Diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and the Republic of Guinea received renewed attention on Monday, 5 October 2026, when the Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, engaged Guinean President, His Excellency General Mamadi Doumbouya, in discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy and regional development.

The engagement took place in Conakry following the official State Opening of the 10th Legislature of the 5th Republic of Guinea, an important national occasion attended by senior Government officials, parliamentary leaders, diplomats and other distinguished personalities.

Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas travelled to Guinea at the head of a high-level parliamentary delegation following an invitation from the Speaker of the Guinean National Assembly, Hon. Dr. Dansa Kourouma. His participation underscored Sierra Leone's commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic and institutional relations with its neighbouring country.

During his meeting with President Mamadi Doumbouya, the Sierra Leonean Speaker conveyed warm greetings and goodwill messages from His Excellency President Brigadier (Rtd.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Government and people of Sierra Leone.

He congratulated the Guinean leader on his recent election and acknowledged his leadership during the country's political transition. Speaker Thomas expressed optimism that continued engagement between the two countries would create additional opportunities for cooperation in governance, economic development, peacebuilding and regional integration.

The discussions reflected the longstanding relationship between Sierra Leone and Guinea, two neighbouring countries whose people share deep historical, cultural, linguistic and family connections.

Speaker Thomas described those connections as an important foundation for stronger diplomatic engagement, stressing that the friendship between both nations extends beyond geographical boundaries and formal government relations.

He reaffirmed the readiness of Sierra Leone's Parliament to strengthen its working relationship with the Guinean National Assembly through institutional exchanges, legislative cooperation and sustained dialogue on issues affecting both countries.

Earlier, while addressing the State Opening ceremony, Speaker Thomas delivered a goodwill message on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio, the Parliament and people of Sierra Leone, congratulating Guinea on the commencement of its new legislative chapter.

He also extended congratulations to Hon. Dr. Dansa Kourouma on his election as Speaker of the National Assembly and commended the Guinean people on their recent independence anniversary celebrations.

Expressing appreciation for the hospitality extended to his delegation, Speaker Thomas said the warm reception demonstrated the mutual respect and enduring friendship that have characterised relations between Sierra Leone and Guinea over the years.

He emphasised that the historic parliamentary occasion represented more than the formal commencement of legislative business, describing it as an opportunity to renew commitments to democratic governance, national unity and effective representation.

Drawing attention to the close cultural connections between both countries, the Speaker cited familiar family names, including Dumbuya, Kondeh, Turay, Jalloh, Bah and Sheku, as examples of the shared identities that unite communities across the border.

According to him, such similarities demonstrate that Sierra Leoneans and Guineans have longstanding social and cultural bonds that should continue to inspire cooperation at the governmental and parliamentary levels.

Turning to the responsibilities of lawmakers, Speaker Thomas emphasized that Parliament remains central to democratic governance because it provides a platform through which citizens' concerns are represented, laws are enacted and public institutions are held accountable.

He encouraged parliamentarians to place national development and the welfare of citizens above political differences, noting that effective legislative leadership requires commitment, tolerance, constructive dialogue and respect for democratic principles.

The Speaker further observed that lasting peace and prosperity depend on continuous efforts to strengthen institutions, protect fundamental rights and ensure that governance systems respond to the needs of ordinary citizens.

He particularly highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring that legislative decisions contribute meaningfully to social justice, accountability and inclusive development.

Addressing broader regional concerns, Speaker Thomas identified economic transformation, insecurity, climate change and sustainable development as major challenges requiring coordinated responses from neighbouring countries.

He maintained that no country could effectively address such challenges independently, stressing the importance of stronger partnerships, information-sharing and collective action among West African nations.

Against that background, he called for expanded parliamentary cooperation between Sierra Leone and Guinea, particularly through regular exchanges between parliamentary committees, the sharing of legislative experiences and stronger institutional relationships.

