Abidjan: First HEC Paris Gala for Central and Western Africa

On Saturday January 25, the first HEC Paris Gala on the African continent was held in Abidjan. On this occasion, François Collin, International Director of HEC Paris, thanked the community of HEC Paris graduates from Côte d’Ivoire, West, and Central Africa for their commitment and their loyalty to the school and commended their success in African economies.

© Repat Agency

The large HEC Paris delegation included the Director of Global Initiative Projects, Armelle Dufour, the Director of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Russia, Gabriella Mazzini, and the Head of Francophone Press, Sophie Garnichat. Arthur Haimovici represented the HEC Alumni Paris Association. Daouda Coulibaly, President of the Alumni of Côte d'Ivoire and Alexis John-Ahyee, Director of the Office for West and Central Africa, were also present.

This prestigious event was a great success and brought together more than 170 alumni of the school, from Côte d'Ivoire, but also from Senegal, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon and Gabon.

Daouda Coulibaly, President of the Côte d’Ivoire Alumni Chapter, said this of the occasion: “The Abidjan chapter is proud to have organized this major event for the entire HEC Paris community on the continent. It helps to break down barriers and create bridges between West Africa and Central Africa."

The Côte d’Ivoire Alumni chapter has more than 200 members. It has been chaired for ten years by Daouda Coulibaly (graduated in 1996), Director General of SIB, which federates and regularly brings together alumni for professional, festive or promotional events. Some events include the HEC Paris Day that presents the programs on offer to young Ivoirians. Another is the CEO Talks and thematic master classes organized with the HEC Paris Office in Abidjan, all of which have been successful.

“Abidjan is a hub for Francophone Africa. The opportunity to exchange ideas and best practice in a friendly environment allowed all the alumni present to appreciate the power of the HEC Paris network and brand” said Alexis John-Ahyee, Director of the West and Central Africa Office at HEC Paris.

HEC Paris has trained more than 10,000 Ivoirians over the past five years (all programs combined) who now occupy positions of responsibility in the country. The opening of the office increases training delivered on site tenfold.

The representative of the HEC Paris Alumni Association, Arthur Haimovici, revealed that an investment fund of 30 million euros will be set up to help African start-ups in the development of their businesses.