The Second Edition of Africa Skills Week (ASW 2025) officially opened today at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking a major milestone in Africa’s collective effort to transform its human capital landscape and accelerate industrialization.

With Africa’s young and rapidly growing population, the event underscores the continent’s urgent need to bridge the skills gap, leverage the 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 Second Edition of Africa Skills Week 2025, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, emphasized that Africa’s transformation depends on investing in skills, science, technology, and innovation (STI) to unlock its demographic and resource potential. He highlighted that skills development lies at the heart of Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA, and the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, launched during the event. The Chairperson outlined five AU priorities: strengthening policy coherence and regional integration; accelerating TVET implementation; ensuring inclusive, high-quality, and future-ready skills systems; fostering partnerships and knowledge sharing; and sustaining the Decade of Education and Skills Development. He called for collective commitment from governments, private sector, academia, and civil society to transform Africa from a consumer of technologies to a producer of innovation, where African youth lead the continent’s industrialization, digital transformation, and sustainable growth. “Africa Skills Week 2025 marks a renewed commitment - to skill, to innovate, and to act. We must appreciate the potential of skills to shape a new African destiny: one where our youth are empowered, our industries are thriving, and our continent stands tall as a global force for innovation, growth, and sustainability,” said H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

In her address at Africa Skills Week, Ethiopia’s Minister of Labor and Skills, H.E. Muferihat Kamil, emphasized that Africa must move beyond talking about potential to actively building the foundations of transformation through skills development. She described skills as the “true engine” of Agenda 2063, essential for turning Africa’s vast resources and youthful population into economic power. Highlighting Ethiopia’s commitment to an inclusive and practical TVET system, she outlined initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, green and digital skills, industry-linked training, and internationally recognized quality standards. H.E. Muferihat Kamil stressed that skills development is not theoretical but a concrete driver of jobs, competitiveness, and sustainable growth, urging collaboration across Africa to make skills the continent’s greatest asset and to advance the proposed Decade of Skills and Jobs (2025–2034).

In his presentation of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034, H.E. 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.” emphasized Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona.

Representatives from Canada, the European Union, Japan, Germany, and China reiterated their continued partnership with the African Union to advance skills development and industrialization through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) cooperation.

ASW 2025 focuses on key thematic areas including:

1. Policy, Governance and Finance for Skills and Industrialization;
2. Quality and Inclusion in Skills Development;
3. Partnerships, Knowledge and Resource Sharing for Industrial Competitiveness;
4. Institutional Development, Technology and Innovation; and
5. Inclusive Skills Development for Refugees and Forcibly Displaced Persons.

Adopted as an annual event by the African Union Ministers of Education and Training in 2024, Africa Skills Week serves as the premier continental platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action on skills transformation. It aims to catalyze the Decade of Skills and Jobs (2025–2034) and position Africa’s youth at the forefront of innovation, industrial growth, and sustainable development.

For media inquiries, please contact:

1. Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate (ICD), African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa.union.org
2. Mr. Maqhawe Freedom Thwala | Digital Communications Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: ThwalaM@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.