505 46 Gambia confident Africa integration could be reality

The government of The Gambia has said it is confident that the dream to have Africa politically integrated could be achieved if every section of the African society is committed to this dream and actively work towards it.
Speaking at the 9th Annual Congress of the National Patriotic Students Association held recently, The Gambia’s minister for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Fatou Lamin Faye said that the foresight of young people in this respect lends credit to the fact that national development can be greatly enhanced by regional integration, the reality of which can signal the dawn of African unity. The theme of the congress is ‘NAPSA on the move for African integration’.
According to her, the theme ‘Moving towards African integration’ challenges African governments to liberate themselves from the bondage of colonialism, the effects of which have divided the continent both politically and economically.
Minister Faye she is hugely encouraged by NAPSA’s incessant manifestation of love for the leadership of this country through the meaningful participation noting that their seriousness of purpose is also amply exhibited by the careful selection of an appropriate theme for deliberations during every annual general congress. She observed that this year’s celebrations
According to her, it is common knowledge that The Gambian leader, President Yahya AJJ Jammeh upholds the virtues of Pan-Africanism, and he is a frontline campaigner for the integration of Africa. She said that the president is determined to “graduate Africa from dependency on foreign support that mortgages our pride as Africans, our sovereignty as a nation of equals and our cherished democratic values.”
While she called on other African leaders to emulate President Jammeh in his Pan-Africanist overtures, the Education minister said the president’s stance has essentially prepared The Gambia for any meaningful integration at sub-regional and continental level. According to her, the advantages of integration are numerous given that wider regional markets can open up greater opportunities for African producers and consumers. She also said that integration can reduce the cost of developing essential infrastructure including transport, communication, energy, water system and scientific and technological research, which often lie beyond the means of individual countries.
She then expressed her good impression of NAPSA’s incessant manifestation of love for the leadership of the country through their meaningful participation and seriousness of purpose.
Delivering the keynote address, the minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Hon. Abdou Kolley said the issue of African integration is not new, but it came on the heels of the country’s independence as a demonstration of the willingness of African leaders to stem the adverse effects of neo-colonialism in Africa.
The minister paid tribute to the pioneering efforts of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) in charting the course for African integration. However, this goal was times and often derailed as the organization was also preoccupied in its early years in trying to resolve conflicts and instability that many of the newly independent states were experiencing and that threatened to reverse the gains that independence was meant to bring to the people.
According to Mr. Kolley, this was inspired by the common desire to accelerate the integration of Africa as a people and to harness them for the continent’s socio-economic development, revealing that such inspiration could not come at a better time when other continents around the world are coming together and establishing formidable trading blocks.
He further expressed hope that the establishment of several inter-governmental agencies at sub-regional levels serves to reinforce the common goal of African unity. He further observed that governments are certainly responsible for creating the right environment noting that it is up to the youth to seize the moment and make good use of the available opportunities.
He added that youth must be guided and oriented as they must be willing and ready to accept the roles and responsibilities given to them as worthy future leaders. He pointed out that the intervention of students and young people in general in the support of African integration are varied noting that education, skills acquisition, advocacy and sensitization and commitment to duty are crucial.
He disclosed that education and skills development are very important elements for any meaningful participation in the economic life of any nation, noting that in recognition of the importance of education, the African Unions’ vision of integration, peace and prosperity is predicated on the development of Africa’s human resources capital. He said that the African continent is highly in need of engineers, scientists, carpenters and fisherman who can transform our economies.
He also applauded NAPSA for the recent initiatives in support of regional integration. According to him, the recent visit to the sister Republic of Guinea Bissau is a step in the right direction. He added that such interaction between and amongst the youth of Africa will go a long way in creating better understanding among African people and is in line with the continent’s effort at getting our people closer.
Also speaking earlier, the outgoing chairman of NAPSA, Mr. Momodou Salieu Sowe said that this year’s congress is regarded as one of the best congresses in the history of the association.
According to Sowe, African integration has been a dream that has not yet been realized by the African continent. He noted that it has been a topic of discussion for many gatherings in Africa but still has a very low impact on the continent. “African integration can only be a reality if we the African’s change our attitudes positively and get ready to be united and work collectively for the betterment of our continent,” he stated. He stated that Africa being the richest continent in terms of natural and mineral resources but the poorest among the poor should be a concern to every bona fide citizen of Africa.