ECA urges West African governments to prioritise youth employment

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has urged West African governments to prioritise youth employment in  economic transformation strategies.

This is contained in a statement released by the ECA on Friday in Abuja. The commission made the call at the 29th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts for West Africa (ICSOE) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The three-day meeting, held from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30, is organised by ECA’s Subregional Office for West Africa, alongside Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

It brings together representatives of 15 West African countries, regional institutions, development partners, private-sector operators, civil society organisations and other experts. The meeting is themed: “Unlocking the Potential of Young People in West Africa: Pathways to Employment, Economic Transformation and Resilience”.

ECA’s Director for West Africa, Ms Ngone Diop, said youth employment must be central to economic transformation rather than treated as a stand-alone challenge. Diop said 60.9 per cent of West Africa’s population was below 25 years in 2026, describing the region’s youthful population as a significant development opportunity.

She said unlocking this potential required investment in relevant skills, productive employment, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities. Diop also called for stronger alignment between education and labour-market needs, increased investment in productive sectors and improved regional cooperation.

Earlier, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, urged participating countries to translate deliberations into measurable commitments to empower young people.
Barlay, who spoke on behalf of the country’s Vice-President, proposed an action-oriented Freetown Declaration on Youth Empowerment in West Africa.

She urged member states to adopt clear targets and commit to concrete measures, adding that Sierra Leone would later announce its commitment. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Ms Seraphine Wakana, called for sustained collaboration among governments, regional institutions and development partners.

Wakana urged participants to move beyond discussions and develop practical recommendations and partnerships to accelerate progress across the region. The meeting is expected to produce recommendations for translating West Africa’s demographic potential into productive employment, economic resilience and improved livelihoods. (NAN