As West Africa’s youthful population surges, lawmakers in the region are warning that outdated school curricula are leaving millions of graduates unprepared for the realities of modern economies.
The ECOWAS Parliament has therefore called for a major overhaul of the sub-region’s education system to better align learning with labour market needs and technological change.
Speaking at a joint committee meeting in Lomé, Togo, President of the Togolese National Assembly, Prof. Komi Selom Klassou, said education must evolve to reflect economic realities or risk creating a generation of graduates disconnected from employment opportunities.
Represented by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, Klassou stressed that education should be seen not only as a right but also as a strategic tool for economic growth and regional stability.
He urged governments to prioritise practical skills, innovation and stronger technical and vocational education to tackle youth unemployment.
Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science and Culture, Hon. Kweku George Hagan of Ghana, also warned that the region’s labour markets are evolving faster than its curricula, creating a growing gap between training and available jobs.
Lawmakers say aligning education with sectors such as agriculture, industry and the digital economy will be critical to turning West Africa’s growing youth population into a powerful economic asset.
