A skills competition has been proven to be one of the best ways to encourage young people to achieve excellence in their chosen vocation. With support from the , UNESCO is working closely with the Gambian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), and the University of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET) to implement the Youth Empowerment through TVET project in The Gambia. One of our recent project milestones includes the Gambia’s first national skills competition, held at USET’s main campus on November 30, 2022.
Prior to the national skills competition, regional skills competitions were held in Basse, Mansakonko and Upper River Regions. Contestants competed in five areas – fashion design, block laying, wall and floor tiling, refrigeration and air-conditioning, and electrical installment – showcasing their talents and skills.
Meet Malik, Binta, Abdoulie and Michael, who inspired many other young Gambians as well as the judges, who witnessed the potential of these champions.
Skills development
Skills development is about practice, motivation and persistence
Masonry work is physically challenging. It requires strength, endurance and flexibility. Masons must do a great deal of lifting, standing, kneeling and bending. Nevertheless, multiple resources indicate that globally, mason will be in even greater demand, as more homes must always be built, and commercial construction companies are now rushing to catch up after the COVID-19 slowdown.
Malik Jaw is one of the young Gambians who wants to build his future in this sector. As the winner of the national skills competition in the block laying area, Malik proudly says that his uncle, who is a mason, inspired him to pursue his profession.
After earning a certificate in block laying, he started working in the construction field. Since then, he has been working 9 to 4 every day.
Block layers must be able to accurately measure and thoroughly comprehend building design plans and government regulations.
Malik works consistently all day long doing, but this does not stop his passion for learning.
While working on construction sites, I am also pursuing a technician diploma in construction (...) Construction engineering requires diverse skillsets like mathematics, technical drawing, design, surveying, and carpentry. Building my expertise really excites me.
When asked about how he would like to spend his cash award (50,000 dalasi equivalent to 805 US dollars), he answered with a big smile that he would spend some to cover his tuition fees, as his primary goal is to complete his diploma program.
Entrepreneurs contribute to national development
Entrepreneurs contribute to national development by exploring and expanding markets and unveiling new and improved products, services and technology.
Binta, 26, is currently teaching at a secondary school in her hometown of Soma. However, she has another ambition, which she shared with us. She plans to gradually take on a new career as a fashion designer – specifically for female attire.
I always dreamed about opening the biggest fashion store in The Gambia. Although I very much enjoy teaching children, I want to do my own things. I want to plan for my future and having the independence to make your own decisions is really important to me.
Pamalick, Binta’s brother, who attended the Skills Award Ceremony to celebrate Binta’s win, recalls:
I still vividly remember my sister was always the creative one in my family. Even when she was little, she would make all sorts of things with fabrics like bowties, dolls and you name it.
Mrs. Fatou Saine Gaye, CEO of Gaye Njorro Skills Academy, where Binta is currently being trained, admires her passion. She thinks that Binta is now an inspiration and a role model for many young girls who want to build skills because, in the 21st century, more and more young people will be asked to be job creators, not job seekers. She hopes to expand her skills academy in many areas in the country, including disadvantaged communities.
In the 21st century, more and more young people will be asked to be job creators, not job seekers.
Binta is planning to save her cash award so that she can open her shop in the near future. Her priority now is to complete her training program and gain the skills and knowledge necessary for her chosen industry.
Winning at the national skills competition was a big accomplishment for me, and it will keep me motivated to pursue my dream (...) One of the best ways to empower young people and women is to help them to gain different marketable skills so that they can be self-reliant and independent in the future.
What the skills competion are about
The skills competition is not just about winning. It is also a learning process.
Abdoulie Njie participated in in the electronic and electrics installation challenge at the national skills competition. When asked about his experience, he revealed that:
During the competition, at one point, I got stuck and struggled because I had never done some of the tasks before, such as installing circuits. It took a while, but I managed to install them and they worked fine (...) This whole experience [national skills competition] was amazing, as I learned something new, and it definitely boosted my confidence.
Michael Mendy, winner of the refrigeration and air conditioning competition, has worked in various areas, including satellite installation, electricity installation and air condition installation.
Studying while working was not easy (...) I had to make three to four pairs of shoes every night just to pay my school fees. However, it was all rewarding. I learned a lot not only from my school, but also from the people with whom I worked, who are more experienced than I am. All these experiences made me who I am today
He thinks that gaining any technical skills and knowledge – even if some of them may seem trivial – from the school and his coworkers will be a great asset for him:
The skills competition is a great platform for teaching the country and communities the importance of skills. My country still heavily depends on foreign workers to solve industry-related problems. The skills competition is a wake-up call for us to comprehend the significance of building a skilled build workforce.
Opening a door to more and better opportunities
Many hope that this first skills competition will open a door to more and better opportunities for Gambian youth and the country as a whole.
It was not just the students who were excited about the competition, but the judges as well. Usman Okelawo, who served as the judge for the block laying area, is from Nigeria and has been working in The Gambia for 22 years. He first came as a technical officer; now, he is working as construction engineering architect with the ministry of agriculture. According to him, The Gambia relies too heavily on foreign workforces, limiting opportunities for young people to develop competencies and new skillsets.
Mr. Okelawo asserts that:
Traditionally, TVET was seen as a second-class education, but people’s perceptions are slowly changing. TVET is now perceived as a source of money. Building a competitive workforce means money remains in The Gambia because the country does not have to depend on foreign workers. Young Gambians need opportunities to develop their skillsets (...) This [developing skills] is a prerequisite for achieving the nation’s prosperity.
Abdoul Aziz, the judge of the refrigeration and air conditioning contest, agrees with Okelawo. Moving forward, he hopes that this first-ever national skills competition will be a steppingstone for and USET to annually hold a skills competition and scale it up by selecting more areas and trades and inviting more students across the country to participate. One day, he would like to see Gambian youth compete at a World Skills Competition in collaboration with a dedicated network of training institutions, work-based learning providers and employers.
