By Ndey Sowe
Three young entrepreneurs have won the Kanifing Municipal Council’s (KMC) Mayor’s “Tekki Fii Andandorr” to curb Covid-19 challenges in the Gambia on Tuesday June 2nd 2020.
The EU-funded Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) in partnership with the Mayor of KMC Talib Ahmed Bensouda and the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), set up a million Dalasi fund to sponsor solutions to help overcome the difficulties during the global pandemic.
The fund aims to support innovative young entrepreneurs with development smart and effective business solutions to tackle the socio-economic challenges caused by Covid-19 and in helping the Gambian economy adapt and recover.
The Lord Mayor of KMC Talib Ahmed Bensouda, said his Council is committed to support the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus as well as mitigating the impacts of the global pandemic on the livelihoods of residents of the Municipality.
According to the KMC Mayor, his Council identified three primary problems that can benefit from private sector solutions within the Municipality, related to the Covid-19 pandemic; that these are the restriction placed on markets and non-essential businesses which reduces foot traffic at shops; the transportation restrictions which limits the revenue of young drivers through passenger restrictions as well as the closure of Schools which exacerbates inequality.
Attila Lajos, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Gambia, commended the KMC Mayor for the great initiative to tackle some of these challenges, by developing concrete solutions and in providing the capital to implement them.
“Partnerships are essential within this time of crisis and the more we work together, the better we will weather the crisis,” he said.
Oumie Ceesay, a Board Member of the GCCI congratulated the winners and urged them to be youth ambassadors by delivering excellence at all times, in the socio-economic development of the Gambia.
The winners were Baboucarr Njie who won D429, 000; Lamin Dibba had D257, 000 and Kora Jagne, D330, 000.
The Gambia continues to face unprecedented socio-economic challenges due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Small businesses have been harshly affected through production constraints, supply chain disruptions, lack of funds, loss of markets and many others.
