The Africa Skills Week Summit has officially opened in Accra, bringing together over 600 delegates from across the continent to discuss skill development and youth empowerment.
The five-day event, themed “Skills and Jobs for the 21st Century: Quality Skills Development for Sustainable Employability in Africa,” is organised by the African Union (AU) in partnership with the Government of Ghana.
This summit, running from October 14 to 18, features a youth summit and study tour aimed at equipping young Africans with the critical skills needed for economic growth and manufacturing. It aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063, focused on creating a resilient and transformative educational system across Africa.
Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, Director General of CTVET, emphasised the pressing need for skill development as Africa’s working-age population is expected to triple by 2050.
He called for urgent strategies to address challenges outlined in the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.
“With 70% of Africa’s population under 30, youth are pivotal to our continent’s future,” Dr. Asamoah stated. “We must focus on equipping young people with the skills to ensure they are ready for the challenges of tomorrow.”
Sarjoh Aziz-Kamara, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister for Technical and Higher Education, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships to enhance both technical and leadership skills among African youth.
He praised Ghana’s collaboration with the International Labour Organisation as a model for the continent.
The summit aims to develop a strategic plan to empower African youth by 2063, turning challenges into opportunities for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future.