The Second edition of Africa Skills Week officially opened on Tuesday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with a call for collective action to transform the continent’s human capital landscape and accelerate industrialisation.
With Africa’s young and rapidly growing population, the event underscores the continent’s urgent need to bridge the skills gap, leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and turn its demographic dividend into a driver of inclusive and sustainable industrial growth, in line with ”Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want”.
Addressing the event, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasised the strategic importance of skills development to advance inclusive growth, create decent jobs, and realise the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
“The urgency of skilling our youth cannot be overstated. We must convert our demographic dividend into a productive, inclusive, and globally competitive workforce. This is why the African Union has placed skills at the heart of Agenda 2063,” he said.
Youssouf also outlined key imperative actions, including harnessing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and strengthening policy coherence and regional integration for skills development.
The continental gathering brought together policymakers, experts, industry leaders, educators, development partners, and young innovators to deliberate on skills development and youth empowerment across the continent. The event also witnessed the official launch of the 10-year Continental Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Strategy 2025-2034.
“We are not simply discussing the future. We are here to build foundations that will drive our ambitions and aspirations. The crucial and key force that transforms Africa’s potential into economic power is skill,” said Ethiopian Minister of Labor and Skills Muferihat Kamil.
The Second Africa Skills Week is a platform dedicated to advancing Africa’s skills transformation agenda, focusing on strengthening skills for industrial growth, enhancing TVET, and fostering public-private partnerships.
In his presentation of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, outlined a renewed framework to empower Africa’s people with the skills needed for innovation, industrialization, and inclusive growth.
“We cannot industrialize without skilled hands. We cannot innovate without skilled minds. And we cannot achieve the Africa We Want without a workforce that is alert, adaptive, and future ready.” Said Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona.
MG/as/APA