Committee on Education, Employment, and Innovation
Theme: Building a skilled, creative, and future-ready youth workforce for West Africa.
Overview:
This committee will explore how education and innovation can drive youth empowerment and employment in a rapidly changing digital world. It will emphasize the need to transform education systems, promote practical skills, and create enabling ecosystems for startups and job creation.
Objectives:
To bridge the gap between education and the job market.
To promote digital literacy, STEM education, and innovation labs.
To strengthen youth entrepreneurship and regional startup ecosystems.
Subtopics:
🎓 Bridging the Skills Gap
Redesigning curricula to emphasize 21st-century skills (critical thinking, coding, design).
Expanding technical and vocational education (TVET) opportunities for youth.
Encouraging public-private partnerships to align education with labor market demands.
💡 Entrepreneurship & Startups
Empowering youth innovators through mentorship and seed funding programs.
Fostering collaboration between universities, incubators, and local governments.
Building an innovation corridor across ECOWAS countries for startup exchange.
Expected Outcomes:
A “West Africa Youth Innovation Roadmap” outlining strategies for education reform and job creation.
A regional database of youth-led enterprises and startup incubators.
Policy recommendations to strengthen youth entrepreneurship support mechanisms.