By Amadou Manjang
The Tailor Association of Kanifing Municipality (KM) on Sunday,8 October concluded its familiarisation tour of the region.
The regional association started the tour in August 2023. It visited the nineteenth (19) wards of the Municipality meeting tailors, fashion designers, and other relevant authorities.
The concluding ceremony was held at the President International Award Scheme in Bakau.
It was graced by the members of the association, the Minister of Youth and Sport, the office of KM’s mayor, and the President of Senegalese Tailor Union.
Speaking at the event, the Program Manager, Awa Jobarteh, said the familiarisation tour was to help tailors coordinate their work.
She also said that tailors are overlooked in society; therefore, they need to speak with one voice to be heard.
She added that they are responsible for decorating and clothing people. This makes them an integral part of society.
The President of the Regional Tailors Association, Salieu Jallow, said the tour was a success as they held fruitful discussions with relevant stakeholders.
Jallow also called on the Minister of Youth and Sports to support youth who are engaged in skilled work.
He further said that the youth in the country should be enlightened on the importance of skilled work.
He said that tailors should be given contracts by the government and other relevant authorities to boost their income and create more employment for others.
He added that the tailor associations should be contracted to sew uniforms in order to generate funds for themselves.
The annual expenditure on school uniforms is estimated to be around seven million dalasi (D7,000,000)
The Minister of Youth and Sport, Bakary Badjie, said skilled work is key in the development of any country.
The Youth Minister also indicated that youth should endeavor to have skills and it is important to have an association to coordinate their efforts.
He called on the KM Regional Tailor Association to collaborate with the government, especially with the Ministry of Trade to boost the industry.
Minister Badjie urged all tailors in the region to join the association to speak with one voice so that they could compel the government to listen to them.
Meanwhile, he promised the tailors that his Ministry would try to initiate a fund to help the tailoring industry.
