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This article was produced with the support of ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved a €50 million line of credit to Planet One Education Togo to strengthen technical and vocational education in the Togolese Republic. The facility, formalised at a signing ceremony held on 22 October 2025, marks another milestone in EBID’s strategy to foster sustainable growth across the ECOWAS sub-region by investing in human capital.
The new financing underscores the Bank’s conviction that skills development and education reform are indispensable foundations for inclusive growth and industrial transformation in West Africa. As economies across the region seek to diversify and reduce dependence on raw commodity exports, investments in technical training and professional capacity have become increasingly critical to ensuring that African youth are prepared for the jobs of the future.
Expanding access to technical and vocational training
Under the agreement, Planet One Education Togo will design, construct and equip six modern vocational and technical training centres in the municipalities of Tandjouaré, Danyi Akpéyémé, Kougnohou, Guérin-Kouka, Agoé-Nyivé and Tsévié. Each centre will include classrooms, science and technology laboratories, and practical workshops, providing a combined annual capacity of 3,481 trainee places. The facilities will also feature student residences and social amenities to support a well-rounded learning environment.
The project responds directly to the Togolese government’s development priorities, particularly the Togo 2025 Roadmap, which identifies education and training as a critical lever for achieving structural transformation and employment creation. By aligning its investment with national goals, EBID aims to ensure that the project delivers long-term social and economic dividends.
“Through this initiative, we are not only building infrastructure, but also creating opportunities,” said Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID. “This facility aligns with our strategic vision to equip Togolese youth with industry-relevant skills in preparation for the future. The quality of a nation’s education system directly shapes its industrial competitiveness and is key to economic performance.”
A catalytic investment for Togo’s industrial ambitions
The partnership between EBID and Planet One Education represents a model of public-private collaboration designed to accelerate workforce readiness. Togo, like many African economies, faces the dual challenge of a rapidly growing youth population and a mismatch between the skills graduates possess and those demanded by the labour market. Technical and vocational training is therefore viewed as a cornerstone of industrialisation policy and a pathway to job creation.
According to the World Bank, more than 70% of employment opportunities in West Africa are found in informal sectors where productivity remains low. By investing in technical education that focuses on applied skills—ranging from renewable energy technologies and construction to information and communications technology—the new centres are expected to bridge this gap and enhance local enterprise competitiveness.
“Human capital is the engine that drives every economy,” Dr Donkor added. “Our goal at EBID is to ensure that the youth of West Africa are not left behind in the global race for innovation and productivity. This facility is part of our broader effort to support education, energy, and infrastructure projects that build resilience and foster sustainable growth.”
Planet One’s commitment to sustainable delivery
For Planet One Education Togo, the EBID credit line represents a strong vote of confidence in its operational capacity and social mission. Mr Deepak Balaji, Managing Director of Planet One, expressed appreciation for the partnership and emphasised his company’s commitment to transparent and efficient use of funds.
“This partnership with EBID marks a significant milestone in our mission to advance vocational training in Togo,” he said. “We are committed to using these resources effectively so that Togolese enterprises benefit from a more skilled workforce, driving productivity and competitiveness.”
Planet One plans to integrate green building principles and digital learning technologies into the new training centres, ensuring that they meet international standards for sustainability and innovation. The facilities will also prioritise gender inclusion, providing equal access for women and girls to traditionally male-dominated technical fields.
EBID’s growing footprint in Togo and beyond
This new financing further consolidates EBID’s role as a strategic partner in Togo’s development, bringing the Bank’s total commitments in the country to approximately US$362 million. These investments span a broad range of sectors—including energy, transport, agriculture, and education—and reflect the Bank’s long-standing relationship with Togo as both a shareholder and a beneficiary nation.
Since its establishment, EBID has sought to promote regional integration and socio-economic transformation through targeted investments in infrastructure and human development. The Bank’s interventions have supported projects such as road rehabilitation, rural electrification, and SME financing across all 15 ECOWAS member states.
Dr Donkor highlighted that this latest initiative is part of EBID’s Human Capital Development Strategy, which prioritises education and vocational skills as the cornerstone of long-term competitiveness in the ECOWAS region. “By empowering our youth, we empower our economies,” he remarked. “Our investments in education are not charity—they are strategic economic decisions designed to create value and enhance productivity.”
Aligning with regional and continental goals
EBID’s investment in Togo also aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which calls for greater investment in education, science, and technology to drive Africa’s structural transformation. Furthermore, it supports the ECOWAS Vision 2050, which envisions a region of shared prosperity built on human capital, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
By strengthening vocational training capacity, EBID and Planet One are helping Togo position itself as a regional hub for skilled labour, capable of supporting industrial projects not only within the country but also across neighbouring markets. The initiative could thus play a pivotal role in enhancing regional value chains and facilitating trade within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
A vision for the next generation
Beyond its immediate economic benefits, the EBID–Planet One partnership carries a broader social message: that the prosperity of West Africa lies in the hands of its youth. With Africa’s population projected to double by 2050, the need for scalable, high-quality education systems has never been greater.
In this context, Togo’s investment in technical and vocational education represents a forward-looking response to the demands of the 21st-century economy. By equipping young people with practical skills in engineering, technology, and applied sciences, the country is laying the foundation for a workforce capable of sustaining industrial growth and innovation.
As Dr Donkor concluded, “Education is not just a tool for employment; it is a vehicle for transformation. EBID’s mission is to ensure that every investment we make contributes to the empowerment of our people and the prosperity of our region.”
