Alhaji Mass Axi Gye, secretary of state for Youth and Sports has revealed that the 2008 biennial National Youth Conference and Festival (Nayconf), will be hosted by North Bank Region. However, the SoS did not indicate any scheduled date for the national youth gathering.

SoS Gye made these remarks during the graduation ceremony of 152 corp members of the 2005-2007 National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) on Thursday at the President's International Awards, Bakau.

SoS Gye said since its inception, Nayconf has been an important youth gathering bringing youth across the country together to discuss issues affecting their lives and mapping out resolutions to resolve them.

SoS Gye emphasised that his department has keen interest in the event because of the impact it has on the lives of Gambian youths.

The SoS  also spoke about the ongoing preliminary review of the National Youth Policy and Action Plan 1999-2008, saying that this will ensure the formulation of a new policy for 2009-2018.

"It is our fervent hope that such a review, incorparating contributions from external stakeholders, will consider the resolutions and recommendations from the previous national youth gatherings," he said.

SoS Gye further assured Gambian youths that his department will continue to support and complement the efforts of the NYSS  and called on Gambian youth to embrace President Jammeh's vision of creating enterprises for social change.

"The expected outcome of this noble vision is to re-orientate and motivate Gambian youth in order to harness their diverse creativities, energies and at the same time instil in them the virtues of responsible leadership and selfless services to society," he concluded.