By Ndey Sowe
President’s International Award Scheme (PIA) has Tuesday, 16th February, 2021, inaugurated new Board of Directors to steer the affairs of the institution for the next three years.
PIA is tasked to ensure the Ministry of Youth and Sport meets its goals and targets of expanding the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Programme countrywide, otherwise called the Award Programme.
It is also expected to provide relevant and livelihood skills training to the young people of The Gambia.
“I am honored because this appointment has surely created a great opportunity for me to contribute my part, in partnership with my colleagues, to enhance the great work of this institution,” said Mfamara Darboe, the new Chairperson of the Board of Directors for PIA.
Darboe thanked the Gambia Government through the Minister of Youth and Sports and his entire management team for having the trust and confidence in him to serve as the chairperson for PIA.
He remarked: “To the youths of this country, be rest assured that you are in safe hands. All what we need from you is your continued willingness to learn and leave the rest with us.”
He promised to ensure a level playing field for all to advance the welfare of youths in The Gambia.
Bakary Y Badjie, Gambia’s Minister of Youths and Sports expressed hope that the new board will execute its functions as expected with professionalism and guided by the PIA Act of 2015.
“I am therefore not in doubt that the composition of the new board will bring great deliberations and strategic decisions and actions that will see the President’s International Award Scheme register pride in its mandate,” he said.
Minister Badjie tasked the new board to place much emphasis on making the award programme more vibrant, all inclusive and reach more schools across the country.
“I want to task the board of directors and management to draw a road map on expanding the Award Scheme Programme across the country and in most of the schools in the country,” he said.
He assured the board that his ministry will do their best to support the implementation of the road map as well as strive to maintain a more discipline, well trained and professional staff.
