By Ndey Sowe
Picture of the Minister at the Tailoring Center
Last week, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, inaugurated the Kanilai Vocational and Technical Skills Training Center in the Foni Kansala District of the West Coast Region (WCR).
This landmark project valued at D2.1 million is a key part of The Gambia’s TVET decentralisation drive, which aims to provide crucial skills training for youth in welding, fabrication, tailoring, and fashion design.
The project is being implemented by the Turkish Government through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), which donated the training materials for two programs which include welding and fabrication, tailoring, and fashion design.
In his remarks, Minister Gomez said The Gambia has embarked on a transformative journey under the country’s recovery-focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP) 2023–2027.
According to him, the blueprint prioritizes skills development for employment to curb illegal migration, foster human capital, and bolster private sector growth.
“Central to this vision is promoting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Entrepreneurship (STEE) as pathways for socio-economic transformation. We drive this agenda through MoHERST’s Strategic Plan 2021–2025 and the National TVET Policy 2021–2030. Key initiatives include expanding access to TVET nationwide, revising curricula to meet labour market demands, and integrating modern industry-standard equipment,” the Minister said.
The Turkish Ambassador to The Gambia, Fahri Turker Oba, expressed his pride in TIKA’s contribution towards the project, after having invested over 2.1 million Dalasis into the center’s welding and tailoring programs. He emphasized the importance of tackling youth unemployment and the equipping of young people with marketable skills.
“The purpose of TIKA’s support is to promote the necessary equipment, materials, and supplies for the Center’s welding and tailoring programs to ensure effective skills training in these areas,” Sule Bayar, the TIKA Coordinator said.
The MRC Holland Foundation also contributed $250,000 towards the development of the center, with Dr. Henrietta Sonko, the Coordinator, reaffirming their commitment to support The Gambia government’s development agenda. She encouraged the youth to have self-belief with determination and urged them to venture into skills acquisition.
“Every single TVET Centre is a representation of what USET stands for. These she said serve as centers of excellence that offer certificate, diploma, and degree programs in science, engineering, and technology with entrepreneurship skill sets,” Professor Nazmat Toyin Surajudeen-Bakinde, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), said.
