The End of the Imani Mindset and the Beginning of Greatness in Every Grenadian
Grenada is entering a new phase of national development, focusing on economic resilience, modern skills, and opportunities for young people through the implementation of the Centres of Excellence and the Youth Empowerment Agency. This shift marks a clear break from fragmented, short-term training programmes such as Imani and moves the country toward a strong, coordinated system of skills development. The goal is not just to prepare people for jobs, but to build leaders, innovators, and globally competitive citizens.
For many years, programmes like Imani provided basic training and temporary relief from unemployment. While well-intentioned, these efforts were never designed to address Grenada’s deeper structural challenges. As Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has noted, today’s global economy demands advanced skills, adaptability, and innovation. Meeting this reality requires more than short-term programmes—it requires long-term institutions that create lasting value. This is a moment to change how we view youth, not as beneficiaries of programmes, but as drivers of national growth and transformation.
At the centre of this new approach is the Youth Empowerment Agency, designed to bring clarity, coordination, and purpose to youth development. Instead of scattered initiatives, the Agency will align education, skills training, entrepreneurship, and leadership development under one national vision. This ensures that young Grenadians are not only trained but are deliberately prepared to contribute to economic growth, innovation, and community leadership.
Working alongside this effort, the Centres of Excellence will serve as a key pillar of Grenada’s transformation agenda. These centres will focus on high-impact sectors that directly support national development and long-term sustainability. Guided by the Investment Advisory Council co-chaired by Aliko Dangote and Dominic Barton, the programme emphasizes practical, results-driven training that responds to both local priorities and global market needs.
The Centres of Excellence will target strategic areas critical to Grenada’s future, including digital transformation, sustainable energy, agribusiness, advanced manufacturing, and the blue economy. By building specialised expertise in these fields, Grenada aims to increase productivity, encourage innovation, and strengthen its position in regional and international markets.
Key focus areas include:
- Cybersecurity and Digital Innovation: AI, software development, coding, and data science
- Oil, Gas and Sustainable Energy: Skills for energy transition and offshore readiness
- Agritech and Food Processing: Smart farming and value-added food production
- Hospitality and the Blue Economy: Marine skills and sustainable tourism
- Furniture and Industrial Design: Craftsmanship and export-ready manufacturing
By moving from the Imani model to a structured network of Centres of Excellence, Grenada is doing more than upgrading its workforce—it is reshaping its development path. This approach supports a diversified economy, attracts investment, promotes export-ready industries, and encourages entrepreneurship.
This bold step signals a new national direction—one built on skills, strong institutions, and empowered people. It reflects a clear commitment to unlocking the potential of Grenadians and creating sustainable prosperity for generations to come.
