Skeptical coworkers watching business presentation of project on laptop screen during meeting
he African Workforce Summit (AWS) has announced a nationwide skills and job placement initiative scheduled for 27–28 June at the Sheba Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, aimed at addressing Nigeria’s worsening youth unemployment crisis.
AWS founder and convener, Moses Joel Babatunde, said the intervention comes at a critical time, with data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicating that youth unemployment has climbed from 19 per cent in 2015 to 53 per cent in 2024.
“In 2024 alone, 3.2 million Nigerian youth entered the job market, yet fewer than 500,000 formal jobs were created, leaving roughly 2.7 million young people either in informal work or contemplating emigration,” Babatunde said.
Themed “The Fuse”, the two-day event will offer skills development workshops, professional networking, and direct access to employers. Over 2,300 participants are expected, in what organisers describe as Nigeria’s largest skills-based intervention to date.
Babatunde stressed that the summit responds to the deepening skills mismatch between education and industry, particularly as digital technologies reshape work.
Participants will benefit from career consultations, CV reviews, LinkedIn optimisation, headshots, mock interviews, on-site job interviews, and a pitch contest offering mentorship and seed funding to three promising entrepreneurs.
Co-founder of Sycamore Group, Mayowa Adeosun, highlighted the growing impact of technology on Africa’s employment landscape, noting that Nigeria’s tech sector has created over 200,000 jobs since 2020 and attracted $1.5 billion in foreign investment in 2023 — yet the demand for skilled workers still far exceeds supply.
“The real opportunity lies in combining Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit with practical skills. With the right tools and networks, young people don’t just find jobs—they create them,” Adeosun said.
Speakers include Babajide Duroshola (M-KOPA), Peace Itimi (Founders Connect), Victor Fatanmi (FourthCanvas), Joshua Chibueze (PiggyVest), and media entrepreneur Pamilerin Adegoke, among others.
Beyond job matching, AWS will address barriers such as funding access, entrepreneurial mentorship, and gaps between academic training and employer expectations.
