The Gambia National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS), under the Department of State for Youths and Sports, on Friday, held a swearing-in ceremony for its 3rd special batch on rice agronomy at the scheme's orientation camp in Bakau.

In her welcoming remarks, the camp directress, Ms Aji Fatou Nian, expressed her delight and described the ceremony as significant in the history of the NYSS.

According to her, the orientation was scheduled from the 22nd August - 29th August, 2008. A total of 19 corps members comprising 16 males and 3 females were sworn-in. 8 corps members were from CRR, two from NBR, six from LRR and three  from WR, she said.

Miss Nian underscored the importance of the orientation programme as new members are being put through a regulated camping  environment, during which they would be introduced to leadership skills and good practices.

"During the training period, participants were trained on rice agronomy, counselling and guidance, entrepreneurship and the English Language," she remarked.

Mr Musa Mbye, the executive director of NYSS, in his report, said the 19 corps members were selected from different backgrounds. Mr Mbye announced that the occasion also marked the official admission of the members into the National Youth Service Scheme. He informed the gathering that the corps members would be deployed to the NYSS rice would undergo 22 months of skills acquisition, which, upon completion, would enable them to engage in viable ventures for self employment.

He expressed his gratitude and sincere appreciation to the UNDP, Total Gambia Ltd and other institutions for their financial, moral and material contributions in making the occasion a successful one. The NYSS boss also thanked His Excellency, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for his support and efforts to improve the welfare of the young people of The Gameia. He urged the corps members to be worthy ambassadors of the programme and not to stain the images of their homes and the National Youth Service Scheme in particular.

Addressing the corps members at the ceremony, the secretary of state for Youth and Sports, Sheriff ML Gomez, revealed that in May 1996, the government directed his department of state to gather Gambian youths and train them in various skills.
He urged the corps members to avail themselves of the opportunities accorded them by the scheme, to enhance their individual and collective contributions towards national development.

SoS Gomez added that the global food crisis is a challenge to all and sundry, and can only be combated by going back to the land.
"Choosing rice agronomy will no doubt contribute to the increment of rice production and also to the socio-economic development of The Gambia," he remarked.

SoS Gomez finally thanked the president for his commitment to the NYSS programme and his back to the land call, which inspired the corps members to build interest in rice agronomy as a skill.