40 Migrant returnees residing in the Greater Banjul Area on Friday 6th November, 2012 began a 6-day entrepreneurship-training program organised by the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI).
This training will enable them to acquire skills and knowledge in how to start and maintain their businesses, create networking and possible markets to make an impart of live..
This entrepreneurship training is for both potential and existing entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 years and is expected to expose them to opportunities available in the country. Returnee migrants often face an uncertain employment scenario. Some have no skills, while those with skills find it difficult to get the right opportunities.
At the opening ceremony, the General Manager of NEDI, Abass Bah, says this is one of the many initiatives NEDI has initiated in partnership with the IOM, to assist youths in acquiring valuable skills for better employment prospects.
A common finding of migration literature is that migrants are more likely to choose self-employment upon returning to their countries of origin than non-migrants. This has led to the belief that return migration stimulates entrepreneurship in source countries and hence supports economic development.
The IOM Program Manager, Etienne Micallef highlights the role of youths in national development, saying skills acquisition is one way to cope the menace of unemployment.
Suute M bah, the director of planning at the ministry of youths and sports says government is committed to providing an enabling environment by establishing a youth revolving loan scheme, to provide financial assistance for their business.
Alagie Kaajakeh, a returnee from Libya, hopes to start up a business in future.
The training program is funded by the international organisation for migration the Gambia, IOM. NEDI is tasked with providing youth’s with financial support, mentorship and coaching, advice on business ideas and strategies, among others.
BY: Abibatou Ceesay
This training will enable them to acquire skills and knowledge in how to start and maintain their businesses, create networking and possible markets to make an impart of live..
This entrepreneurship training is for both potential and existing entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 years and is expected to expose them to opportunities available in the country. Returnee migrants often face an uncertain employment scenario. Some have no skills, while those with skills find it difficult to get the right opportunities.
At the opening ceremony, the General Manager of NEDI, Abass Bah, says this is one of the many initiatives NEDI has initiated in partnership with the IOM, to assist youths in acquiring valuable skills for better employment prospects.
A common finding of migration literature is that migrants are more likely to choose self-employment upon returning to their countries of origin than non-migrants. This has led to the belief that return migration stimulates entrepreneurship in source countries and hence supports economic development.
The IOM Program Manager, Etienne Micallef highlights the role of youths in national development, saying skills acquisition is one way to cope the menace of unemployment.
Suute M bah, the director of planning at the ministry of youths and sports says government is committed to providing an enabling environment by establishing a youth revolving loan scheme, to provide financial assistance for their business.
Alagie Kaajakeh, a returnee from Libya, hopes to start up a business in future.
The training program is funded by the international organisation for migration the Gambia, IOM. NEDI is tasked with providing youth’s with financial support, mentorship and coaching, advice on business ideas and strategies, among others.
BY: Abibatou Ceesay