By Fatou Dahaba
Gaye Njorro Skills Academy, a renowned skills center dedicated to empowering youth through vocational training, officially launched its new skills academy in Kotu, Kanifing Municipality, on Monday, November 4, 2024. The New School aims to equip young people with practical and in-demand skills that can enhance their employability and support their personal development.
The academy will offer diverse courses tailored to meet the local job market’s needs and help students gain valuable expertise in various fields. The opening ceremony was attended by community leaders, educators, and aspiring trainees, highlighting Gaye Njorro’s commitment to fostering talent and creating opportunities for youth in the region.
The establishment of the new School supports Gaye Njorro’s initiatives to equip students with essential skills for success in various industries.
The newly inaugurated School will offer hairdressing and beauty cosmetology, tailoring, catering, event planning, arts and crafts, entrepreneurship, and employability, respectively.
Fatou Saine Gaye, the School’s founder, embarked on a journey of learning, growth, and youth empowerment, starting with a single school in Brusubi. She has since opened branches in Farafenni, Soma, and Kotu.
Fatou Saine Gaye, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gaye Njoro Skills Academy, emphasized that launching a new school is crucial, as empowering young people in this country through skills development has always been her passion.
“My mission is to empower youth and women. The slogan is to get them off the street with marketable skills and to prepare them mentally, socially, and economically so they can earn a living independently without depending on anyone,” she said.
Madam Saine Gaye emphasizes that her new initiative can empower women to achieve economic and social self-dependence through skill enhancement.
“I want women to be more focused because today’s world is very focused. They should be ready to take on challenges, get out of their comfort zones, and challenge themselves with new things that bring them new opportunities. But if they don’t push hard, they won’t be able to get there. So they should be ready, committed, fascinated, persistent, and go the extra mile. Certainly, with that, the goals will be achieved.” she said at the opening of the new School.
She explained that when young people are equipped with skills, they are more likely to focus on innovation and creativity rather than resorting to crime, drugs, or alcohol. “If we want to keep our youth off the streets, we must provide them with meaningful skills that will transform their lives and attitudes,” she said.
Dr. Cherno Omar Barry, Chairman of the Board of Directors, said that at Gaye Njoro, ‘one thing stands out for them: to take the youths out of the street. The major target is girls because they’re the most vulnerable in society.’
“Many school dropouts in the Gambia are not privileged to have an opportunity to have and be able to fend for themselves, particularly girls. In most cases, they’re victims of societal problems; this is why they’re empowered and given diverse skills in areas that would quickly provide them with the opportunity to be empowered, to be able to fend for themselves, and to become empowered financially so they will not depend on anyone be able to support themselves,” Dr. Barry said.
He implored students to be good ambassadors for the School, make the best use of their skills, and continue uplifting the School, as without them, Gaye Njoro would not exist.
The School is NAQAA-certified to offer certificate and diploma programs, having graduated over 6,500 students nationwide..
