I&P Education et emploi

The Central Chaare-Tsedek University (UCC) is a university offering courses in law, economics, literature and humanities in Daloa, in west-central Côte d'Ivoire. This year, the university welcomed more than 137 students enrolled in 3 university faculties.

The entrepreneur

The university was founded by Franck Emmanuel Bleu in 2020.

With a Master's degree in Finance from the University of Bouaké, this entrepreneur worked as a financial engineer in SMEs in Côte d'Ivoire for 6 years before switching to teaching. He is a teacher-researcher in finance and risk management at private higher education institutions in the country and is also actively involved in several projects to create universities and grandes écoles. He has a solid experience and proven skills in the higher education sector. 

Partnership with I&P

UCC is supported by I&P through the education and employment component of I&P Acceleration in Sahel program.

The funding and support provided to UCC aims at :

• Fitting out and equipping classrooms adapted to e-learning courses
• Acquire equipment for a multimedia room
• Acquire a digital ERP solution Konosys and DOKENT for administrative management and e-learning courses
• Carry out a promotional/marketing campaign and improve its website

Supagro is a school based in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast, training in agriculture and management. The school was created to face the difficulties of recruitment in agriculture.

The entrepreneur

Supagro was created by Ange PETE, an entrepreneur in the agricultural field and started its activities in 2021.

Aged 40 and of Ivorian nationality, Ange PETE has more than 15 years of experience in France and in Ivory Coast both in banking (Deputy Financial Director of Groupama Bank in France) and in the startup environment (Country Head of Jumia Market and Commercial Director of Jumia Ivory Coast). He holds a Master of Science in Management (Entrepreneurship option) from HEC Paris and a DEA in Remote Sensing from the University of Cocody.

Partnership with I&P :

Supagro is supported by I&P through the education and employment component of  I&P Acceleration in Sahel.

The funding and support provided to Supagro aims at :

•  Fitting out and equipping dormitories, 3 classrooms and a computer room

Ivoire Beauty Academy (IBA) is a training center for the professions of cosmetics and well-being in Côte d'Ivoire.

Ivoire Beauty Academy delivers certificates of professional qualification (CQP) and certificates of professional aptitude (CAP) after an academic course of 9 months combining theory and practical courses. In two years, the school has trained fifty young girls between the ages of 16 and 30 who have dropped out of the school system or are looking for professional integration and/or retraining.

The entrepreneurs

IBA was founded in 2020 by two young Ivorian entrepreneurs who were convinced of the need to professionalize the training market for the cosmetics and wellness professions, a sector in which the majority of training is done through "on-the-job learning": 

• Abdoul Razak Ouattara: with a master's degree in Audit and Management Control and a BTS in Finance and Business Management, he had a career as an accountant in various accounting firms in Abidjan and in a training school 
• Carmen Lavri: this young woman has had various professional experiences in institutes in Accra and Abidjan.

Partnership with I&P

IBA is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel program dedicated to education and employment (IP2E).

The funding and support provided to IBA aims at :

•  Develop and equip the present site to reach a capacity of 60 learners
• Develop and equip a beauty institute  
• Open a second training site
• Support the company in the realization of a marketing campaign

GCUC is a private university founded in 2001 by Albert Acquah, a skilled entrepreneur. Based in Kumasi, the university is made up of a Faculty of Applied Sciences, a Faculty of Health Sciences, and a Business School.   

Through an innovative digitization strategy combined with high-quality teaching, GCUC has grown to be one of the leading universities in Ghana. With over 4,000 alumni, GCUC plays a key role in addressing the shortage of health workers in the country.   

The entrepreneur 

Albert Acquah holds degrees in social sciences (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), economics and international administration (Ohio University).

He worked for several years in investment consulting.  

Albert Acquah began his entrepreneurial adventure in 2001 when he founded the College of Information Technology and Management Systems, which later became Garden City University College. 

Partnership with I&P 

Through its I&P Education to Employment program, I&P has committed to GCUC to:   

• Develop a digitalization plan (e-learning platform, online courses, construction of a recording and production studio)  
• Support its decentralisation strategy, notably through the implementation of campuses in remote areas of the country and the supply computer equipment 
• Strengthen the employability rate of students and graduates through the jobs and internships center, coupled with the appropriate support 
• Implementing policies and practices to protect learners on campus 

Expected impacts

• Increasing the number of beneficiaries: GCUC's reinforced digitalisation will allow many young people to benefit from training in the healthcare field via online service.
• Promoting access to higher education in remote areas of Ghana by opening two new campuses (Akim Oda and Berekum).
• Increasing the employment prospects of young graduates.  

A company supported by the partneship between I&P and Mastercard Foundation

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. 

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms. 

Read more about the I&P Education to Employment program 

GCUC’s website 

MG Lab is a technical training center based in Côte d'Ivoire specialized in learning and capacity building in telecommunications and advanced technologies (fiber optics). The school provides short-term training (5 days to 6 months) targeting young graduates and professionals.

The entrepreneur

MG Lab was created in 2013 by Guy Monney, CEO of MG TELECOM & SERVICES, a company operating in the field of telecommunications since 2011 and represented in 8 African countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso, DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Guinea, Togo, Benin). After having noticed a need for training for individuals and companies, he decided to create MG Lab.

Partnership with I&P

MG Lab is supported by I&P through I&P Acceleration in Sahel program dedicated to education and employment (IP2E).

