West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE)

WAVE is solving what is arguably the biggest challenge on the continent: youth unemployment. In West Africa, 40-85% of youth, more than 50 million, are unemployed or underemployed. Meanwhile, job creation in the region is on the rise. The disconnect between work-ready youth and the employment market must be bridged. WAVE Academies get young people ready for work and connect them to the right entry-level jobs. Since 2013, we have trained over 3,000 unemployed youth and transitioned over 70% of them into employment, entrepreneurship or education/training opportunities that double their incomes within one year. More broadly, WAVE aims to “re-wire” Nigeria’s education-to-employment system by facilitating collaboration between employers, educators, and government to develop industry-relevant competencies that ensure a successful transition into the labor market. Our vision is a world where every young African has access to the skills and opportunity to become what they imagine.