The 2025 African Workforce Summit (AWS), held in Lagos, convened young professionals, entrepreneurs, employers, and development experts to tackle Nigeria’s growing unemployment crisis through skills development and strategic career support.
The two-day summit delivered hands-on, practical solutions designed to bridge the gap between job seekers, aspiring entrepreneurs, and available opportunities. Attendees accessed CV upgrades, mock interviews, LinkedIn profile revamps, professional headshots, and one-on-one career coaching sessions—all tailored to boost employability and business readiness.
A major highlight of the event was the business pitch competition, where emerging entrepreneurs presented their ideas before a panel of judges. One standout participant walked away with a \$1,000 seed grant to support the growth of their venture.
Joel Moses Babatunde, convener of AWS, emphasized the summit’s goal of offering holistic support. “Not everyone will run a business, and that’s okay,” he said. “We need to support all paths to success by equipping people with the right tools, mindset, and community.”
The summit featured several interactive panels and workshops focused on pressing themes like workplace leadership, career development, corporate culture, innovation, and mental wellness. Attendees participated in a growth mindset workshop led by performance coach Olakunle Soji-Oke and a salary negotiation masterclass facilitated by HR expert Emmanuel Faith.
Sycamore Group, the summit’s headline sponsor, reaffirmed its investment in youth-focused development. Onyinye Okonji, co-founder of Sycamore, stressed the importance of collaborative solutions in tackling unemployment. “Supporting initiatives like AWS is key to building a resilient and future-ready workforce,” she said.
The summit also hosted a generational dialogue on evolving workplace dynamics and a session on startup resilience, drawing insights from diverse voices across the African entrepreneurial space.
The 2025 African Workforce Summit reinforced the need for sustained investment in skill-building and career development as crucial pillars for reducing unemployment, fostering economic inclusion, and preparing the next generation of African leaders.