The funding and support MG Lab receives aims at : 

• The expansion of the company through the establishment of an annex in the town of Yopougon SIPOREX in Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). MGLab's ambition is to settle in Yopougon at the request of prospects and customers who find the current location of the center out of place in relation to their place of residence and/or workplace.
• The reinforcement of the car park by the acquisition of a 9-seater vehicle for the outings on site of the students (Ivory Coast) and of 2 vehicles of prospecting (Ivory Coast and Congo).

Senegal has several medical schools and faculties, well known in the sub-region. Among them is the University of Health Sciences of Dakar (USSD), a private institution created in 2016 by academics and members of the medical community eager to provide quality training to young aspiring health professionals. The university offers courses in the fields of medical sciences, pharmacology and dental sciences. USSD is driven by the values of excellence, responsibility and ethics. 

THE ENTREPRENEUR

A graduate in military medicine and an associate professor in parasitology-mycology, Oumar Ndir undertook the creation of the USSD shortly after retiring, eager to train skilled health professionals adapted to local needs. He is in charge of the educational provision, the administration, and the financial activities.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to USSD to:

  ⇒ Strengthen the quality of teaching through the acquisition of equipment for practical training and the upgrading of the library

⇒ Diversify its training offer by offering intermediate degrees, more accessible to low-income students.

⇒ Support the digitalization and the development of blending learning, but also to integrate telemedicine, a first in Senegal.

⇒ Improve the well-being of students on campus by improving the security system, equipping the health clinic and purchasing vaccines.

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Increase graduates’ employability through the development of an accessible training offer, in line with local needs.

⇒ Improve access to healthcare in rural areas through telemedicine.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent. The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more 

USSD

I&P Education to Employment program

Founded in 1999, OpenLab is a higher education institution offering online and in-class degree and certification courses in new technologies and digital skills. With a mission to combat youth unemployment by providing digital skills, OpenLabs has opened institutions in 5 locations in Ghana: Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Tamale, and Tema. By entering into strategic partnerships with renowned technology companies such as IBM, Google for Education, and Huawei, OpenLabs offers its students advanced training in line with the realities of the job market. With over 100,000 students trained, OpenLabs is fully involved in the growth of African tech.
 

THE ENTREPRENEUR

A proven entrepreneur, Dev Varyani began his career in the 1990s with a paper production company in Nigeria. Later, he diversified into health and agriculture. Then, wanting to offer quality education focused on innovation, impact, and employability, he founded the Eureka Africa Group. The group has four higher education institutions covering a variety of fields:

• Blue Crest University, which offers courses in communications, business, and fashion
• Academics City, which trains students in engineering, technology, and entrepreneurship
• Open Labs, a collection of training centers focusing on new technologies and digital technologies
• School Of Fashion And Design, a school specializing in African fashion and design

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P is committed to working alongside OpenLabs to:

⇒  Confirm its position as a reference institution by accelerating its digitalization, notably through the acquisition of IT equipment,

⇒  Implement policies and practices to protect learners on campus.

EXPECTED IMPACTS

⇒  To increase the accessibility of young people, women and vulnerable populations to quality training through the scholarship programme

⇒  Strengthen the employability of youth through education adapted to the needs of the local labour market.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a blended finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent.

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more

https://openlabs.edu.gh/

I&P Education to Employment program

Codetrain is a coding bootcamp school designed to provide aspiring software developers with the technical skills that will allow them to have a career in the software development industry. The founder, Richard Brandt, first thought about setting up a coding school when he had trouble finding interns with hands-on experience.

«I selected a group of students from various universities and a few high school graduates, and started teaching them how to code. The results were amazing, and one remarkable thing was that their friends kept asking if they could also join the training. That is when I knew that I was doing something that had high impact potential » - Richard Brandt (link)

The school offers two curricula: full stack web development and mobile app development. The program focuses on practical teaching and interactive learning. Codetrain opened its doors in 2017, in the cities of Accra and Kumasi and has since trained 500 students and has a 90% job placement rate.

A graduate in mathematics from Kwame Nkrumah University in Ghana, Richard Brandt began his career as a data analyst. His passion for entrepreneurship caught up with him so he spent two years training at the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST). He was taught practical skills in software development and business creation. His first excursion into the entrepreneurial world was for merchants looking to improve their conversion rates. Then, his passion led him to Chile, where he joined an incubator, and then to Germany. In 2017, willing to give the youth the tools to join the digital revolution and impact their communities, he founded Codetrain.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P

Through its I&P Education and Employment program, I&P has committed to Codetrain to:

⇒ Support the digitalization strategy through the development of an e-learning platform and the improvement of the video content offer,

⇒ Support the implementation of a scholarship program, especially for young women, and ensure sustainable funding,

⇒ Strengthen the employability rate of students and graduates by recruiting a professional in charge of relations with international and local companies to assist them in their search for internships and jobs.

EXPECTED IMPACTS 

⇒ Expand the accessibility of the training offer across Ghana through the creation of an e-learning platform.

⇒ Enable youth, women and vulnerable populations to access appropriate training through a more flexible scholarship system and payment terms. 60% of the scholarships would be reserved for women.

A COMPANY SUPPORTED BY THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN I&P AND MASTERCARD FOUNDATION

Since February 2021, I&P has partnered with Mastercard Foundation through its I&P Education to Employment initiative, a blended finance program aimed at improving access to relevant and quality education on the African continent.

The partnership between I&P Education to Employment and Mastercard Foundation specifically aims to support 30 education entrepreneurs in 3 target countries (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal) over 3 years. The partner companies receive funding and technical assistance to support them in their digital transformation, resilience, and growth strategy as well as in the implementation of social inclusion and employability measurement mechanisms.

Read more 

https://codetraingh.com

I&P Education to Employment program