Notable Member Response; Topic: Youth Empowerment Initiatives – ECOWAS Programs

Topic: Youth Empowerment Initiatives – ECOWAS Programs

Notable Member ResponseBy Awa Diallo, Youth Diplomat from Mali

"The ECOWAS youth empowerment initiatives have transformed lives in ways statistics often overlook. In my hometown of Bamako, I’ve seen how young women, previously excluded from business ecosystems, are now being trained in entrepreneurship through ECOWAS-backed programs. These initiatives aren’t just theoretical—they’re practical lifelines. Through their skills development program, I personally gained access to a coding bootcamp, which led to my current job in a fintech start-up. ECOWAS must now focus on expanding rural access to these opportunities. If youth from villages can be included in these success stories, we would witness a revolution in grassroots development."