Without doubt the launch of the apprenticeship training programme by the National Training Authority under the indefatigable, charismatic and affable director general in the person of Ousman Nyang commonly know as Gawlo Nyang is indeed a step in the right direction in curbing our dependency on foreign deployments and dominance of our skills sector.
All and sundry can recall my lament and outbursts on the said issue as I vented my spleen on the short falls of the N.Y.S.S which I conceptualized and premised on this very projection of this National body’s intent thus one can just associate with it to enhance it as the like of Almami Kinteh an educationist colleague of mine and Edmond Shonobi a protagonist of mine in the sports circles, as he vied me for the position of secretary general Gambia football association in 1992. But he was my best friend, associate and twin partner in that domain as we were both assistant secretaries general in the late 80s and earlier on he was responsible for the metropolitan end whilst I was at the grassroots responsible for decentralization of the game; hence the fruits of our labour now being harvested by those in the football administration.

No digression but show of strength as the man powers behind Gawlo to move the project thus the genesis and analogy of their background which must be complemented by more of such potentials to better the project; can this be obliged? Reminiscing the advocacy for the need for our youths to be engaged in acquisition, my article in January 1995 in the observer to conceptualize the national youth service scheme premised on this projection of getting our youths under master craftsmen to indoctrinate them. My desires are now met to get requisite skills for youths as a whole to thrive. Can we applaud the venture?
Yes, worthy of both commendation and emulation by other institutions of similar nature such as the N.Y.S.S, the P.A.S amongst other must be: to be coordinated by a pragmatic, forward looking and zealous personality to ensure that the projections are replicated all over the country to avert the constraints of concentration all in the metropolitan settings as I always lament; reference to my articles especially on ghost abodes in 2001.
Well, the onus is on the N.T.A but more-so for both the youth’s handlers of the project to ensure just that if we are to thrive in the goals set for the project. Are we up to the task? Well, the few months of resolve to be so shall be determinant factors to enable me give a very good analogy of the project in the short, medium and long term achievements.
Under my watchful eyes therefore, I am enthused with the project with the hope that it will adequately address my strong advocacy of skills acquisition as I articulated in many a write-up to get dear mother land Gambia no problem really true to the adage; for a nation that takes care of its youths can rest on its laurels whereas anything short of that brings catastrophe.