Held at the Grand National Theatre, the Dakar Job Dating Fair has established itself as one of the major events dedicated to employability and entrepreneurship in Senegal. Through panels, professional meetings, and direct exchanges with recruiters, the event brought together private sector stakeholders, investors, and project leaders around a common goal: to offer concrete opportunities to Senegalese youth.

Creating jobs through investment and innovation

Among the panelists, Tidiane Watt, founder of Solar Box and World Ventures, praised the initiative, recalling his own career path.

"I landed my first job at a job fair like this one," he says, highlighting the strategic importance of such networking spaces.

Committed to financing startups and developing electric mobility, the entrepreneur has a clear ambition: to make the electric vehicle industry a major driver of job creation. Solar Box already employs 55 people and plans significant recruitment with the expansion of its fleet to 1,000 electric motorcycles, which could generate 1,000 direct jobs. In the medium term, the company aims to establish a complete assembly plant, calling on the government to support this momentum with incentive-based industrial policies.

Training to make young people employable

While the human potential is undeniable, many challenges remain. For Mr. Watt, the key lies in vocational training and aligning education with market needs. Solar Box already collaborates with several Senegalese universities to recruit engineers and technicians, while also providing ongoing in-house training to strengthen the technical and professional skills of its young recruits.

"Young people are employable, we just need to give them opportunities," he insists, while regretting the brain drain to Europe due to a lack of local technical opportunities.

The social economy at the service of employment

Another prominent voice at the event was Maïmouna Ba, founder of WETI Senegal, a social and solidarity economy enterprise specializing in the creation of inclusive workplace childcare centers. For this social entrepreneur, the Dakar Job Dating event is first and foremost an advocacy platform.

It highlights the still under-exploited employment opportunities in the early childhood sector, while calling for increased professionalization.

"Senegal has a pool of young talent with strong soft skills, but technical training needs to be strengthened," she argues.

A space for encounters and opportunities

Beyond the discussions, the job fair facilitated concrete meetings between employers and candidates. A variety of profiles were identified, paving the way for future recruitment.

For many participants, the event also served as a catalyst for professional partnerships and innovative projects.

A strategic meeting for the future

By bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, experts, and young talent, the Dakar Job Dating Fair confirms its role as a catalyst at the heart of employment issues. At the crossroads of innovation, investment, and training, the initiative has established itself as a strategic lever for boosting employability and encouraging youth entrepreneurship in Senegal.