The opening ceremony was attended by several members of the Nigerien government, including the ministers of Telecommunications, Trade, and Youth and Sports, as well as representatives of the High Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (HAPDP) and the Ministry of Communication.
In his speech, the Minister of Telecommunications, Mr Adji Ali Salatou, emphasised: "Digital technology is no longer an option, it is a necessity. Our young people must be at the heart of this transformation. Artificial intelligence, when properly mastered, can become a powerful lever for inclusion and development. "The Director General of ESCEP, Mr Abdoulaye Mohamed, emphasised the importance of training: "We have a responsibility to prepare our young people for the jobs of tomorrow. ESCEP is committed to integrating digital skills into all its courses to meet the needs of the market."
The representative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) said: "We are impressed by the creativity and determination of young people. These projects are proof that investing in digital skills is paying off."
All the authorities present unanimously praised Swisscontact's commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of innovative projects that have a concrete impact on young Nigeriens. Their work is seen as a catalyst for sustainable change in the country's educational and entrepreneurial landscape.
The event offered a series of dynamic and interactive activities, including thematic panels on the future of digital skills, practical workshops on generative artificial intelligence, robotics, soft skills and digital tools, as well as technology demonstrations of projects developed by young beneficiaries. The skills village, a true hub of innovation, allowed participants to discover concrete solutions designed locally, ranging from school management platforms to digital recruitment applications.
In the afternoon, a delegation from SDC, led by H.E. Patrick Egloff, Swiss Ambassador to Niger, honoured the event with their presence. The ambassador was very engaged and took the time to visit each stand, talking directly with the young project leaders. He praised their creativity, professionalism and ability to come up with solutions tailored to local realities. He repeatedly expressed his pride in seeing the concrete results of the programmes supported by SDC, emphasising that "these young people embody the future of Niger and demonstrate that investing in digital skills is a winning bet."
With more than 234 young people trained through GWANI, 74 through PEEJ and 2,500 beneficiaries of PROMEL, this day illustrated the potential of digital technology to transform the lives of young Nigeriens. To ensure the sustainability of this momentum, it is essential to strengthen and expand partnerships between public institutions and the private sector. Close collaboration will enable training programmes to be adapted to the emerging needs of the labour market, thereby ensuring successful professional integration for young people.
The day was also celebrated simultaneously in Maradi and Dosso, where similar events brought together young people, local authorities and stakeholders to discuss digital technology and artificial intelligence. These celebrations reinforced the impact of the event at the national level.