Following the first stage of the Regional Skills competition in Basse, URR, the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), the technical arm for quality assurance under the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, proceeded to Mansakonko in the Lower River Region of The Gambia on Saturday, 29th October, to conduct the second phase of the Skills Competition.
The Regional Skills Competition is the Activity 7 Component of the UNESCO – KOICA Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project.
In the opening ceremony, the CEO of NAQAA, Dr Gibril Jaw reiterated that skills education matters as it makes youth global citizens and improves their living conditions in the country and abroad.
“The skills competition drives innovation and progress, it pushes the youth to reach their full potential, and helps them to discover their hidden talents,” Dr Jaw stated.
The CEO of NAQAA went further to add that the competition will sharpen skills and keep young people up to date which is a vital force in raising and maintaining standards.
In her remarks, Fatou Janneh, Tertiary and Higher Education Officer and Focal Person for TVET at MoHERST called on the representation of more girls in STEM while underlining the significance of the competition in motivating young people to take up skills as a profession.
The Governor of LRR, Seedy Lamin Bah welcomed the team to Mansakonko and stated that the competition is a timely intervention for the region considering the effective strides taken by the government of The Gambia on behalf of The President, H.E Adama Barrow in promoting skills development across the country. “The recently validated TVET policy is expected to serve as the policy framework that will ensure a quality and well-resourced TVET system that is accessible, equitable and inclusive to deliver through lifelong learning,” the Governor said, adding that skills acquisition is expected to increase employment in the country which in turn increases productivity.
Thus, he congratulated MoHERST, NAQAA all other stakeholders for organizing this competition.
Competitors of the Regional Skills Competition in Mansakonko, LRR
After the opening ceremony, the competition began for the 15 participants competing in 5 different skills areas;
- Block laying
- Electrical Installation
- Floor and Wall Tiling
- Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning; and
- Fashion Design
Three competitors were represented from different TVET institutions and workshops for each of the five skill sets.
1st Category – BLOCK LAYING
- Sainey Fofana
From: Sankwia
Age: 26
Profession: Apprentice
- Abdoulie Darboe
From: Jara Jenio
Age: 20
Institution: GTTI Mansakonko
- Zakaria N. Fadera
From: Bundung Bantaba
Age: 25
Institution: GTTI Kanifing
2nd Category – Electrical Installation
- Ousman Bajo
From: Soma
Age: 26
Institution: GTTI Mansakonko
- Yankuba Dumbuya
From: Kuntaya
Age: 24
Institution: GTTI Kanifing
- Modou L. Jallow
From: Berending
Age: 23
Institution: GTTI Kanifing
3rd Category – Floor and Wall Tiling
- Mai Sanyang
From: Pakalinding
Age: 27
Institution: GTTI Mansakonko
- Lamin Darboe
From: Pakalinding
Age: 27
Institution: GTTI
- Bubacarr Fatty
From: Essau
Age: 26
Institution: Insight training centre
4th Category – Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
- Kajally Sanneh
From: Farafenni
Age: 23
Profession: Apprentice
- Barrow Ceesay
From: Farafenni
Age: 27
Institution: GTTI Kanifing
- Dawda Fadera
From: Soma
Age: 25
Profession: Apprentice
5th Category – Fashion Design
- Isatou Gaye
From: Soma
Age: 26
Institution: Gaye Njoro
- Binta O. Bah
From: Soma
Age: 26
Institution: Gaye Njoro
- Mamadou Bailor Shaw
From: Jara Soma
Age: 22
Institution: Soma Scouts Centre
Winners of the Regional Skills Competition in Mansakonko, LRR
Congratulations to the five (5) winners of the regional skills competition in Mansakonko, LRR;
- Binta Bah – Winner, Fashion Design (From: Soma / Age: 26 / Institution: Gaye Njoro)
- Momodou L. Jallow – Winner, Electrical Installation (From: Berending / Age: 23 / Institution: GTTI Kanifing)
- Barrow Ceesay – Winner, Refrigerator and Air-Conditioning (From: Farafenni /
Age: 27 / Institution: GTTI Kanifing)
- Zakaria N. Fadera – Winner, Block Laying (From: Bunding / Age: 25 / Institution: GTTI Kanifing)
- Mai Sanyang – Winner, Floor and Wall Tiling (From: Pakalinding /
Age: 27 / Institution: GTTI Mansakonko)
The winners will later be invited to attend the National Awards Ceremony, where they will be provided with Prizes. The 3rd round of the competition will be held in Bakau Kanifing in early November 2022.
The winners of the Regional Skills Competition will further compete at the National Competition which will be held at the University of Science, Engineering and Technology (USET) in Kanifing Mid-November, 2022.
The Regional Skills Competition is the Activity 7 Component of the UNESCO – KOICA Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project.
