Janet Samuel
A Nigerian representative at the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Pascal Agbodike, has called for a bold policy shift to combat West Africa’s escalating unemployment crisis by embedding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into national budgets across the sub-region.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing ECOWAS delocalised meeting in Monrovia, Liberia, Agbodike emphasized that the private sector—not government—is the real engine of job creation, especially for the region’s fast-growing youth population.
“It is the private sector that provides what we need to develop every nation. The government cannot absorb all the unemployed,” he stated.
Agbodike is advocating for legislation that would mandate ECOWAS member states to dedicate a fixed percentage of their national budgets to supporting SMEs, citing them as vital to innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term job growth.
“Governments must pay proper attention to private enterprises and support all factory owners in their countries. When that happens, unemployment will become a thing of the past,” he added.
The ECOWAS Parliament is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Investment Policy (EIP) in stimulating employment and economic inclusion across West Africa. Agbodike’s proposal adds urgency to the discussion, as regional leaders seek sustainable strategies to reduce joblessness and drive youth empowerment through economic reforms.
