0076/HAAC/01-2023/pl/P
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – October 14, 2025
Second Africa Skills Week (ASW 2025) officially commenced today at the African Union Headquarters, setting a decisive course for equipping the continent’s youth with the skills needed to drive innovation, industrial growth, and sustainable development. The high-level event, co-hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labour and Skills, will run until October 17 under the theme, “Powering Africa’s Industrial Future: Skills for Innovation, Growth, and Sustainability.”
Building on the inaugural 2024 edition, ASW 2025 convenes policymakers, industry leaders, and educators to accelerate Africa’s skills transformation agenda. The central focus is on the strategic expansion and modernization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), identified as a critical lever for job creation and for harnessing the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A Continental Call to Action: From Potential to Prosperity
In his opening address, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, issued a powerful call for a continent-wide drive to skill and innovate. He underscored that Africa’s transformation is intrinsically linked to strategic investment in its people.
“Africa’s transformation depends on investing in its people, harnessing science, technology, & innovation to power inclusive growth and industrialization,” stated H.E. Youssouf. He emphasized the urgent need to convert Africa’s demographic dividend into a “global force for innovation, sustainability, & prosperity.”
The Chairperson outlined five key AU priorities for skills development:
- Strengthening policy coherence and regional integration.
- Accelerating TVET implementation.
- Ensuring inclusive, high-quality, and future-ready skills systems.
- Fostering partnerships and knowledge sharing.
- Sustaining the momentum of the Decade of Education and Skills Development.
“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,” he concluded.
Launch of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025-2034
A cornerstone of the opening day was the official launch of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025–2034. Presented by H.E. Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, AUC Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the strategy provides a comprehensive framework to equip Africa’s workforce with digital, green, and climate-smart skills.
“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,” Professor Banyankimbona emphasized.
The strategy is positioned as a vital instrument for realizing the goals of both Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want and the AfCFTA.
Ethiopia and Partners Echo Commitment to Skills Development
H.E. Muferihat Kamil Ahmed, Ethiopia’s Minister of Labour and Skills, stressed the need for concrete action. She described skills as the “true engine” of Agenda 2063, essential for transforming Africa’s vast potential into tangible economic power.
Highlighting Ethiopia’s national initiatives, she outlined a commitment to an inclusive and practical TVET system that promotes entrepreneurship, green and digital skills, and strong industry linkages. “Skills development is not theoretical but a concrete driver of jobs, competitiveness, and sustainable growth,” Minister Muferihat stated.
The event also saw strong reaffirmations of support from international partners, including Canada, the European Union, Japan, Germany, and China, who pledged continued collaboration with the AU to advance TVET and industrial development across the continent.
Emebet Asefa, Correspondent
Addis Abeba,Ethiopia
