The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the region’s educational systems as part of efforts to enhance development and improve global competitiveness.

The call was made by the President of the National Assembly of Togo, Prof. Komi Selom Klassou, who warned that failure to reform education in line with socio-economic realities could limit growth, productivity, and stability across West Africa.

Klassou, represented by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, made the remarks on Monday during the opening of a joint committee delocalisation meeting in Lomé, Togo. The meeting brought together the Committee on Education, Science and Culture, the Committee on Health, and the Committee on Telecommunications and Information Technology.

The meeting, themed “Strengthening Curriculum Alignment with Socio-Economic Needs of the ECOWAS Region,” focused on the urgent need to reform educational programmes to meet emerging technological and labour market demands.

According to Klassou, education remains the bedrock of national development and must be repositioned to address technological advancements, skills gaps in the labour market, and the region’s industrial diversification needs.

“Education is the foundation of any prosperous nation. Through it, we shape not only minds and bodies but also the future of our societies,” he said.

He added that the theme of the meeting was a call for urgent action to transform West Africa’s youthful population into a productive force capable of driving economic growth.

“This involves overhauling our educational programmes so that they meet the aspirations of our people and the needs of our economies,” he noted.

Klassou also stressed the need for the region to reclaim its intellectual and cultural identity through education while aligning teaching programmes with local aspirations and development priorities.

He further emphasised that education must now be seen not only as a fundamental right but also as a strategic tool for achieving intellectual, economic, and social sovereignty.

“Without qualified human capital, our nations cannot achieve sustainable emergence,” he stated.

The Togolese parliamentary leader called for the alignment of school curricula with labour market realities by anticipating future skill needs, encouraging innovation, and strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

He explained that such reforms would help reduce youth unemployment and enable the region to convert its large youth population into a meaningful economic dividend.

Klassou also warned that failure to align educational curricula with emerging sectors, technological changes, and entrepreneurial skills could perpetuate a cycle of disconnection that undermines productivity and competitiveness in the region.

He noted that the reform initiative draws legal backing from Protocol A/P3/1/03, adopted by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in 2003, which encourages cooperation in education across member states.

To achieve meaningful reform, he outlined several key priorities including improved labour market intelligence, curriculum reforms focused on practical skills, stronger vocational education systems, and enhanced collaboration between governments, the private sector, and educational institutions.

Klassou further highlighted the importance of integrating health and information technology into the region’s education strategy.

According to him, training health professionals to meet the region’s needs is essential, while digital technologies can improve access to education and healthcare, particularly in remote communities.

He also stressed the need to bridge the digital divide, strengthen cybersecurity, and expand distance learning opportunities across the region.

“Imagine an ECOWAS where youth, armed with digital and entrepreneurial skills, are a driver of growth and regional integration,” he said.

Klassou described the meeting as both a platform for dialogue and a starting point for concrete reforms aimed at strengthening education across West Africa.

He urged governments, academic institutions, the private sector, civil society, and development partners to collaborate in developing practical recommendations that will transform education into a key driver of sustainable development in the region.