The proposed collaboration, he explained, would enable lawmakers from both countries to learn from one another, improve legislative practices and contribute to policies that support regional stability and economic progress.

Speaker Thomas also underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing regional integration, arguing that closer legislative engagement could complement existing government-to-government relations and strengthen West Africa's collective voice internationally.

He encouraged both legislative institutions to explore practical opportunities for cooperation that would deliver tangible benefits to citizens, including improved governance, stronger democratic institutions and greater regional solidarity.

The Sierra Leonean Speaker praised the Guinean National Assembly for its commitment to democratic governance and expressed hope that its new legislative term would be characterized by productive deliberations, responsible leadership and a shared determination to advance national development.

He assured his Guinean counterpart that the Parliament of Sierra Leone remained committed to sustaining friendship, mutual respect and constructive cooperation between the two institutions.

The meeting with President Mamadi Doumbouya, together with Speaker Thomas's participation in the State Opening, highlighted the continuing importance of parliamentary engagement in strengthening relations between the two Mano River Union neighbours.

Both countries maintain significant historical and socioeconomic connections, making cooperation on governance, trade, security and regional development particularly important to their shared interests.

The visit also provided an opportunity to reinforce Sierra Leone's commitment to peaceful coexistence, diplomatic engagement and closer collaboration with neighbouring states.

Concluding his address, Speaker Thomas expressed confidence in the future of Sierra Leone–Guinea relations and called for continued unity in pursuing common development objectives.

“On behalf of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, I pledge our continued friendship and partnership. May our two nations walk hand in hand toward a future of peace, prosperity and shared progress,” he declared.

He ended with a message celebrating the parliamentary institutions of both countries and the broader aspiration for African unity, reaffirming his belief that stronger cooperation between Sierra Leone and Guinea would contribute to peace, democratic consolidation and sustainable development across the sub-region. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65274

 

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Government of Sierra Leone and local authorities have broken ground for the construction of a new complementary food processing facility at Makarie Village in Bombali District, marking another major step towards tackling child malnutrition while strengthening local agricultural value chains.

The facility is being established under the Strengthened Agricultural Value-chain through Infant Nutrition for Growth (SAVING) Project, a four-year initiative principally financed by the European Union with a contribution of €11.5 million and implemented by WFP in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone.

Once operational, the facility will support the local production of safe, affordable and fortified complementary foods for children aged six to 23 months, while creating sustainable market opportunities for smallholder farmers and women-led enterprises.

The facility is expected to process approximately 200 metric tonnes of nutritious food annually and will be equipped with automated packaging systems, food-safety infrastructure, off-grid solar power and solar-powered water facilities.

More than 25,000 people, including over 8,000 farmers, are expected to benefit from the SAVING Project, which combines improved nutrition with agricultural production, local processing and economic opportunities.

Welcoming the initiative, Paramount Chief of Makarie Chiefdom, PC Bai Makarie Nkolo II, expressed appreciation for the decision to establish the facility in his chiefdom and assured WFP and its partners of his full support for the successful implementation of the project.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Chief Agriculture Officer Professor Abdulai Jalloh highlighted WFP's support to processing mills across Sierra Leone and said the new facility would create reliable market opportunities for smallholder farmers.

He stressed that improving nutrition among children is central to building a healthier and more productive population, noting that feeding Sierra Leone must include ensuring that its children receive nutritious food during the critical early stages of development.

Mayor of Makeni City Council, Abubakarr Kamara, encouraged residents to embrace the project and take advantage of the opportunities it will create. He said the investment would promote greater economic inclusion while generating employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

WFP Representative and Country Director Andrew Odero said the project is designed to address challenges surrounding access to nutritious and affordable complementary foods for young children.

“This is the history of Nyam Nyam pap,” Andrew Odero said, explaining that the groundbreaking builds on an approach that has already been tested through existing community-based facilities.

“We are breaking ground not for an idea that has never been tried, but rather building on what has already been started. This new facility was designed along the lessons learnt from the four existing facilities,” he added.

