Mr Safiyoung Manneh, proprietor of African Art Spice and Screen Printing, located in Jeshwang, Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), recently spoke to the Arts and Culture desk about his artistic training programme in Canada, his early  days in the world of arts, and his art workshop in Jeshwang.

Mr Safiyoung Manneh was speaking at his Jeswang arts workshop. According to him, he strongly believes in the spirit of hard work. He reiterated the fact that hard work pays, and that  it is only through hard work that we can develop The Gambia, Africa and the world at large. People must be seen to be hard working and loyal to their country, by working hard legally and paying tax  to their country of origin  in order to achieve the much needed socio-economic, human and political development of their country.
 
The Gambian-born artist, who  hails from Basse  in the Upper River Region (URR) and trained at the renowned Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Canada, revealed that he is currently training a number of young Gambians at his Jeshwang workshop and is impressed with their performances. Mr Safiyoung recalled started working in the world of arts at a very tender age, especially during his primary school days going on to his days at St Georges Secondary  School in Basse, where he was greatly inspired and encouraged by his art teachers and mentors leading to his subsequent transfer to  Banjul.

Mr Manneh further recalled opening a small workshop, where he was engaged in printing artifacts such as  T-shirts, posters, signboards  and a host of other artistic works. He revealed what he called a generous donation of US$300 to his art workshop by the Nova Scotia-Gambia Association. According to him, the said donation greatly helped him to improve on his work until he was sponsored by the same NSGA to study in Canada.

Mr Manneh finally seized the opportunity to call on Gambian youths to acquire skills and work hard for the development of the country.

A prominent Gambian businessman, Mr. Salifu S.K. Jaiteh, has recently challenged all Gambian youths to engage in productive skills and not only focus on the office. He noted that not everybody can work in an office but that gaining technical know how and working in a factory is also an option. He made his statements in an interview with The Point at his offices in Banjul.

He stated that young people should try and gain skills such as carpentry and welding as this will allow them to take the best advantage of the many opportunities that exist for them. He reminded the youth of today that The Gambia also needs police officers, teachers, farmers and builders so they should not strive exclusively to work in an office as not everyone can. Mr. Jaiteh expressed the belief that President Jammeh’s call to back to the land is a sure way to ensure food self-sufficiency. Commenting on the global food crisis he urged all people to work hard during the rainy season to ensure food security and also alleviate poverty. He described the increasing price of rice as a global phenomenon and said that it has hit Senegal even more than The Gambia.

He advised people to be merciful to each other as God shows mercy to mankind.

Also present at the interview was the director of NAWFA, Mr. Njaga Jawo, who also spoke on the issue of increasing commodity prices in the market especially during this holy month of Ramadan.

These days we often hear about a few Gambians here and there venturing into areas formally left on explored.

For instance, the 'back-to-the-land' call made by President Jammeh is increasingly gaining momentum, especially among people in the government circles. However, what has not been commonly heard of is the participation of the youth in the area of agriculture. But one such person that is out to change that outlook is Abubacarr Demba.
 
A youth in his mid twenties, Mr Demba hails from Mandina, a village in Kiang West (LRR). Currently totally engrossed with his work as a farmer, this young man matched into the offices of the Daily Observer the other day, to raise concern about the menace of bush fire.

'Every year,' he said, 'people set fire deliberately and it is becoming a concern to me as I an environmentalist.' His aim, he said, is to set up a green belt rather than to destroy nature.

Demba wants government to look in to the issue of bushfire, arguing that nature needed to be protected. He further argued that there was a ‘sycronized cordination between nature and the patterns of climate change,’ noting that if government could pass a law restricting the activities of people who deliberately commit this act of burning the natural forest, it would build on the income generating capacity of the low income earners, as well as partly solving the debate surrounding Global warming.

'Apart from women getting in to the forest and collecting natural foodstuffs  for sale in the local market, a great chunk of the rural folks derive their food from the forest directly. Setting fire on our bushes will greatly affect domestic animals who, in fact, suffered most. Besides, all this affect the health of the people and contribute to global warming as well,' Demba argues.

For him when trees are burnt down, the aftermath is excess heat, which has extensive implications. Government, he said, can look in to these issues; 'our legislatures need to work a lot in the parliament to ensuring the prevention of these happenings.'

Mr Demba also finds it puzzling as to why people burn down the bush, and in his continued quest to know, the responses he often come by leave him even more perplexed. While some would point at traditional belief trend, either because their parents or some relation had done so, some time ago; for others it appears as total ignorance.

Here he told youth matters why he decided to take to the land. ‘In 2002, I decided to go back to the land as a youth, to set an example.’ What is so significant about that land mark decision of this young man is that he decided to retire home despite the fact that he is a professional in so many skills; artswork, painting and drafting designs, as well as carpentry, yet non of these profession would demand as much wealth in that part of the country as they would here in the urban set up.

As a victim of babylon syndrome, which had taken him away for four (4) solid years, the impact of his experience would not allow him to keep a low profile.

On his return home, his only task was to join effort in answering to the president's call of going back to the land, as a way of dissuading his comtemporaries. 'My father is from the village in Kiang; despite not been born or brought up there, I still feel proud to be working there as a farmer. And I feel even more proud that I am cultivating what I can use to feedmyself', he lamented.

Demba is quite aware of the fact that youths of his age nowadays would not like any one to tell them about staying put in the country but, he argues, they contribute less in their homes, 'as they live from hand to month and, in most cases, entirely dependent on other people.'
And he went on,'The land is in abundance; when you dig the soil, you work hard, you will gain something.' 

