Gâmbia / Vice- President Jallow Calls for More Investment in Youth to Drive Agrifood Transformation

(ANG) – The Vice President, called for bold national investment in young people as the driving force behind the country’s agrifood transformation. He urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and translate commitments into concrete actions that create jobs, strengthen food security and accelerate sustainable economic growth.

His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, made the call while officially opening the Joint Youth–Parliamentary Retreat on Youth, Agrifood Systems Transformation and CAADP Implementation at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre

in Bijilo. The retreat was held under the theme: “National Leadership for Youth in Agrifood Systems.”

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of President Adama Barrow, Vice President Jallow described the gathering as a strategic platform that reflects the country’s shared commitment to ensuring that young people become architects of national development rather than mere beneficiaries.

He emphasized that The Gambia’s youthful population remains its greatest national asset, noting that the country’s future is inseparable from the aspirations
creativity and resilience of its young people.

“The answer to youth unemployment lies not only in creating jobs but in transforming entire economic sectors capable of generating sustainable livelihoods, wealth and prosperity. Among these sectors, none is more critical than agriculture and the broader agrifood system,” he stated.

Vice President Jallow stressed that agriculture must evolve beyond subsistence farming into a modern, technology-driven, climate-resilient and profitable sector capable of attracting young entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Vice President reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to empowering young people through skills development, enterprise support, agricultural modernization and climate resilience.

However, he stressed that meaningful progress requires effective implementation supported by sound policies, adequate financing and responsive institutions.

“This retreat provides a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between policy aspirations and the lived realities of our young people. It strengthens accountability and ensures that youth priorities are reflected in national decision-making processes,” he said.

Vice President Jallow further aligned The Gambia’s aspirations with the African Union’s Kampala CAADP Declaration and the Africa Agribusiness Youth Strategy, reaffirming the country’s commitment to contributing to the continent’s vision of youth-led agricultural transformation.

He also appealed to development partners to continue supporting innovative initiatives that expand opportunities for young people and challenged the private sector to invest boldly in youth-led agri-business enterprises.

Addressing the country’s youth directly, Vice President Jallow encouraged them to remain ambitious, innovative and determined in pursuing opportunities that contribute to national development.

The Vice President expressed confidence that the retreat would mark the beginning of a new era of partnership between policymakers and young people, inspiring practical solutions that create decent jobs, unlock enterprise opportunities and positing agriculture as a sector of choice for future generations.

He officially declared the Joint Youth–Parliamentary Retreat on Youth, Agri-food Systems Transformation and CAADP Implementation open and wished participants fruitful deliberations aimed at shaping a more productive, inclusive and sustainable agrifood system for The Gambia.

The high-level forum brought together parliamentarians, cabinet ministers, youth leaders, development partners, representatives of the African Union,

AGRA, the African Food Systems Parliamentary Network (AFSPaN), the Consortium of African Youth in Agriculture and Climate Change (CAYACC), private sector actors and senior government officials to chart a common pathway for empowering young people within The Gambia’s agrifood systems.

ANG/ Gambia Daily