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The Gambian government is targeting skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development as a key component in the bid to surmount the economic challenges of the millennium. This revelation was made over the weekend by Mr. Essa Coker, operation manager at the Gambia Priority Employment Programme (GAMJOBS) while presenting a speech at the 10th graduation ceremony of the Insight Training Centre and the inauguration of two classrooms sponsored by GAMJOBS.  

The event was held at Sinchu Alhagie, Kombo North of Western Region. According to Coker, the government of The Gambia values the acquisition of skills and entrepreneurship development as major strategies to help develop a productive and competent work force in the country.

He said such recognition is in response to the demands of the economic and social order of the new millennium.   Thus, the government through GAMJOBS targets the development of a skilled and effective workforce, which would then create opportunities for self-employment. 

He said that in order to achieve this objective, GAMJOBS has four strategic areas which include mainstreaming employment in national macroeconomic, sector and social policies; strengthening labour market policies and institutions, establishing an enterprise and skills development and training fund for self-employment (GET FUND); as well as promoting labour-intensive technologies in public works programmes in order to create employment and sustainable livelihoods.

The support that GAMJOBS gives to Insight Training Centre, he explained, is under its Strategic Area 3, where it is supporting the development of skills to create opportunities for people, especially the youths to be self employed. Mr. Coker further said that GAMJOBS through the National Training Authority, NTA, has provided support amounting to D1,184,640 to Insight Training Centre.

This funding he noted was meant for the Centre to provide equipment for a computer laboratory, provide building materials for completion of a classroom block, and provide tools for constructing a training department and electrical and wiring training.   In order to recoup the investment made in the Training Centre, GAMJOBS will in turn send a number of students to the centre to be trained over a period of 2 years free of charge.   He then used the opportunity to commend the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their continued support in implementing the project, while he also commended the Kingdom of Spain for providing financial support to the project.   He also urged the students of the training institute to make the best use of the offer given them, describing it as a rare opportunity.                                   

While he pledged that GAMJOBS would at all times remain loyal to the Memorandum of Understanding between them and Insight Training Centre, he expressed hope that the occasion presents an opportunity to renewing the partnership between GAMJOBS and the training centre. 

For his part, the principal of Insight Training Centre, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay explained that the mission of Insight Training Centre is to provide quality, affordable and relevant skills training to Gambians especially the youth.   He noted that the tenth year anniversary of the institution provides them with the opportunity to evaluate how far this goal has been achieved and what remains to be done to ensure that the goals are achieved.   “Until we see that Gambians are able and trusted to produce quality services that are equated to the imported ones, we will not relent in our search to do more.”   He said that they believe that they might not be able to give affordable training to students if they continue to use rented apartments and this is why they have sought the magnanimity of Sinchu Alhagie community who allocated the land while GAMJOBS sponsored the building. “We believe we are on the road to affordable training.” 

He reviewed the past year, noting that of all the 214 students who sat for their examinations, 195 passed, among which 65 were graduating.   He also noted that Insight Training Centre continues to provide scholarship to needy and outstanding students.   He then expressed the Centre's appreciation to The Gambian government for providing the enabling environment and funds for the project.   He also thanked the Sinchu Alhagie community, the National Training Authority, GAMJOBS and the Danish-Gambian Friendship Association for their support.