Africa's rapidly growing working-age population, projected to triple by 2050, is creating a unique opportunity for African nations to develop a highly educated and skilled workforce. Recognizing this potential, the African Union (AU) is focusing on improving educational and career opportunities for the continent’s youth to secure long-term economic prosperity. Central to this effort is the integration of education and skills development with employment opportunities, particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills, which are expected to be in high demand.

Africa Skills Week (ASW) 2024 was officially launched today, under the theme “Skills and Jobs for the 21st Century: Quality Skills Development for Sustainable Employability in Africa.” The event, organized by the AU Commission's Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, is being held with the support of partners such as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNESCO, the World Bank, and Ghana’s Commission for TVET (CTVET). The event was opened by Ghana’s Minister of Education, H.E. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

During the opening, Dr. Adutwum emphasized the importance of prioritizing both TVET and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education as drivers of socio-economic development. He highlighted Ghana’s efforts to transform its education sector, focusing on improving learning outcomes, especially in TVET and STEM fields, as a means of preparing the workforce for the future demands of the global economy. This commitment aligns with the broader goals of ASW to drive policy action and share best practices in skills development across Africa.

H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, the African Union's Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, expressed gratitude to the government and people of Ghana for hosting Africa Skills Week (ASW) 2024. He reiterated the importance of skills development in unlocking the potential of Africa’s youth, emphasizing its critical role in shaping the continent's future and integration.

Prof. Belhocine further highlighted the significance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in particular. In collaboration with UNESCO, a key forum on STEM education is planned for November 27-28, 2024, in Addis Ababa. “This forum will be a step toward implementing the African Union’s theme for 2024, which focuses on education reform,” noted Prof. Belhocine.

The Commissioner stressed the urgent need to improve Africa’s educational infrastructure to equip the youth for the demands of the 21st century. Citing a UNESCO study, he pointed out that Africa requires an additional 90 billion USD to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) targets by 2030, which aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education. Prof. Belhocine called for collective efforts to advocate for this financial support and to prioritize infrastructure investments, which are essential for enhancing the continent's education systems in the coming years. “Mobilizing resources and partnerships is key to realizing Africa's educational transformation,” concluded H.E. Prof. Mohammed Belhocine.

Africa Skills Week (ASW) aims to drive action towards transforming the systems, processes, and policies that govern skills development across the continent. The event is focused on ensuring that Africans are prepared to meet the evolving demands of the 21st-century workforce. ASW is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which seeks to create resilient, transformative education and skills ecosystems throughout Africa.

The African Union plans to institutionalize ASW as part of a broader, long-term effort to strengthen education and skills development, helping Africa achieve sustainable growth and development. This year’s ASW focuses on several key themes:

1. Skills and Jobs for the 21st Century: Emphasizing the importance of quality skills development to ensure sustainable employability for Africans in the modern job market.
2. Rethinking TVET and Skill Development: Exploring effective models for implementing technical and vocational education and training across the continent.
3. TVET and Skills Development for a Transformative Africa: Highlighting how vocational skills can drive broader transformation in African economies.
4. Africa Digital Transformation on Skills Development and Jobs: Discussing the role of digital innovation in reshaping skills development and job creation in Africa.

These discussions will help shape the future of Africa’s education and workforce systems, equipping the continent’s youth to thrive in a competitive global economy.

For further information, please contact:

1. Esther Azaa Tankou | Head, Media and Information Division, Communication Adviser, Permanent Observer Mission to the UN | Information and Communications Directorate | E-mail: yamboue@africa-uinon.org, Tel: +251911361185 / +1 3478127195 (WhatsApp)
2. Hiba Mohamed | Advocacy Officer | Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation| African Union Commission| E-mail: hibae@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
3. 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.
4. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org