By Fatou Sillah
The National Youth Parliament (NYP) of The Gambia on Monday convened its 10th session at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, bringing together young parliamentarians from across the country to deliberate on pressing national and youth-related issues.
The session marked the official swearing-in of newly elected and nominated youth parliamentarians representing all regions of The Gambia. It also underscored the crucial role of young people in promoting leadership, inclusion, and participation in national governance and policy formulation.
The 10th session provided a platform for meaningful engagement on key development themes such as youth empowerment, education, employment, and decision-making. Participants also reaffirmed the importance of amplifying youth voices in national dialogue and development planning.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Youth Parliament and the European Union. The agreement aims to enhance collaboration in advancing youth empowerment, leadership, development, and policy advocacy across the country.
During the session, Hon. Jabou Sisawo was elected as the Speaker of the 10th National Youth Parliament, with Hon. Bakary Gaye chosen as her Deputy Speaker. In her acceptance speech, Hon. Sisawo expressed gratitude to her colleagues for their confidence in her leadership and urged the youth to remain committed to integrity and accountability.
“This year’s session begins at a time when civic space is shrinking, when young people continue to demand accountability, and when trust in leadership remains fragile,” Hon. Sisawo stated. “We must rise to the moment by conducting ourselves with integrity, by holding ourselves accountable, and by demonstrating that youth leadership can be both responsible and transformative. And we affirm that the National Youth Parliament is a credible platform for engagement.”
Outgoing Speaker Omar Champion Cham, in his farewell address, congratulated the new parliamentarians and reflected on the challenges confronting young people in The Gambia.
“We must speak frankly about the challenges facing our generation. The youth of The Gambia are deeply concerned about the significant pressures on livelihoods, from persistent high youth unemployment to the desperate choice of irregular migration and the painful rise of substance abuse in our communities,” He Said.
Hon. Cham also highlighted the need to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the youth, address weak anti-corruption measures, and modernize outdated laws to reflect the country’s democratic aspirations.
“Therefore, we must address the dynamics between the state and its young people,” he urged. “We must constructively pursue a renewed social contract that strengthens our democracy, not one that pushes back on it. The National Youth Parliament calls for an elevated relationship between law enforcement and the youth, one rooted in mutual understanding, confidence, and respect.”