ECOWAS WELCOMES NEW COHORT FOR 10TH YOUNG GRADUATES IMMERSION PROGRAMME By Raymond Enoch.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially received a new cohort of young professionals into the 10th edition of its Young Graduates Immersion Programme, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to youth inclusion and regional integration.
The 2026 intake was formally launched on August 26, 2025, through the programme’s dedicated digital platform, marking a significant milestone for the regional body. This year’s edition attracted an unprecedented 39,600 applications from across member states — a record figure that highlights the programme’s growing relevance and credibility among West African youth.
Launched in 2017, the Young Graduates Immersion Programme was designed to provide fresh graduates with hands-on experience within ECOWAS institutions and specialised agencies.
Participants are deployed across departments where they contribute to policy support, research, administration, development programming and regional coordination efforts.
Beyond professional exposure, the initiative serves as a bridge between academic training and institutional practice, giving young West Africans the opportunity to understand the workings of regional governance from the inside. Many past participants have gone on to build careers within public service, international organisations and the private sector, strengthening the pool of skilled professionals across the sub-region.
It is acknowledged that the overwhelming response recorded this year reflects both the trust young people place in the ECOWAS framework and the urgent demand for structured career pathways within the region.
As West Africa navigates complex economic and political transitions, the bloc’s decision to continue investing in youth capacity signals a forward-looking approach — one that recognises young people not merely as beneficiaries of policy, but as active drivers of integration and development.
With the 10th edition now underway, expectations are high that the new cohort will contribute fresh energy, ideas and commitment to the shared vision of a more integrated and prosperous West Africa.