The SAVING Project will build on community-based complementary food production initiatives in Pujehun, Moyamba and Kambia districts, while supporting the production and commercialization of fortified foods through women-led enterprises.

By linking nutritious crop production by smallholder farmers with improved infant and young child feeding practices and local food processing, the project seeks to establish a more resilient and nutrition-sensitive food system.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, participants toured the proposed construction site and received presentations on the planned production process, food-safety systems, solar energy installations and water infrastructure.

Farmer organisations also showcased nutritious crops expected to supply the processing value chain, while health workers and Mother Support Groups demonstrated appropriate infant and young child feeding practices and the use of locally produced complementary foods.

The Makarie Infant Food Processing Facility is expected to strengthen Sierra Leone's broader efforts to reduce malnutrition, improve local food systems and expand economic opportunities for rural communities, particularly women and smallholder farmers.

Beyond improving access to locally produced nutritious food for children, the facility is also expected to create a stronger link between agriculture, nutrition and rural livelihoods, ensuring that local farmers benefit from increased demand for the crops required to produce fortified complementary foods. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65266

 

Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) has taken another major step towards conducting a credible, efficient and fully digital 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC) following the receipt of 25,000 branded tablets, power banks and protective tablet cases.

The equipment was officially received on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as preparations intensify for the nationwide census enumeration scheduled to begin in December.

The latest consignment adds to the 4,000 tablets received in 2025 for the national cartographic mapping exercise, further strengthening Stats SL’s technological capacity ahead of the main data-collection exercise.

The procurement of the 25,000 tablets and accompanying accessories was fully funded by the Government of Sierra Leone as part of its commitment to providing the resources required for the successful implementation of the 2026 Census and strengthening the country’s national statistical system.

The arrival of the equipment marks a significant milestone in preparations for a fully digital census. The tablets will serve as the primary devices for electronic data collection, allowing census personnel to capture, validate and transmit information directly from the field.

The digital approach is expected to improve the efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of the census process while significantly reducing dependence on paper questionnaires and manual data entry.

Built-in validation checks on the devices are also expected to strengthen data quality by helping enumerators and supervisors identify and address errors or inconsistencies during the enumeration process.

Speaking during the official receipt of the equipment, Chief Technical Adviser for the 2026 Census, Dr. Colins Opiyo; Director of Communication and Public Relations, Samuel Ansumana; and Officer-in-Charge of Operations and Logistics, Moses Johnson, described the arrival of the tablets as an important milestone in the technical and operational preparations for the census.

They noted that the devices will play a central role in the digital data-collection process and enable field personnel to collect, validate and transmit information more efficiently.

Stats SL reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, accurate, reliable and inclusive 2026 Population and Housing Census that reflects the realities of people and communities across Sierra Leone.

The institution said it continues to strengthen its systems, processes, technology and technical preparations to ensure that the census meets the required standards of quality and integrity. Reliable census data will be critical to national planning, policy formulation, resource allocation and evidence-based decision-making.

Stats SL also called on members of the public to support the exercise by providing accurate information, cooperating with census personnel and ensuring that every household and individual is properly counted.

According to the institution, the success of the 2026 Census will depend largely on the active participation and cooperation of citizens and residents across the country.

Census Night is scheduled for December 1, 2026, while nationwide counting will begin on December 2, 2026. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65265

 

Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are exploring broader cooperation in technology, information, culture and investment following talks between Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Saud Al-Musa’ed.

During a courtesy visit to the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Freetown, Minister Chernor Bah and Ambassador Al-Musa’ed discussed ways of building on the longstanding relationship between the two countries and opening new opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships.

Minister Chernor Bah thanked Saudi Arabia for its continued friendship and support to Sierra Leone, noting the Kingdom’s contribution to various development initiatives over the years.

Looking beyond existing cooperation, the Minister said Sierra Leone is interested in developing stronger partnerships with Saudi Arabia in areas that could contribute directly to national development, particularly emerging technologies, cultural exchange and investment.

