The national final of TerangaSkills, Senegal's first national competition for technical trades, was officially launched this Thursday at the Senegal International Trade Centre (CICES) in Dakar.

 

The major event, which took place from June 19 to 20, brought together nearly 5,000 young people, including 480 finalists from the 14 regions of Senegal, who competed in 24 trades in competition and 10 trades in demonstration, all with the same ambition.

 

The initiative is also part of a dynamic of modernizing vocational training, strengthening partnerships with the private sector and continuously improving qualification standards.

 

Led by the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training and supported by the European Union through the FIT initiative, as well as by partners such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, TerangaSkills is part of the dynamic of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026 and in the Senegal 2050 vision.

 

The objective is to promote technical excellence, to meet market needs with the private sector, and to position Senegal in the WorldSkills network.

 

Presiding over the opening ceremony, the Minister of Employment and Vocational and Technical Training, Idrissa Samb, emphasized the strategic importance of vocational training for the country's future. "No nation has ever succeeded in its economic transformation without investing in skills. No country can build its industrial, agricultural, or technological sovereignty without skilled, creative, and innovative women and men," the Minister declared to the participants.

 

For the minister, in the face of technological changes and the rise of artificial intelligence, human capital remains the greatest asset of nations. "A nation's greatest asset is neither its mineral resources nor its infrastructure, but its human capital. This Senegalese asset is right here. It is embodied by these young competitors from all regions of the country."

 

He also praised the commitment of the young competitors, whom he described as "champions of know-how," who came to demonstrate their technical mastery, creativity, and ability to meet the challenges of the modern world.

 

Idrissa Samb stated that TerangaSkills goes beyond a simple competition. “It is a celebration of merit, hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Vocational training is not a fallback option; it is a path to excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” he affirmed. “The true champion is not just the one who stands on the top step of the podium. The true champion is the one who refuses to give up,” he added. He also reiterated Senegal’s ambition to fully integrate into the international WorldSkills network and strengthen its position among Africa’s leading countries in technical skills development.

 

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Vocational and Technical Training Financing Fund (3FPT), Babo Amadou Ba, praised the historic holding of this first national edition. "Today, we are writing a new chapter in the history of vocational and technical training in Senegal. For the first time, our country is organizing a competition of this scale dedicated to trades on a national scale," he declared.

 

The Director General of 3FPT reiterated that this initiative aims to enhance the appeal of vocational training, promote promising careers, and improve youth employability. He also highlighted the actions already undertaken within the framework of Dakar 2026, notably the training of hundreds of young people in several strategic technical fields.

 

In a context where over 64% of the Senegalese population is under 35 and the median age is 19, the authorities consider vocational training a key driver of economic and social transformation. "The demographic dividend is not automatic. It is built through education, training, and skills development," Babo Amadou Ba emphasized.

 

He also called on the young people to be "dignified, upright, and to uphold the values of work, sharing, and enjoyment." "Just like athletes who aren't afraid to win gold, you, dear competitors, are athletes of skill and technique," Mr. Ba told the finalists.

 

According to him, TerangaSkills aims to be a major annual event, capable of identifying the country's best talent, facilitating their professional integration, and meeting the growing needs of the labor market. Beyond the competition, TerangaSkills, which aims to train 700,000 technicians by 2029, serves as a tool for implementing the objectives set by the Senegalese government.

 

For three days, Dakar becomes the Senegalese capital of trades, innovation and technical excellence, highlighting a youth determined to build the future of the country through know-how and competence.