The youth of West Africa are advocating for the establishment of innovation hubs across various ECOWAS member states, increased investment in digital entrepreneurship, and grassroots initiatives to enhance peace and security through digital technology. They also emphasize the importance of incorporating training in new technologies into school curricula from an early age through partnerships with national education ministries.
These demands emerged at the conclusion of the 2024 Youth Voices for Change Summit held on June 6 in Accra, Ghana. The youth called on themselves, regional national governments, and the ECOWAS Commission to channel their energies towards development. They urged national governments to demonstrate political will by adopting transformative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) that can create jobs in critical sectors such as agriculture, security, and telecommunications.
In a 40-point declaration, the youth outlined their intention to utilize social media and networks to create jobs and promote advocacy campaigns targeting young audiences. They pledged to assist in countering cybercrime, terrorism, and youth disempowerment by advocating for mentoring models that inspire young people and provide funding for startups.
The youth also called for active participation in policy discussions and advocacy efforts aligned with pillar 4 of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 and aspiration 3 of ECOWAS Vision 2050. During the summit, they analyzed the current peace and security situation in the region and explored how technology could accelerate regional stability and growth. Additionally, they acknowledged existing but under-promoted initiatives by young people in the digital field.
Closing the summit, Amb Francis Njoaguani, Director of ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre and Acting Resident Representative in Burkina Faso who represented ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security expressed support for building a more prosperous and peaceful region together with the youth.
Mr. Constant Gnacadja, Acting Head of Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs (MRCPA), ECOWAS Commission urged sustainability of partnership efforts. Representatives from supportive partners including Mr. Alimou Diallo (USAID) and Mr. Vincent Azumah (West Africa Network for Peacebuilding - WANEP) emphasized continuous positive engagement with the region’s youth.
Supported by USAID, WANEP, United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWAS), and Danish Agency for International Development (DANIDA), the focus of Youth Summit 2024 was: Digital Innovation, Inclusion, Regional Economic Growth, Peace, and Stability in West Africa.
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