Artificial Intelligence was among the areas highlighted during the discussions. Minister Chernor Bah Bah pointed to Saudi Arabia’s growing capabilities in AI and other advanced technologies, saying Sierra Leone could benefit from closer engagement, knowledge sharing and cooperation in the sector.

He also proposed greater cultural collaboration between the two countries through the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). Under such cooperation, stories highlighting Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage, including Islamic and non-Islamic aspects of Saudi society, could be shared with audiences in Sierra Leone.

According to the Minister, increased cultural exchanges would give citizens of both countries a better understanding of each other and help strengthen people-to-people relations alongside existing diplomatic ties.

To provide a more structured foundation for future collaboration, Minister Chernor Bah proposed discussions on a possible Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Information and Civic Education and the Saudi Embassy.

Such an agreement, he said, could identify specific areas of cooperation and establish a framework through which joint initiatives could be pursued on a sustained basis.

Investment also featured prominently in the talks, with Minister Chernor Bah drawing attention to opportunities available in Sierra Leone and encouraging stronger engagement with Saudi investors. He said increased Saudi investment could support economic growth and contribute to the country’s wider development aspirations.

Minister Chernor Bah also recognized Ambassador Al-Musa’ed’s historic role as the first resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Sierra Leone, commending his efforts to deepen diplomatic engagement between Freetown and Riyadh.

Ambassador Saud Al-Musa’ed welcomed the Minister’s visit and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening its relationship with Sierra Leone.

He acknowledged the longstanding friendship between the two nations and expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to continue working with Sierra Leone in areas of shared interest.

The Ambassador also recognized the role of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education in promoting national development, public information and citizen engagement.

Both officials agreed to maintain regular consultations as they explore practical opportunities for cooperation in information, cultural exchange, technology, investment and other areas of mutual interest.

The discussions signal an effort by Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia to broaden their relationship beyond traditional diplomatic cooperation towards partnerships in sectors increasingly important to economic growth, technological development and stronger ties between their peoples. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65260

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Rado Swaray, has outlined Sierra Leone’s foreign policy priorities during his maiden Diplomatic Briefing, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to economic diplomacy, multilateralism, peace, stronger international partnerships and the protection of Sierra Leoneans abroad.

The diplomatic engagement, held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Foreign Service Academy, brought together members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, Heads of International Organisations, Government officials, staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as selected representatives from the media and civil society.

Following the briefing, the Minister hosted a cocktail reception aimed at strengthening relations between Sierra Leone and its international partners while providing an opportunity for further interaction among members of the diplomatic community and Government officials.

Delivering his maiden Diplomatic Briefing since assuming office, Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray said the engagement provided an important platform to present the direction and priorities of Sierra Leone’s foreign policy.

According to him, the country’s diplomatic engagement will be anchored in the national development agenda and guided by a central principle that “Sierra Leone’s diplomacy must deliver for Sierra Leone.”

He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to pursuing purposeful economic diplomacy designed to attract investment, strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships and ensure that Sierra Leone’s international engagements contribute meaningfully to national development.

The Minister also highlighted the protection and welfare of Sierra Leoneans abroad, deeper engagement with the country’s diaspora and the development of a modern and professional Foreign Service as key priorities under his leadership.

He further stressed that international cooperation must support Sierra Leone’s aspirations for peace, security, investment and sustainable national development.

Sierra Leone, he noted, remains committed to multilateralism and the promotion of peace while working closely with its international partners to address shared challenges and pursue opportunities that advance the country’s interests.

The cocktail reception that followed the diplomatic briefing provided an informal setting for Government officials, diplomats, representatives of international organisations and other invited guests to strengthen existing relationships and explore opportunities for deeper cooperation.

Special attention was also given to showcasing Sierra Leone’s culture, hospitality and national identity. The setting at the Foreign Service Academy was prepared to reflect the country’s dignity, warmth and pride, underscoring the importance of how Sierra Leone presents itself to the international community.

Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray emphasized that diplomacy goes beyond formal meetings and negotiations, noting that the manner in which Sierra Leone presents its culture, values and national identity to the world remains an important component of international engagement.

He said the reception offered another opportunity to deepen the bonds of friendship and partnership between Sierra Leone and members of the international community.

Looking ahead, the Minister pledged that Sierra Leone’s engagement with the international community would remain confident, principled and strategic, while being firmly rooted in the national interest.

The maiden Diplomatic Briefing and cocktail reception marked another step in the Minister’s efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s diplomatic relations and position the country’s foreign policy as an instrument for investment, international cooperation and sustainable development. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65259

 

Sierra Leone is moving closer to a significant improvement in electricity generation as construction of the Nant Power Project at Kissy in Freetown advances, with work reportedly reaching 68 percent completion. The 108-megawatt gas-powered facility is scheduled to begin supplying electricity to the national grid in March 2027, raising expectations of improved power availability for households, businesses and industries, particularly within the Western Area.

The major energy investment, valued at approximately US$418 million, is among the country's most ambitious electricity infrastructure developments in recent years. It forms part of broader efforts by the Government of Sierra Leone, under President Julius Maada Bio, to address persistent electricity shortages, strengthen national energy security and create a more favourable environment for economic development.

Once fully operational, the facility is expected to make a substantial contribution to the country's electricity generation capacity. Its modern gas-to-power technology is intended to provide a more dependable source of electricity, helping to reduce the frequent interruptions that have affected commercial activities and the daily lives of citizens.

The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has played an important role in supporting the development, with financing and political-risk support reported at approximately US$412 million. The involvement of the American development finance institution highlights the importance of international investment partnerships in addressing Sierra Leone's longstanding energy challenges.

For many years, unreliable electricity has remained a serious obstacle to business expansion and industrial productivity across Sierra Leone. Companies, manufacturing establishments, hotels, hospitals and other essential service providers frequently depend on expensive generators to maintain their operations, significantly increasing production and operational costs.

The anticipated completion of the Nant Power Project could help ease some of these difficulties by increasing the availability of electricity and reducing pressure on existing generation facilities. Improved power reliability would also provide businesses with greater confidence to expand their operations, invest in modern equipment and create additional employment opportunities.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are among those expected to benefit from improved electricity services. Businesses involved in welding, refrigeration, food processing, printing, tailoring and other commercial activities depend heavily on a consistent power supply to operate efficiently and remain competitive.

Similarly, reliable electricity could support the expansion of industries such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and information technology, all of which have considerable potential to contribute to Sierra Leone's economic transformation.

The project also supports the Government's wider ambition to expand electricity access throughout the country. Under Sierra Leone's 2026 National Energy Compact, authorities are targeting an increase in electricity access from approximately 36 percent to 78 percent by 2030.

Achieving this objective will require substantial investment not only in electricity generation but also in transmission networks, distribution facilities and other supporting infrastructure capable of delivering power to communities across the country.

Energy sector observers have consistently maintained that increasing electricity production alone will not completely resolve Sierra Leone's power challenges. They emphasize the importance of improving the national transmission and distribution system to ensure that additional electricity reaches consumers efficiently and reliably.

The World Bank has similarly identified weaknesses in electricity infrastructure as major constraints on economic development, stressing the need for coordinated investments that strengthen generation, transmission and distribution capacity.

Against this background, the Nant Power Project is widely regarded as an important opportunity to strengthen Sierra Leone's energy sector and encourage further private-sector participation in electricity development.

Its successful completion could also help position Freetown as a more attractive destination for commercial and industrial investment, particularly for companies seeking a dependable electricity supply before establishing or expanding operations.

Beyond the immediate benefits to the Western Area, the development could contribute to national economic growth by supporting increased productivity, business confidence and employment creation.