He hailed President Jammeh for his worthwhile demonstration of ‘leadeship by example. My advice for those that are burning the bush is that they stop it now in one way or the other,' he acknowledge that some of them might be ignorant of it, but that if we start telling about it now, sensitising the people about the dangers, it might make the difference. 'In fact, if you burn the bush it affect your yield, as the vegetation influence rainfall,' he concludes.

The Federation of The Gambia Muslim Students Organisation (FEGAMSO) recently organised a two-day leadership workshop for over 30 young people.

The training, held at LatriKunda Sabiji Upper Basic School, dwelt on topics such as the role of youths in nation building, women in leadership, skills enhancement and self-development among others.

Speaking at the occasion, Abdul Aziz Jorbateh Fofana ex-president of FEGAMSO briefed the participants about the history of the organisation. According to him the organisation. It was founded in 1995 with the aim of promoting and propagating the teachings of Islam, to foster unity among Muslim brothers and sisters in the country and to help Muslim students organise themselves at institutional level by forming their own associations or strengthening the existing ones.

He advised the youths to be proactive in their religion, adding Islam needs young people.

He stated finance and commitment from members, mobility as some of the constraints facing the organisation.

Mustapha Barry, president of the organisation, said that FEGAMSO is the umbrella body tasked with the responsibility of co-ordinating the affairs of Muslim students and all school-based Islamic clubs and societies.

He said that over the years they have registered so many successes but much more needs to be done.

Over the past few weeks’ murder, especially among youths, has been in the headlines in the country’s main newspapers and television. But the question that always comes to my mind since then was why do youths choose to kill each other because as far as I know there is no stress on them that can encourage them to kill.

When one looks you tend to realise that most people involved in these criminal activities that led to murder are youths. So, one may ask himself, why do young people choose to kill each other?

Young people, being the future leaders of this country, should engaged themselves in productive ventures rather than these terrible acts. As we always says in this column youths should desist form idleness, drug abuse and plan their future to become responsible citizens. As youths we must tolerate each other and live together peacefully and in harmony in our homes and societies for our common good.

The soul you protect may be great for you and the nation.

Members of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) have vowed to respond to the vibrant ‘back to the land’ call made by President Jammeh in order to attain food self-sufficiency in The Gambia.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Observer, Mr Yusupha Sanyang, deputy mayor of KMC,  disclosed that KMC will join President Jammeh at his Kanilai farm tomorrow.

According to him, although KMC has not yet secured its own land, preparations are underway to acquire at least a plot of land which will will enable them to participate actively in the Gambian Green Revolution.

Mr Sanyang also called on Gambian youths to move inexorably towards attitudinal changes. Youths, he said, should engage themselves in meaningful activities that would help them to contribute their quota in the development of the country.

Danieh Osagie,  proprietor of Lamin Institute for Professional Studies (LIPS) said LIPs is in high spirit  to improve the welfare of young and needy Gambians through scholarship packages and job creation, with a sound enterpreneurial skills.

He made this remark during an exclusive interview with the press at his office in Lamin  which is in relation to the institute’s forthcoming anniversary, the fifth of its kind,  scheduled to take place soon.

According to Mr Osagie LPS is not only interested in financial gains, but also to contribute to the welfare of the nation. ‘‘Since its inception in 1993, LIPS has provided over 500 (five hundred) scholarship packages to the physically disabled persons and the most needy students  facing financial constraints, with the aim of empowering the youths.
 
He went further to say that LPS  always  ensure that their students perform successfully, noting that 80% of their graduants have been able to secure  jobs and others are self employed. 

 He added  that, LIPs doesn’t compromise standard and quality.  “We will continue to serve the Gambian youths, so as to enable them  build a better future for themselves,” he assured.

He finally expressed satisfaction about the way  Gambians have taken ownership of the institution.He also used the opportunity to thank  parents and guardians for the confidence and trust they have in the institution.  On his final statement he disclosed to the members of the media that he is now appointing Joseph Osagie as the new  country director.

It is a well noted fact that the youths of every nation form the backbone of its development force. This is in fact an issue that has been discussed time and again. Ignoring it will tantamount to ignoring the reality.

However, to think that government, all by itself, can make the difference would be a grave mistake. The entire population has a role to play, more so members of the private sector.   

This week’s Society column, on this very edition, features an enterprising venture rarely found in The Gambia. Mr Buba Janneh, the brain behind Janneh Mori Engineering Manufacturing Import and Export Ltd and his co-workers, are among the most dedicated of people this country can boast of today. The beauty about the existence of their concept is that it represents a character of the country that is seldom made mention of, and that is that there are indeed people who forfeit monetary value for long term achievement. In other words, they have seen the value of suspending short term enjoyment for the long term benefits therein.

If what we saw there is anything to go by, then The Gambia really stands a better chance to realize its dreams; but only if we search out for more Buba Jannehs. We should not just stop there; we will have to go further to give them all the necessary support they rightly deserve. These young and talented personalities have demonstrated their readiness to contribute their quota; they surely would only need the support of the people of The Gambia, both in terms of finance and moral wise.

The technology is undoubtedly available, as they have on display all it would take to convince even the most sceptical of individuals that these things can really be manufactured in this country, and by Gambians. The willingness is unquestionably obvious, as the man whose brainchild it is possesses all characteristics of a responsible person. All they ask for is the support of their compatriots.

There are indeed a lot of people with similar potential, but most if not all of them have been unable to realize their dreams despite the abundance of wealth we find ourselves in. The problem is that some people tend to find it difficult to bring themselves to accept that investing on locally conceived ventures are as rewarding as putting one’s money into any other business endeavour.

Given what we have seen, and what impression we gained from our encounter with the brains behind Janneh Mori Engineering Manufacturing Import and Export Company LTD, our support is well placed.