West Africa Youth Assembly

Home
United States
Paynesville, MN
West Africa Youth Assembly

West Africa Youth Assembly is a well recognized Regional Youth Institution by the ECOWAS Parliament.

06/16/2026

Fellow citizens and partners,

West Africa is a region defined by its youth nearly 60% of our population is under the age of 35. In the coming decades, West Africa and Africa as a whole will host the largest cohort of young people in the world. This demographic reality presents a profound opportunity for development, prosperity, and transformation but only if we choose to act decisively today.

To advance that cause, two outstanding young intellectuals (to wit: Hié Arnaud Dénis Stéphane GNÉNÉHOUÉ,
President of the International Summit of African Volunteers-SIBA
And
Mashood Djaló
Researcher -Roles of ECOWAS in Conflict Resolution) will present in French and Portuguese on the topic
"Empowering the Next Generation: Youth, Mentorship and the Future of Gen Z Leadership in West Africa."

We warmly invite you to join this inspiring conversation. Attend to be motivated, gain practical tools, expand your network, and commit to playing your part in shaping Gen Z’s future leadership across the region. Your participation will honor ECOWAS Day and help move forward a shared vision of a West Africa led by youth with courage, competence, and conscience.
Date: 30 June 2026

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO6G9sYRpc2h-vniWCU_x-FUozFyYWKlH3uktqbK9YMH5bTg/viewform?usp=preview

One Region. One People. One Future.

06/13/2026

As more young people secure dignified and gainful employment and commit to productive livelihoods, our societies will become safer, more prosperous, and better positioned to achieve lasting development.
---Mr. J.A Haifan, Esq----

06/12/2026

THE FUTURE OF WEST AFRICA IS BEING SHAPED BY ITS YOUTH

We are proud to launch the FIRST PANEL SESSION of the West Africa Youth Assembly (WAYA) Virtual Summit Series 2026, a groundbreaking conversation setting the tone for a year of bold ideas, innovation, and youth-led transformation.

"Gen Z Innovation: Fuelling West Africa's Digital and Creative Renaissance"

This powerful opening session brings together dynamic young leaders, innovators, and change-makers from across the region to explore how Gen Z is reshaping the future through technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Featuring impactful insights from *Dr. Amed Tiendrebeogo, PhD (Burkina Faso) and Hon. Jenny Antunes (Cabo Verde), the discussion will unpack real opportunities, challenges, and actionable pathways to accelerate youth empowerment in the digital economy.

*Date:* 30 June 2026
Time: 4:00 PM GMT | 6:30 PM WAT

Register now: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO6G9sYRpc2h-vniWCU_x-FUozFyYWKlH3uktqbK9YMH5bTg/viewform?usp=preview

Be part of the conversation that sets the tone for everything that follows!

One Region. One People. One Future.

06/07/2026

Amazing news!* 🎉

Happiness as we see women within WAYA making real progress in their countries. This proves it: when women and young people are given platforms, they do great things.

Read these records and join us at WAYA in celebrating one of our own:
*M’mah Zak Camara, WAYA Chairperson Guinea 🇬🇳*, has been appointed:
- Assistant coach of the Guinea Women’s U17 National Team
- Head coach of the National U15 and U18 Teams
- The first Guinean coach to win a trophy 🏆 in Guinea since independence in 1958
- Champion of WAFU Zone A in Gambia, November 2025
- Qualified Guinea for the African School Games in Zimbabwe last April

*Congratulations M’mah Zak Camara!* Your leadership and results are inspiring all of us across the West African countries of WAYA membership.

Thank you to the Guinea authorities for trusting women and young people with these opportunities. This is what happens when institutions open doors and appoint competent people.

06/05/2026

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Martins Kwazema, PhD, will be a speaker at our upcoming event in commemoration of ECOWAS Day. He will present on:
"The Influence of Generation Z, Social Media, and Democratic Participation in West Africa."

Dr. Kwazema is conducting postgraduate research at the Nordic Africa Institute in Sweden, with a primary focus on Generation Z, social media, and democracy in Africa. His scholarship and fieldwork offer important insights that are directly relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing West African democracies.

Having Dr. Kwazema join our programme will enrich the dialogue and provide evidence-based perspectives that can inform institutional reform across the continent. His presentation will be especially valuable for policymakers, civil-society actors, youth leaders, and academic institutions working toward democratic renewal.

