Africa's growing youth population and rapid urbanization have accelerated the demand for jobs and inclusive services.
As policymakers and business leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF), the focus quickly turned from core growth to the difficult question of inclusion.
With supply chains being re-engineered, artificial intelligence (AI) reshaping labor markets and demographic pressures rising, the debate at the WEF underlined a growing consensus: sustainable development now depends less on abstract reform narratives and more on the delivery of essential services like food, electricity, housing, health care and education, turning macroeconomic stability into live economic opportunity.
Speaking at the forum, Sanyade Okolie, Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Finance and Economy, argued that poverty reduction and economic inclusion can only be achieved through sustained job creation in food security, electricity and housing, which in turn depends on investment.
He reiterated that employment is the most important economic objective of the government.
He said, “If you are trying to reduce poverty, the only sustainable way to do it is to create jobs. And to create jobs, you have to attract investment, both locally and internationally, within a stable macroeconomic framework.”
He said that promoting domestic food production would have double benefits.
“Food security and agriculture are important,” he said. “They are multidimensional. They not only ensure that we have food on our plates, but they have been a big driver of inflation. If we can stimulate food production, that will help reduce inflation and create jobs,” Okolie said.
Jobs increasing in power sector
The power sector remains another key pillar of the government's social and economic intervention strategy, which has a direct impact on households and businesses, he said.
“We are trying to do a lot in the power sector,” Okolie said. “Businesses need electricity to ensure that they can increase productivity and create jobs. Individuals also need electricity for daily life.”
However, he said that unreliable power supply is hampering economic activity and household welfare, making reforms in the sector essential for broader prosperity.
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Jobs in housing and infrastructure
According to Okolie, the administration is focusing on prioritizing social and housing services that directly impact living standards, areas that are able to provide immediate relief to citizens while supporting long-term growth and jobs.
He pointed to ongoing investment in housing and infrastructure as part of efforts to improve quality of life and encourage employment.
“We are building houses, roads and other infrastructure,” he said, linking these investments to both social stability and economic opportunity.
Aging societies need health care jobs; Growing societies need education jobs
On the sidelines of the forum, WEF Senior Managing Director Saadia Zahidi said the emerging employment landscape extends beyond technology to sectors such as healthcare and education.
“This new economy is not just about AI. It is also shaped by geo-economic changes, energy transition, sustainability and demography,” he said. For example, aging societies require more health care. Growing societies need more education. These are part of the reshaping of drivers”.
However, he warned that the transition will not be seamless.
“A quarter of all jobs will undergo some form of churn, and overall that's a net positive,” he said. “A large number of jobs will be displaced and a large number of jobs will be created.”
“There is not a one-to-one match between those who lose their jobs and those who can move to new jobs. This will require massive reskilling and retraining, and many people will need to move into adjacent roles.”
Jobs in supply chain, business and AI
According to Borge Brende, President and Chief Executive of the World Economic Forum, global supply chains are undergoing a structural shift as governments and companies move from efficiency-driven models to resilience-focused strategies.
He said the world is shifting from “just in time” supply chains designed to reduce costs and inventory to “just in case” systems that prioritize security, redundancy and reliability amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
“Countries are strengthening supply chains and, in some cases, promoting trade with trusted partners,” Brende said.
Despite concerns about fragmentation, he stressed that global trade continues to expand.
“Business is still growing at about three percent,” Brende said. “We are doing more business this year than last year, which is important to remember.”
As well as changes in business patterns, Brende pointed to the rapid pace of investment in AI as a defining feature of the current economic cycle. He said global investment in AI reached nearly $1.5 trillion last year, with spending expected to remain at the same level in the near term.
“That level of investment continues,” he said, adding that AI and related technologies could provide significant productivity boosts.
