Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Young Gambians and civil society voices have welcomed President Adama Barrow’s appointment of Mr. Saikou Jeng as Executive Director of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), describing it as further evidence of the president’s growing confidence in youth leadership at the highest levels of decision-making.
Mr. Jeng’s appointment comes amid a series of recent nominations of young professionals to strategic public offices, a move that many youths see as a deliberate effort to bridge the long-standing gap between youth-focused policies and actual practice in governance.
The NSPA plays a critical role in safeguarding The Gambia’s most vulnerable populations. As Executive Director, Jeng will be responsible for steering the agency’s flagship Nafa Cash Transfer Programme, as well as advancing the development of a dynamic social registry and strengthening system integration with the civil registry and national ID database.
These reforms are expected to enhance efficiency, accountability, and targeting in social protection delivery.
Jeng brings over a decade of professional experience from the banking sector and holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Kent in the United Kingdom. State House sources say his blend of technical expertise, institutional discipline, and practical experience positions him well to lead one of the country’s most sensitive and impactful social institutions.
Reacting to the appointment, journalist and rights activist Kemesseng Sanneh, popularly known as Kexx, said President Barrow’s recent choices reflect a strategic investment in the country’s future.
“A nation’s greatest resource is the energy and innovation of its youth,” Sanneh noted. “These appointments demonstrate a commendable commitment to inclusive governance and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth.”
Sanneh added that empowering young professionals in leadership roles signals readiness to translate youth policies into concrete action. “When young people lead, they bring fresh perspectives and digital-age solutions. This is more than just an appointment; it is a vote of confidence in the next generation,” he said, describing inclusive governance as “an economic necessity, not just a moral choice.”
Youth activist Alieu Jarjou also praised the president’s approach, arguing that the current level of youth inclusion in governance is unprecedented since independence in 1965.
“I am elated seeing the president tapping into young, powerful brains to support his development drive,” Jarjou said. “The inclusion of youth in his administration is something we have never witnessed before.”
As expectations grow around the performance of newly appointed young leaders, many youths say Jeng’s appointment to the NSPA represents both an opportunity and a test case for a broader generational shift in public administration.
For them, the move reinforces optimism that young Gambians are no longer just beneficiaries of policy but are increasingly being trusted to shape and implement it at the highest levels.
