IgniteEX Launch Aims to Bridge Technology Gap Among Young Gambians
IgniteEX Launch Group Photo © Askanwi
By Edward Francis Dalliah, Jr.
IgniteEX, a nonprofit youth-led technology initiative aimed at bridging the technology exposure gap among young Gambians, was officially launched on Saturday, 9th May 2026, at the National Youth Parliament (NYP).
The initiative seeks to expand access to technology, digital skills, and innovation opportunities through partnerships with schools, communities, and technology organizations across the country.
Speaking at the launch, the founder and National Coordinator of IgniteEX, Alasana Cham, said, “[This organization] is something from my personal experience, and the name defines it.”
Cham explained that the idea behind the initiative was inspired by a single exposure to technology that transformed the course of his life. He disclosed that although he initially wanted to become an economist, his exposure to technology led him into the field, where he is now “an Information Systems student and a professional cybersecurity analyst.”
Cham stated, “if I can get that single exposure and be able to do something and form an organisation, I believe there are hundreds or thousands of people who can do something better and greater if they have that exposure.”
He emphasised that many young Gambians remain disconnected from opportunities in technology and innovation due to limited access and exposure.
Delivering the launching remarks, the Clerk of the National Youth Parliament, Abdoulie O. Bah, said, “today is not just the launch of another initiative; it is the beginning of a movement, a movement grounded in the belief that when young people are exposed to opportunities, knowledge, innovation, and meaningful networks, extraordinary things can happen.”
Bah noted that one of the major factors limiting young people in The Gambia is the lack of exposure to opportunities and transformative experiences.
He highlighted that, “many young people have never had the opportunities to see what is possible beyond the imaginations surrounding them. Many have never interacted with the tools, the people, the spaces, or the experiences that could transform their lives and shape their futures.”
Highlighting the significance of the initiative’s name, Bah said, “to ignite is to spark something into life. It is the moment curiosity becomes ambition, the moment intention becomes action, and the moment potential begins to discover purpose.”
The launch of IgniteEX comes amid growing calls for increased investment in technology and digital innovation to empower Gambian youth and prepare them for opportunities in the rapidly evolving global digital economy.
