Hon Sheriff Gomez, minister of Youths and Sports, yesterday, on behalf of the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, inaugurated the Muhammed Yahya Jammeh Skills Centre, otherwise called My Future, in Bakau New Town.

This groundbreaking inauguration is part of the activities marking the 15th anniversary of the July 22nd revolution. In his inaugural statement, Minister Gomez expressed delight at the inauguration, describing it as a milestone in the history of youth empowerment as enshrined in the revolution's objectives. He used the occasion to call on the youths of this country to redouble their efforts in contributing towards nation building.

He said skills centres are very vital in the empowerment of the youth, adding that they will have the opportunity to learn and acquire skills to gain self-employment and contribute to national development. The Gambia government, through the Youths and Sports Ministry, he said, will do all it can to ensure that the youths of this country are empowered and actively participate in the development of this country.

Minister Gomez seized the opportunity to call on the youths to go back to the land, in response to President Jammeh's clarion call, to develop the country faster, in line with the Vision 2020 and the Millennium Development Goals. Minister Gomez challenged the young people to rise up and defend the nation, by contributing immensely to its development. He appealed to the students to concentrate on their studies. Minister Gomez finally thanked President Jammeh for his untiring efforts in the empowerment of the youths of this country.

Speaking earlier, Yankuba Colley, mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), said skills training are quite essential to the creation of adequate human capital, which in turn is fundamental to national development and self-reliance. "The Gambia is developing at an unprecedented rate. To sustain this development, we must empower citizens to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills," Mayor Colley remarked.

The APRC government, under the dynamic leadership of President Jammeh, Mayor Colley said, has created a lot of opportunities for its citizens, especially the youths, to acquire knowledge and skills in a wide range of areas. He assured the proprietors of his council's support at all times.
Ousman Nyang, director general of the National Training Authority (NTA), described the facility as a centre for learning and acquiring skills for youth empowerment.

For his part, Bakary B Darboe, deputy director and coordinator of the Muhammed Yahya Jammeh Skills Training Centre, said skills training serves as a springboard in the transformation of the socio-economic development of the country. He added that skills training centres also provide opportunities for young people to acquire skills and become self-reliant. Darboe disclosed that his centre was built at a tune of over D2M, with support from his donors, Peter and Henny, who established a foundation called 'Give Gambia a Future'.

He thanked President Jammeh and his mother, Aja Fatou Ashombi Bojang, for the support they rendered to his centre. Other speakers included Pa Kalipha Jammeh - National Assembly member for Bakau, Alhagie Bahoum, councillor of Bakau New Town Ward and Alhagie Luntang Jaiteh, Alkalo of Bakau. Ministers, Lieutenant General Langtombong Tamba, and a cross section of the people of Bakau attended the ceremony.