The project is also expected to complement the Government's efforts to promote cleaner and more efficient energy infrastructure, although the facility will continue to rely on natural gas as its primary fuel source.

With the March 2027 commissioning target approaching, attention will increasingly focus on the remaining construction activities, technical testing and arrangements for connecting the facility to the national electricity network.

Successful delivery within the projected timeframe would represent an important infrastructure achievement for President Julius Maada Bio's administration, which has identified energy development as a priority for economic growth and improved public services.

However, the ultimate success of the investment will depend on whether the additional generation capacity results in consistent electricity supply, affordable services and measurable improvements in the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

As construction progresses towards completion, the Nant Power Project represents a major opportunity for Sierra Leone to address one of its most persistent development challenges and establish a stronger foundation for industrialization, private investment and sustainable economic growth. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65255

West Africa's economic future depends on how well we turn ambition into sustainable livelihoods. Yet for decades, we have tended to talk about economic opportunity in fairly narrow terms.

Study hard. Get qualifications. Find a good job. Build a career.

It remains a perfectly valid aspiration. But across West Africa, it cannot be the only route we prepare people for.

Our region is young, ambitious and increasingly connected. Every year, millions of young people enter working age with expectations that are fundamentally different from those of the generation before them. Women are seeking greater economic independence. Technology is lowering some barriers to participation while creating entirely new forms of work.

Yet the formal economy cannot absorb everyone who wants, or needs, to participate in it. In a July 2024 article, the World Bank reported that six million young people enter the labour force each year across Western and Central Africa, while only about half a million new jobs are created.

The question we therefore need to ask is not simply: How do we create more jobs?

It is also: How do we widen the number of legitimate, responsible pathways through which people can participate in the economy?

Economic participation is bigger than employment

A healthy economy needs salaried employees. It needs large companies and public institutions. It needs engineers, teachers, doctors, bankers and civil servants.

But it also needs small traders, independent professionals, farmers, creators, artisans, technology entrepreneurs, family businesses, consultants, distributors and people providing services within their communities.

Many West Africans already earn their livelihoods in these ways.

For some, these livelihoods are a deliberate choice; for others, they reflect limited alternatives. Our focus should be on helping people move from informal and vulnerable economic activity towards more productive, skilled and secure participation.

That requires a broader definition of entrepreneurship.

Not every entrepreneur will build a technology unicorn or raise millions of dollars in venture capital. Most never will.

Entrepreneurship can begin much more simply: identifying a need, providing a product or service, finding customers, managing income and expenses, and gradually building something sustainable.

For someone who has never had access to formal employment, even that first step can be significant. But starting a business is only the beginning. Access to customers, suitable finance and practical support helps determine whether it can become a sustainable livelihood. More predictable trade policies aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area could also help smaller businesses reach wider markets, as the World Bank has highlighted.

Opportunity must be responsible

Expanding access to entrepreneurship cannot mean lowering the standards around it.

As more people search online for ways to earn additional income, the distinction between a genuine economic opportunity and an unrealistic promise becomes increasingly important.

No legitimate form of entrepreneurship guarantees success.

Income depends on many factors: effort, capability, demand, competition, experience and timing. Anyone entering an entrepreneurial activity deserves to understand clearly what is required, what it costs, where the risks lie and how income is generated.

Businesses also have a responsibility to address exaggerated income claims and misleading offers made by those representing them. Clear information and accessible complaints procedures should be part of every opportunity.

Entrepreneurship should expand people's choices, not exploit their aspirations.

Governments, businesses, civil society and law-enforcement agencies therefore have a shared interest in creating environments where legitimate opportunities can grow while fraudulent ones become harder to operate.

Skills may matter as much as capital

When entrepreneurship is discussed, the conversation often begins with access to finance.

Financing matters, but someone starting a small business also needs to understand customers, communicate effectively, manage cash flow, use digital tools, negotiate, solve problems and build trust.

