George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Education, Science, and Culture, has urged a major reform of educational curricula across West Africa, warning that the current system is failing to prepare graduates for the realities of the job market.
Speaking at a joint delocalised meeting of ECOWAS parliamentary committees in Lomé, Togo, held under the theme “Strengthening Curriculum Alignment with Socio-Economic Needs of the ECOWAS Region,” Ricketts-Hagan highlighted the widening gap between academic training and workplace requirements.
“University courses are not designed to equip students with the skills industries actually need,” he said. “We are not producing the workforce that businesses require. The curriculum needs a complete redesign so that tertiary education aligns with the job market, particularly in the African context.”
He noted that while the challenge is felt across the continent, it is especially pronounced in West Africa. Ricketts-Hagan stressed that realigning education with socio-economic needs could boost productivity and drive economic growth in ECOWAS member states.
A key focus, he said, should be bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. “We need to make education useful for the workplace. Theories must be translated into skills that are directly applicable,” he explained.
Entrepreneurship education emerged as another priority, with Ricketts-Hagan advocating for programs that train students to become job creators rather than solely job seekers. This, he argued, would not only reduce unemployment but also empower graduates to actively contribute to the region’s economic development.
By tackling these structural gaps, he believes West African education can be transformed into a system that truly prepares young people for meaningful careers and sustainable economic participation.
