In this week’s edition, we bring you the profile of the Chairman, Mansakonko Area Council who at one time served as the former General Manager of the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) of the Gambia Landing B. Sanneh.
He was born on the 15th December, 1973 in Jataba Village in Kiang West District of Lower River Region (LRR), where he grew up until 1986.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
He attended Kalagi Primary School in FoniJarrol District of Western River Region from 1981 to 1986, before relocating to Brikama for his secondary school education.
He started his Secondary School Education at Brikama Secondary Technical School from 1986 to 1988 and later proceeded to Saint Peter’s Technical High School in Lameng of Kombo North District from 1988 to 1994.
In July 1994, he graduated at Saint Peter’s Technical High School with Division 3 through the General Certification of Education (GCE Ordinary Level).
He attended the University of Ghana from 2003 to 2004 where he graduated with Diploma in Youth in Development. He attended the Management Development Institute (MDI) from February 2008 to December 2008 with Diploma in Management Studies and University of The Gambia (UTG) from 2008 to 2010 with a Postgraduate Diploma on Population and Development. From October 2011 to October 2012 he graduated with Diploma in Micro and Small Enterprise Promotion from the MDI.
TRAINING ATTENDED
Management Training in 2001 at Management Development Institute (MDI), D–License in Football in 2001 at the Gambia Football Federation (GFF) and Juvenile Justice (After Arrest Procedures) in November 2001 at Commissioner’s Office in the Lower River Region (LRR).
HIV/AIDS Positive Living Ambassadors Commonwealth Youth Program (CYP) in 2002 at the Independence Stadium, Youth and HIV/AIDS Youth and HIV/AIDS in 2003 at Tendaba Camp Kiang Central District of Lower River Region.
Management Skills Development for Youths in 2003 at MDI, Report Writing and Project Management in 2003 at the Rural Development Institute (RDI) in Mansakonko, Business Management Training For Youth Leaders in 2003 at NYSS Camp.
Computer Foundation Course in 2005, Adolescent and Peer Health Counseling in 2005 at Mansakonko, Prevention of Child Abuse and Exploitation (PCAE) in 2006 at Child Protection Alliance (CPA) Office in Fajara, Population and Development in 2006 at National Population Secretariat (NPS).
WORK EXPERIECNE
In January 15th 1995, he was offered appointment at the Department of Lands and Surveys as a Temporary Clerk and in February 1998, he was appointed as an Assistant Records Clerk by the National Records Office (NRO), where he worked until July 2002.
During this period he was posted to different Ministries and Departments, in the same capacity but later changed his profession in February 2002, when he started work with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) as Youth Assistant.
Sanneh rose through the ranks to the position of Senior Youth Coordinator, before his appointment with the National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) as the Deputy Coordinator in September 2011 and later the Coordinator in July 2012.
In August 2014 he was appointed General Manager of NEDI after the restructuring of the institution. As a General Manager of National Enterprise Development Initiative, where he sat on three Project Steering Committees that support the development of youth and serve as Board Member of some youth organizations and foundations.
During the period he worked with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and served as Regional Officer in four of the seven administrative regions of The Gambia.
This has given Mr.Sanneh good experience and knowledge of the country and the people as well as the opportunity of working with minimum supervision and management of resources.
Furthermore, his work career had exposed him to a series of training programs and forums, both local and international. His profession as a Youth in Development Worker was immensely enhanced through on the job training programs he attained in the past.
Apart from his work, Landing B. Sanneh is a Trainer in Youth Entrepreneurship Development and also lectures Youth Development Work at the Management Development Institute (MDI).
Landing Believes in Hard work
As a young man, his passion, commitment and strict adherence to ethics and procedures of the Ministry, dedication to duties, and high level of tolerance, positioned him as a role model for many young people, a source of inspiration for his colleagues and earned him great respect among his supervisors.
This accorded Mr.Sanneh to rise through the ranks as Youth Assistant to a Youth Coordinator and Senior Youth Coordinator before being recommended and appointed by the Minister of Youth as a General Manager of one of the satellite institutions under his ministry, National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) of the Gambia.
ROLE OF LANDING AT NEDI
At the National Enterprise Development Initiative, Landing B. Sanneh was primarily assigned to restructure the NEDI, which was an ad hoc initiative into a modern public enterprise. He transformed NEDI through a medium term strategic plan (2012 – 2014).
This later translated into the establishment of a restructured NEDI by the National Assembly of The Gambia by enacting a new institutional Act of Parliament, called NEDI Act 2013.
Thus consequent of Sanneh’s innovations and leadership qualities, NEDI has currently positioned itself as a center of excellence in Youth Entrepreneurship Development in the country.
He is a seasoned development agent and has attained a Postgraduate Diploma in Population and Development, with various other Diplomas in Management, Youth Development work and Enterprise Development, with series of job training.
Mansakonko Area Council Chairman, Sanneh has been serving in many professional task forces and presently serving in four Project Steering Committees linked to youth empowerment and development.
As a career youth development worker, he has over time developed excellent skills through mobilization and organization of several youth programs and events including the traditional biennial National Youth Conference & Festival (NAYCONF).
The formulation of The Gambia National Youth Policy (GNYP), and the organization of National Youth and Sports Summer camps (NYSSC), Life and Livelihood Skills Trainings, Advocacy on youth Rights, sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Development (RHRD) issues.
He is a certified Commonwealth Youth Entrepreneurship Development Trainer (CYEDT), which now made him a resource not only for NEDI, but also for sister institutions under the Youth Ministry.
During the period he worked with the Ministry of Youth and Sports where he Landing B. Sanneh served as Regional Officer in four of the seven administrative regions of The Gambia.
This has given Sanneh good experience and knowledge of the country and the people as well as opportunity of working with minimum supervision and management of the resources.
Any enquiries or comments, contact : 6761826/ 7799050 or Email: darboejulla22@gmail.com