Togo Hosts International Conference on Youth Employability at University of Kara

Education

Wednesday, 08 October 2025 10:46

Togo Hosts International Conference on Youth Employability at University of Kara

The University of Kara convened over 700 researchers from 17 countries for its 6th International Scientific Conference, focusing on youth employability and university curriculum reform.
Togo’s Higher Education Minister called for African universities to adapt teaching models to local economic needs and promote scientific sovereignty.
The conference aims to produce actionable recommendations to align higher education with labor market demands and improve competitiveness for graduates.

Togo’s University of Kara opened the 6th International Scientific Conference on October 6, 2025, emphasizing youth employability and the adaptation of university programs to labor market needs. The event runs through October 10 and brings together over 700 researchers from 17 African and European countries.

The conference theme, “Today's and Tomorrow’s Professions: Sovereignty, Interdisciplinarity, and University Training Challenges,” frames discussions on aligning education with sustainable development and economic priorities.

Minister of Higher Education and Research Kanka-Malik Natchaba urged African universities to revise pedagogical models to better serve local economies. “University education must move beyond external orientation to address sustainable development challenges,” he said, stressing the importance of scientific sovereignty.

The opening keynote, focused on mathematics as a driver of innovation, reinforced the push to integrate science into educational and industrial policy.

University of Kara President Grace Prénam Hozou-Mouzou highlighted the conference’s role as a collaborative platform to anticipate labor market shifts. Delegates aim to develop concrete recommendations to improve the match between higher education and employment, enhancing the competitiveness of Togolese and African graduates.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.