you my visa because of the availability of the course (BA associate degree) here in the Gambia and you chose in the US

But there's no school offering degree programme BA including the UTG only professional course of BA is done at school in the Gambia

End of conversation.

The most horrible thing is that some applicant's were given student visa by the same embassy for pursuing the same course. why this? Why not me? And his question is why there is no refund?

Please let them refund if they don't issue visa for students.  Let them stop making money from the poor Gambia student.

This is the emotional confusion this Youngman is going through. But the issue is, is it worth it?