Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology attends Africa Skills Week, 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• October 21, 2025
• MoHERST

The African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, organised the 2^nd Edition of the Africa Skills Week held from the 13^th to 17^th October 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “Powering Africa’s Industrial Future: Skills, Innovation, Growth and Sustainability”. The Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, represented the Government of the Gambia. In attendance were also African Ministers responsible for TVET, AUC Chairman, AUC Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Development Partners, industry Partners, Training Providers, Innovators, and Youths. The main objectives of the Africa Skills Week were:

1. Strengthen Policy, Governance and Financing Mechanism.
2. Advance Quality, Relevance and Inclusion in TVET.
3. Enhance Partnerships, Knowledge and Resource Sharing.
4. Promote Institutional Development, Technology and Innovation.

Key highlights of the event included the launching of the Continental TVET Strategy 2025-2034 by the AUC Chairman; presentation by the Hon. Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez during the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on advancing Skills Development Ecosystem for Africa’s Transformation; and the Youth Summit on Skills for young Africa’s Industrialisation which reaffirmed young Africans as co-creators of the continent’s transformation agenda.

On the sidelines of the event, the Hon. Minister Professor Pierre Gomez held consultative meetings with the Minister of Labour and Skills, Federal Republic of Ethiopia, the Swedish Embassy representing SIDA, UNESCO, and UNIDO. These engagements generated genuine intentions for partnerships and cooperation in the areas of higher education, TVET, science, technology and innovation.