As the second edition of the National Employment and Recruitment Fair approaches, the Minister of Youth Promotion, Professional Integration, and Civic Service, Mamadou Touré, is launching a media offensive. This Monday, May 11, 2026, he met with media executives at his office to forge a strategic partnership before the event, scheduled to take place from May 18 to 21 at the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan-Treichville .

A wealth of opportunities: 81,000 jobs to be seized

The stakes for this 2026 edition are enormous. The minister unveiled ambitious figures intended to provide concrete solutions to youth unemployment:

1. 31,000 direct jobs (permanent and fixed-term contracts).
2. 50,000 immersion internships (holiday jobs).
3. 3 billion FCFA mobilized for the financing of entrepreneurial projects.

"The idea is to bring together the entire employment ecosystem. A young person coming to the Palace of Culture could leave with a funding check for their project, because all the players will be mobilized on site," Mamadou Touré emphasized.

More than a fair, a national debate

Beyond mere media coverage, the minister wants the press to become an agent of change by shifting its editorial focus towards issues of social inclusion. The goal is to spark a major national debate on entrepreneurship and salaried employment, involving both the government and private sector stakeholders.

To facilitate this work, the ministry has committed to providing newsrooms with all the necessary resources so that each media outlet can cover the information from its own perspective (economic, social or practical).

New features of the 2026 edition

After a first edition that attracted 50,000 participants, this year marks a significant increase in scale:

1. Guest country of honour: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
2. Enhanced content: Thematic panels, direct meetings with the Youth Employment Agency and international recruitment firms.

Positive media reception

The press welcomed this open approach. While acknowledging certain logistical constraints, they reaffirmed their willingness to support this vision and make the fair a popular and social success.

Note that this meeting precedes another key step in government communication: the Minister's participation, starting tomorrow, in the first issue of the "AIP's major events" forum, at the Palace of Culture.