ECOWAS, Youth and the Future of Work in West Africa

With digital skills increasingly determining who gets hired and who competes globally, West Africa’s future will largely depend on how effectively its youth are prepared today, Vanessa Obioha reports

Just before 2026 rolled in, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Cognizant released a report highlighting the challenges of the future of work. The report showed that the demand for digital skills is rising far faster than the world’s ability to supply them. Competencies in artificial intelligence, big data, and technological literacy, the report noted, are becoming indispensable, but remain scarce. The result is a widening digital skills gap, one that leaves only a fraction of business leaders confident in their ability to find the talent needed to compete and survive.

For West Africa, this global shortfall presents both a warning and an opportunity. With an estimated population of over 420 million people—more than half of them young—the sub-region sits at the centre of the world’s next labour frontier. If equipped with the right skills, its youth could help fill a growing global talent deficit. If left unprepared, they risk being locked out of the very economy that is reshaping the future of work.

It is against this backdrop that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) finds itself under increasing pressure to act. As the region’s main integration bloc, ECOWAS is being called upon not only to facilitate cross-border trade and movement, but also to ensure that young people are not excluded from the rapidly changing digital economy.

That responsibility was evident in its three-day gathering in Lagos in January 2026. Rallying stakeholders, the gathering served as a roadmap for its next half-century.  Innovation, digital infrastructure, and technology-driven integration dominated discussions as officials tried to outline the Commission’s vision.

A key objective of the dialogue was to commit to embedding artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and digital communication into ECOWAS’ long-term development agenda, as reflected in the theme: ‘ECOWAS Vision 2050 and New Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Communication and Social Media.’ Convened under the directives of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, the dialogue positioned digital readiness as a key pillar of regional integration.

This shift, the Commission said, is essential to unlocking growth, deepening economic cooperation, and improving livelihoods for more than 400 million people across the sub-region. More importantly, it signals an attempt to redefine regional integration for an era in which data, platforms, and digital skills increasingly determine economic relevance.

Despite these intentions and policy declarations, the real test lies in its implementations. For many young people spread across the region, ECOWAS is not the first institution that comes to mind when thinking about how to build digital capacity or scale technical skills. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Unstable electricity, expensive data plans and limited access to formal training continue to pose a problem to many young people, even those living in cities such as Lagos, Accra, and Dakar. The situation is worse outside urban areas where poor connectivity and scarce learning facilities shut many out of the digital economy. West Africa still boasts many underserved and unserved areas in the digital revolution.

It is this widening gap between institutional vision and lived experience that must now be urgently addressed. Speaking at the dialogue, the President of the Commission, Omar Touray, noted that global systems are being reshaped at unprecedented speed by artificial intelligence, data-driven governance, cybersecurity architectures, and emerging digital trade regimes.

“West Africa must move beyond simply adapting to global trends and begin to exercise leadership,” he said.

“Digital transformation must no longer be viewed as an optional add-on. It must become a catalyst for inclusive development, institutional efficiency and regional solidarity as ECOWAS charts its future under Vision 2050.”

His remarks reflect growing concern within the bloc that without deliberate, large-scale investment in youth skills, the region risks falling behind in a technology-driven global economy. While pockets of innovation continue to emerge, they remain largely disconnected from regional policy structures, limiting their broader impact.

The region generally boasts young innovators who are already demonstrating what is possible when talent meets opportunity. In Lagos’ Yaba district—often described as Nigeria’s technology hub—developers work from crowded co-working spaces, cafés, and shared offices, building platforms and applications for clients across Africa and beyond. Lagos itself has earned the nickname “Silicon Lagoon,” having produced tech unicorns such as Moniepoint, Flutterwave, and Interswitch and is ranked among the top 100 startup ecosystems in the world.

Accra, Ghana, is also gaining momentum, particularly in fintech, agritech, and e-commerce where it keeps attracting investments, while Dakar and Abidjan are gradually emerging as innovation centres.

These success stories, however, represent only a fraction of the region’s youth population and are mostly concentrated in urban enclaves. What of the young person stuck in a remote village where unemployment, poor broadband access, and limited digital literacy remain daily realities?

Without targeted intervention, the risk is that West Africa will become a consumer of digital products rather than a co-creator of technological solutions.

This, among other fears, was expressed at the dialogue as the Commission reaffirmed plans to establish a Regional Digital Single Market aimed at harmonising digital regulations, data protection laws, and cybersecurity frameworks across member states. By expanding broadband access, developing interoperable fintech systems, and introducing unified digital identity systems, ECOWAS hopes to dismantle barriers and unlock cross-border opportunities.

To be sure, there have been practical steps by the Commission to address these gaps. In 2025, the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition partnered with InnoPower Africa Foundation to launch a Capacity Building and Training programme for micro, small, and medium enterprises across the sub-region. A key outcome was the ECOWAS Business AI Studio, which was designed to provide indigenous entrepreneurs with access to AI-powered tools for automation, market analysis, and business formalisation.

Also complementing these efforts is the ECOWAS Youth Policy and Strategic Action Plan, which addresses education, employment, health, peace, and civic participation. Through digital learning initiatives, the Commission has expanded e-learning platforms and promoted ICT skills, particularly in underserved communities.

Beyond economic growth, officials also view youth empowerment as a stabilising force in a region grappling with insecurity and social unrest. Expanding access to education and digital livelihoods, they argue, could help reduce vulnerability to extremism and displacement.

Nevertheless, ambition alone will not bridge the skills divide. The success of ECOWAS’ digital agenda will depend on sustained investment, transparent implementation, and the ability to translate regional frameworks into accessible opportunities at the community level.

For now, the hope is that this vision will deliver affordable training, reliable infrastructure, and meaningful employment for millions of young West Africans.