These capabilities remain valuable even when a particular venture does not succeed.

Selling responsibly can strengthen communication. Managing customers develops service skills. Tracking income and expenses builds financial discipline and helps people distinguish revenue from profit. Building networks develops relationship skills. Using social platforms for business can build digital capability.

We should therefore think beyond simply creating entrepreneurs and focus on creating economically capable individuals.

People may move between employment, entrepreneurship and independent work several times during their lives. The skills developed in one setting can travel with them into the next.

Women need pathways designed around reality

Across our region, women participate extensively in commerce and informal enterprise, yet their economic potential remains constrained by unequal access to finance, networks, technology, training and, in many cases, time. The need to widen participation is particularly evident among young women. ILOSTAT's May 2026 analysis, using 2022 data, found that the employment-to-population ratio for women aged 15 to 29 in Senegal was just 22.5 per cent.

Economic models that offer greater flexibility can help widen participation. But flexibility alone is not empowerment.

Women also need skills, financial literacy, digital tools, mentoring and credible business networks. Training schedules and delivery should recognise care responsibilities. The opportunities available to them must also be transparent and financially viable.

If entrepreneurship is to contribute meaningfully to women's economic participation, we should look beyond how many women start businesses and ask whether those businesses strengthen their skills, income security and economic independence.

Digital access changes the possibilities

Technology is lowering some barriers to economic activity. BCEAO, the Central Bank of West African States, reports that merchant acceptance points for electronic money in the West African Economic and Monetary Union increased from approximately 1.75 million in 2023 to 3.71 million in 2024. This growth in payment acceptance locations shows the expansion of infrastructure for digital commerce, although a single business may account for more than one acceptance point.

A smartphone can now provide access to customers, payments, education, logistics, financial services and markets that were difficult for small entrepreneurs to reach a generation ago. Artificial intelligence could extend these possibilities further.

A small business owner can increasingly access tools for translation, marketing, design, customer service, bookkeeping and research. Their usefulness depends on affordability, relevant skills and checking the accuracy of what they produce.

But connectivity alone is not enough. People also need the skills to use technology productively. Entrepreneurship programmes should therefore teach not only how to start a business, but how to operate in an increasingly digital marketplace.

We need an ecosystem, not a single solution

There is no single model that will solve West Africa's employment challenge.

Formal employment, vocational training, small-business development, agriculture, technology startups, creative industries, independent professional work, social enterprise and responsible direct selling can all contribute.

The real objective should be to build an ecosystem in which people have more credible choices.

Governments can create enabling regulation and infrastructure. Educational institutions can equip young people with adaptable skills. Financial institutions can improve access to responsible capital. Businesses can create platforms for participation and invest in training. Civil society and the media can help people distinguish genuine opportunities from fraudulent ones.

Those of us in the private sector must also accept that inclusion comes with responsibility. At QNET, our FinGreen programme focuses on financial literacy through education and training, particularly for young adults and communities with limited access to resources. Its purpose reflects the broader need to help people make informed financial decisions. Training, however, must never be presented as a guarantee of income.

Opening a door is not enough. We must be clear about what lies behind it.

West Africa does not lack ambition. Spend time in Dakar, Accra, Abidjan, Lagos or Lomé and you encounter it everywhere — in markets, small businesses, technology hubs, university campuses and digital platforms.

Our challenge is to turn more of that ambition into sustainable economic participation. That begins by moving beyond the assumption that everyone must follow the same economic path, while continuing to invest in good jobs.

A resilient economy is one in which people have several legitimate opportunities, the skills to make them productive and the knowledge to choose among them. That is how West Africa can turn more of its ambition into lasting economic progress.

About the Author

Cherif Sarr is Regional General Manager for Central and West Africa at QNET, an international direct selling company specialising in wellness and lifestyle products. He oversees the company’s growth across the region, with a focus on social commerce and expanding responsible microentrepreneurship opportunities in emerging economies. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65252