ACCRA, Oct 14 (The African Portal) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a training programme aimed at equipping young people in the region with technical and entrepreneurial skills to enhance their competitiveness and drive economic growth.
ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, said the bloc was committed to preparing its youth for the demands of the digital era through technical and innovation-focused education.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that our youth are not left behind, but are instead empowered to become creators, innovators, and leaders in this new era,” Gana said.
He noted that youth account for more than 60% of the ECOWAS population.
Amb. Gana was speaking at the launch of the AI Powered Tech & Innovation Training Programme held at the University of Ghana Graduate Business School in Accra on Monday, October 13.
The 10-day programme, which runs from October 13 to 24, brings together 200 participants to receive training in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Rationale
ECOWAS is partnering with Ramsy Info Tech Solutions Limited to implement the initiative, which targets young people from the Greater Accra Region and surrounding areas. It forms part of a series of youth capacity-building programmes the bloc has organised in Ghana and other member states over the past year.
Amb. Gana said the training “aims to inspire creativity, nurture problem-solving abilities, and encourage entrepreneurial thinking.”
He added that it is part of ECOWAS’s broader effort to equip young people “with the knowledge and skills required to thrive and compete in this fast-evolving digital revolution.”
He emphasised that the programme focuses on practical, hands-on learning to prepare participants for future challenges and opportunities, describing it as “a strategic investment in the region’s youth that would contribute to the advancement of our communities and the West African region.”
Expected outcomes
Emmanuel Arthur, lead trainer from Ramsy Info Tech Solutions Limited, said participants were selected based on their interest in developing web and mobile applications.
Given the growing importance of AI, Arthur said, “young people should be able to learn how to use the prompt engineering architecture to advance their career path.”
He said the training would provide participants with practical experience, adding that “all the beneficiaries will be in a better position to advance their career paths.”
Arthur added that participants would also gain business development skills. “So apart from the technical skills we are going to give them, we are going to discuss how they can build their own business and run around with the technology they are learning,” he said.
