Bansang Alkalo, Parliamentarian on NaYCONF

Alikalo of Bansang Town: Alhagie Kebba Kora

As the tenth National Youth Conference and Festival (NaYCONF) approached, the routine in Bansang, host for this year's event, changed for many. The Alkalo of Bansang town, Alhagie Kebba Kora, was not spared. So was the National Assembly member for Upper Fulladou West, Ahmadou Lamin Njie.

Taking time from their busy schedule, the two leaders on Monday were at the Bansang Secondary School premises monitoring the ground-clearing work being done by students and members of the local community.
Speaking exclusively to the NaYCONF Daily, Bansang town headman, Kebba Kora, assured his community's support towards making the weeklong biennial event a success. He said Bansang never hosted an event so big as the NaYCONF.

Alkilo Koro Speaking to Journalist Musa Fatty

But what’s the feeling of the people of Bansang about hosting the NaYCONF, a decision which came at the eleventh hour? Kora explains: "When information of hosting the event reached us, the people of Bansang and the district started work in earnest to making sure that everything will be ready before the start of the event. 

"If you were here two weeks before, you will see that the venue was full of grasses. Thanks to the timely intervention of the people, including the students, the place is now suitable. We have to thank the people who worked here and every other person who in one way or the other contributed either in cash or kind towards the clearing of the venue. This is satisfactory because the workers volunteered to clear the school grounds, nobody asked for anything from anyone.

Expectations

NaYCONF, the Alikalo of the town is aware, is a forum for young people from across the country to among others, share knowledge and experiences. Though he admitted that he never partook in NaYCONF, his expectations for the youth of his town seems to be well measured. "This will serve as an opportunity for some of the participants to be exposed. The youth of CRR should learn a lot of things from other colleagues attending the event. NaYCONF gathers youth from across the country to share ideas irrespective of their different religious beliefs, tribal affiliations, social or political positions."

Alkali Kora commended the government of The Gambia under the leadership of His Excellency, Sheikh Professor Dr. Alhagie Yahya A.J.J Jammeh for his support to the youth of the country.

NAM Njie

NAM for Upper Fulladou West : Ahmedou Lamin Njie

In a similar comment, the Upper Fulladou West parliamentarian, Hon. Ahmed Lamin Njie said: "CRR last hosted NaYCONF in 1992 in Janjanbureh. We struggled for almost twenty years to be able to host it again. Therefore, the joy we have cannot be overemphasised.

"Our expectation from the NaYCONF is for the youth to share ideas. The event is not just meant for them to come together for a week or more and disperse without making any meaningful impact. Rather, it is an avenue for youth to showcase their talents and discuss issues that affect them. I am quite sure that after the NaYCONF, the youth will make the best use of the knowledge and experiences learned from each other to develop themselves for the future. This will also promote our region, CRR, vis-a-vis decentralisation.

"The NaYCONF will have a very big impact on CRR, particularly the people of Bansang. This will promote our youth activities. In fact, a lot of people will benefit from the event - the businesses, culture, education and sports will all be boosted."

The parliamentarian went on to commend Gambia's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lamin Jobarteh, a native of Bansang, for the help he has rendered to the community, especially for their NaYCONF preparations.