THE young people of the ECOWAS region have declared that they are ready to be agents of change and assume their duties as true citizens of West Africa.
In a communique issued at the end of the Regional Youth Conference held in Saly, Senegal from July 1 to 3, 2025, with the theme “Engaging ECOWAS for a new vision on youth” the youth demanded that “our rights, our ideas and our potential as young people be fully harnessed.”
“The future of ECOWAS is at stake today: we are committed to being at the heart of this transformation,” they declared.
They also reiterated their commitment and determination to contribute effectively to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts of which young people and women are the first victims, knowing that peace and stability are the essential conditions for our development;
The youth also called for enhanced regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism, organised crime and trafficking of all kinds, with a strong involvement of young people in prevention strategies.
According to the communique, the other demands included: a secure environment for entrepreneurship, through accessible financing and protection of small businesses;
A truly inclusive governance for young people, “we call for the effective and concrete participation of young people in political decisions that affect their present and their future. De facto, we ask to be duly represented in local, national and regional decision-making bodies.
In this regard, we expect the rapid establishment of the West African Regional Youth Council, as well as the ECOWAS Youth Parliament, and the operationalization of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)”
- Stress the need for the rapid establishment of a regional fund dedicated to entrepreneurial and innovative initiatives led by young people;
- Urge all Member States to set up budgets that are sensitive to the aspirations of the youth, by dedicating 3% of the national budget to the needs of young people;
- Further underline the imperative of effective decentralization in our countries with a view to a more equitable distribution of development opportunities aimed at reducing territorial inequalities, with a particular focus on often disadvantaged rural areas, on the understanding that the promotion of resilient local economies offers alternatives to forced migration and the informal economy;
And considering further the theme of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS: “Stronger together for a better future”, as well as the theme of the ECOWAS Regional Youth Conference “Engaging ECOWAS for a new vision on youth”.
To that end, they demanded:
- The massive integration of technical and professional training in promising sectors (digital, sustainable agriculture, renewable energies).
- A strengthened partnership between schools, universities and businesses to facilitate professional integration.
- Intra-ECOWAS academic and professional mobility, with mutual recognition of diplomas and skills.
And concerning the effective inclusion of people with disabilities, they note with concern a persistent gap between States’ legal commitments and their effective implementation, which contributes to the social and economic exclusion of many young people with disabilities:
“We therefore, call for: The harmonisation and strengthening of inclusion policies in all Member States, with obligatory monitoring mechanisms.
- Universal accessibility (infrastructure, education, employment) and the active participation of people with disabilities in the development of policies affecting them.
- Awareness campaigns to fight discrimination and promote an inclusive society.
And regarding a new social contract for West African youth: they refused to be a sacrificed generation and called on ECOWAS and its Member States to:
- Translate into action the recognition of youth as a pillar of development.
- Invest massively in education, health, employment and innovation.
- Establish a permanent dialogue with youth organizations to co-construct public policies.
“For our own part: We are ready to be agents of change and to assume our duties as true citizens of West Africa. However, we demand that our rights, our ideas and our potential as young people be fully harnessed.
“The future of ECOWAS is at stake today: we are committed to being at the heart of this transformation,” the communique added.
GIK/APA