GRASAG president to join World Bank-backed Africa development conference in Italy

The World Bank Group has invited the President of the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), Richard Class-Peters, to participate in an international conference in Italy focused on skills development, job creation and Africa’s economic growth. Mr Class-Peters is expected to join the second edition of the Africa Growth and Opportunity – Research in Action (AGORA) conference, scheduled for October 26 to 27, 2026, in Palermo, Italy.

The invitation was extended by Nancy Lozano Gracia, Head of the World Bank Group’s Rome Center. The conference, held under the theme “Building Skills for Africa’s Home-Grown Development,” will bring together policymakers, researchers, think tanks, private-sector leaders and development partners to explore how research can inform policies that expand employment and economic opportunities across the continent.

Discussions will focus on the mismatch between the skills acquired through education and training and those required by employers, an issue that continues to affect graduate employment and workforce development across Africa. According to the World Bank, many businesses struggle to find workers with the technical, digital and management skills they need, while graduates face difficulties securing jobs that match their qualifications and competencies.

Mr Class-Peters’ participation could provide an opportunity for graduate students’ perspectives to feature in discussions on how African countries can better align tertiary education with labour-market demands. The conference will also examine ways to expand employment opportunities in sectors such as energy and agribusiness while preparing young people for changes in the workplace driven by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Focus on skills and job creation The World Bank says Africa’s working-age population is projected to increase by more than 450 million by 2040, placing greater urgency on efforts to create jobs and equip young people with relevant skills. Against this backdrop, AGORA seeks to bridge the gap between research, policymaking and implementation by bringing together stakeholders to identify practical approaches to Africa’s development challenges.

The discussions are expected to explore how governments and businesses can translate investments in education, skills training and economic development into productive employment. For Ghana, the conference could offer an opportunity to highlight challenges facing postgraduate students and young graduates, including the transition from university to employment and the need for stronger links between academic training and industry.

It could also provide opportunities for exchanges with policymakers, researchers and development partners on approaches to entrepreneurship, workforce development and job creation adopted in other African countries. The two-day conference will take place at the historic Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo, bringing together participants from across Africa and beyond.

Mr Class-Peters’ participation would place graduate representation within broader discussions about the future of work and the policies needed to ensure that Africa’s growing workforce can contribute to and benefit from the continent’s economic transformation.