ECOWAS Urges Investment in Youth Digital Skills for Future

The article discusses a report released by the World Economic Forum highlighting the challenges and opportunities in the future of work in West Africa, particularly regarding the demand for digital skills. It notes that the demand for these skills is rising faster than the region's ability to supply them, resulting in a widening digital skills gap.

With a population of approximately 420 million, half of whom are young, West Africa is positioned as a potential labor frontier. ECOWAS is urged to facilitate cross-border trade and ensure youth are not excluded from the rapidly changing digital economy.

During a three-day gathering in Lagos in January 2026, stakeholders discussed a roadmap for the next fifty years, focusing on digital infrastructure and technology-driven integration. ECOWAS's vision for 2050 aims to embed artificial intelligence and digital transformation into the region's long-term development agenda.

Omar Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the need for significant investment in youth skills to prevent the region from falling behind in the technology-driven global economy.