This event goes beyond conversation, it aims to draft a practical, realistic policy manual that advances ECOWAS Vision 2050. We expect the outcomes to include actionable recommendations that support inclusive democratic participation and stronger regional governance.

Register to attend via this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO6G9sYRpc2h-vniWCU_x-FUozFyYWKlH3uktqbK9YMH5bTg/viewform?usp=preview

30th June, 2026 is the date

06/04/2026

In commemoration of ECOWAS Day and in support of our collective commitment to regional unity and democratic renewal, we are honoured to announce that Professor Aaron a distinguished academic, committed youth advocate, and recognised leader for positive change across Africa will deliver an address titled “Empowering Change Makers: Youth at the Helm of Democratic Renewal.”
Drawing on extensive academic scholarship and long-standing practical engagement with youth leadership, Professor Aaron will examine how young people can initiate, sustain, and institutionalise democratic reforms. His presentation will blend inspiring personal narratives with actionable strategies, policy insights, and concrete steps for translating civic engagement into durable institutional change.

Why attend:
Be inspired by proven examples of youth-led impact and gain practical knowledge you can apply in your work.

Engage with ideas and strategies that strengthen democratic institutions and foster inclusive governance.

Network with peers, policymakers, and civil society actors committed to regional renewal.

Join us to be motivated, equipped, and connected as we advance a shared vision of a West Africa where young people lead with courage, competence, and conscience. Your participation will both honour ECOWAS Day and contribute to regional democratic renewal.

Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO6G9sYRpc2h-vniWCU_x-FUozFyYWKlH3uktqbK9YMH5bTg/viewform?usp=preview

30th June, is the date

06/03/2026

We are honored to announce our keynote speaker: Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports, The Gambia.

Hon. Badjie brings distinguished experience in youth policy, leadership development, and regional engagement. As Minister, he has led initiatives that expand opportunities for young people, strengthen youth institutions, and promote inclusive governance across The Gambia. His practical insight into translating youth policy into measurable impact makes him uniquely positioned to speak on the role of young people in shaping West Africa’s future.

Join us for a transformative conversation on how Generation Z can become a strategic asset for ECOWAS and the wider region. This event will offer:
Actionable frameworks and institutional architectures that turn youth demographics into drivers of sustainable development.

Practical guidance for cultivating high-quality leaders who can meaningfully contribute to national and regional progress.

Direct lessons from a national minister with on-the-ground experience in youth empowerment and policy implementation.

Register now vis this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeO6G9sYRpc2h-vniWCU_x-FUozFyYWKlH3uktqbK9YMH5bTg/viewform?usp=preview

30th June, 2026 is the date

05/31/2026

Fellow citizens and partners,

As we mark ECOWAS Day and African Union Day, we call on every young leader, policymaker, development partner, and stakeholder across West Africa to join a defining virtual programme designed to turn promise into action.

This convening will:
- Illuminate practical pathways for large‑scale youth skills development and sustainable job creation.
- Showcase mentorship and training models ready for regional scaling.
- Forge bold partnerships that channel the creativity, energy, and ingenuity of our youth toward inclusive, resilient growth.

Your voice, ideas, and commitment are essential. Take part to contribute solutions, shape policy, and help design programmes that will chart West Africa’s future.

United in purpose, we can convert our continent’s greatest asset its young people into a decisive advantage for peace, prosperity, and shared progress.

Youth is not just the future; youth is the answer.

For inquires;
[email protected]

Signed-
Program Management Team

05/30/2026

Today, ECOWAS’s future depends on the Vision 2050 we aspire to achieve. But a vision without people is only ink on paper. The real question we face is: who will carry this vision forward? The answer is clear our YOUTH. The next chapter must be written with YOUTH at the centre. Invest, include, and empower. Ignore them, and our dreams fade back into paper"

05/26/2026

Pan‑Africanism and AU Agenda 2063, live in our daily choices how we learn, trade, create, and govern across borders. Small actions by youth build a 21st‑century Africa, not a slogan.

Address

7th Floor, Atlantic Tower, Airport City, Accara
Paynesville, MN

Telephone

+231770478250

Website

https://wayas.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when West Africa Youth Assembly posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to West Africa Youth Assembly:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Paynesville?