The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, has called for urgent reforms in skills development, vocational training and innovation systems to address what he describes as a growing “unemployability” crisis among African youth.
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Speaking at the Continental Youth Symposium on “African Youth at the Frontier of Technologies, Innovation, Sovereignty and Jobs in the Digital Age” in Tangier, Morocco, Ayariga said Africa’s demographic advantage could quickly become a liability if not strategically managed.
“Africa stands at a defining moment,” he noted, emphasizing that the continent, with nearly 60 percent of its population under the age of 25, holds immense potential. However, he warned that without deliberate action, this youthful population could become “a ticking time bomb” rather than an economic asset.
According to Ayariga, job creation across the continent is failing to keep pace with rapid population growth, while technological advancement continues to outstrip the capacity of education and training systems to adapt.
“The challenge is not simply unemployment — it is unemployability,” he said, pointing out that many young people possess formal education but lack the practical and adaptive skills required by modern industries.
He identified three major gaps contributing to the problem: a skills gap, where training does not align with market demands; a capacity gap, reflecting inadequate adaptive and human skills; and a leadership gap, characterized by limited youth involvement in policy design.
Addressing these challenges, Ayariga stressed, requires a holistic approach rather than isolated interventions. He underscored the importance of youth participation in decision-making, describing youth leadership as “foundational and not optional.”
Drawing from the experience of the National Youth Authority in Ghana, Ayariga highlighted the importance of integrating industry directly into the design and delivery of training programmes.
He explained that the Authority collaborates closely with organizations such as the Ghana Employers’ Association and the Association of Ghana Industries, alongside trade groups and professional associations, to ensure training aligns with real market needs.
“These actors are not only consulted; they actively serve on technical committees and governance structures,” he said, adding that such partnerships help identify relevant sectors including fintech, agtech, garment manufacturing, information technology, and automobile services.
Ayariga also pointed to collaboration with the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the Ghana TVET Service to develop competency-based curricula and certification systems that meet industry standards.
He further highlighted the role of work-based learning initiatives such as the government’s National Apprenticeship Programme, which places trainees in companies and innovation hubs to gain hands-on experience.
“This ensures that young people are not only trained, but also exposed to real working environments,” he said.
Through structured partnerships with private sector organizations, particularly in garment, IT and automobile industries, Ayariga said the Authority is also creating clear pathways from training into employment.
He concluded that this integrated approach is already yielding results by reducing the mismatch between skills and jobs, improving employability outcomes, and strengthening Ghana’s national skills ecosystem to better respond to a rapidly evolving global economy.
