KMC launches D20 million youth revolving fund

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By SULAYMAN WAAN

The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) in partnership with Supersoniz Microfinance Company on Monday launched D20 million (Twenty million dalasis) revolving fund for the youth within the Kanifing municipality.

The revolving fund is a youth empowerment project aimed to provide financial loans and entrepreneurial training to young people within the municipality. Supersonicz, is a hundred per cent Gambian microfinance institution established in April 2015.

In his keynote address and official launching, Talib Ahmed Bensuda, mayor of KMC described youth as the engine of national development, saying if the country has youth who are dedicated to development then she will have a brighter future.

“They are going to be captains in the country’s industry. However, if they are strong today then The Gambia will be strong tomorrow,” he said.

He said youth attitude of sitting in the streets just to brew green tea and talking about football is a shame to him as municipal leader and should be a shame to all national leaders.

“Youth will either be our assets or liabilities,” he added.

Mayor Bensuda said youth who are well equipped with resources and productive will build a resourceful and productive country, but he was quick to add that if the youth have no hope, they will find other mechanism for survival.

He called on all and sundry to support Gambian young people to ensure they achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), urging young people to be committed to work as well seek for job opportunities.

According to him, this year the council had employed 180 youth within the municipality, saying some are working as municipal security officers while others are employed at the cleansing services.

Bensouda, expressed gratitude to KMC youth councilors for working with Supersonicz in bringing the revolving funds for the youth.

Alh. Njundu Fatty, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Supersonicz Microfinance said the funds are meant to create a platform where youth of the municipality are provided with resources, entrepreneurial training and empower them to venture into business.

He added that his company and KMC want to train and subsidize about 3,000 (three thousands) young people of the Kanifing municipality within the next twelve months.

“The fundamental idea of the fund is to promote entrepreneurship, create job opportunities and explore the potential of our young people,” he noted.

Modou Lamin Drammeh, director of Enterprise Support for Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) portrayed Gambian youth as the country’s future, stating that he is always willing to give technical support to any institution that is empowering youth.

Mr. Drammeh advised the council and Supersonicz to work closely with beneficiaries so as to help the recipients to refund their loans as expected.

Kemo Bojang, KMC youth councilors said: “We have to move away from sitting in the office to earn a living. We are thinking of how to innovate to develop our country.”

He recalled the recent dead of Gambian youth in the sea while trying to reach Europe for greener pastures.

He added that this disaster further motivated KMC to come up with such initiative to curb irregular migration.