COTONOU, BENIN – July 13, 2025 – World Youth Skills Day was celebrated with dynamism and vision in Benin, thanks to an initiative by members of the Linked Africa community.
This day is celebrated worldwide every year on July 15th to highlight the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship.
Under the impactful theme “All skills matter! AI, human talents, and soft skills to move the world,” this event brought together an impressive array of talent from Benin and Togo, underscoring the crucial importance of adaptability and collaboration in today’s world.
This Sunday, the focus was on integrating artificial intelligence, soft skills, and human potential at the heart of change. The event welcomed youth and professionals from various fields: from health to electricity, fashion design to cybersecurity, as well as tourism, AI & IoT, commerce, DevOps, and web development, each bringing a unique perspective to the discussion.
Participants had the opportunity to engage in an interactive roundtable, fostering enriching exchanges about AI and soft skills. The central role of Linked Africa’s mentorship, particularly focused on developing soft skills, was highlighted, detailing its main areas of intervention. Stimulating games punctuated the day, facilitating networking and the creation of powerful connections in a friendly atmosphere.
In 2025, it is clear that simply being competent is no longer enough. It is now essential to know how “to be” (through soft skills), to know how to adapt (in the face of evolving AI), and to know how to live and work together.
Linked Africa positions itself as a true family, a human and supportive community where everyone is encouraged to become a mentor or mentee, thus contributing to a virtuous cycle of development.
A big thank you to all the participants who made this event a resounding success. Special recognition goes to the dedicated organizing team, led by Conrad HOUNKPEVI, Esperanda KPONOU, Cyrélia Maurelle KPOSSOU, Arnaud Fifonsi LOKONON, Djahou WANVOEGBE, and Manassé Wonekou, whose hard work made this celebration possible. We also wish to express our gratitude to Parfait TOKE and his team for their significant presence. Their participation beautifully illustrated the spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing that Linked Africa strives to promote beyond borders.
Together, we continue to build a better Africa, strong in its skills and solidarity.
