ESSEC and Bank of Africa Launch BOA Excellence
ESSEC Business School – Africa Campus and BANK OF AFRICA Join Forces to Facilitate Access to Quality Education for Young African Talents in Rabat
Through the "BOA EXCELLENCE" program, the two institutions aim to create a funding scheme for deserving high school graduates from six African countries, with the inaugural intake scheduled for September 2027.
A Partnership for Equal Opportunities
The agreement signed between ESSEC Business School – Africa Campus and BANK OF AFRICA aims to remove financial barriers that may prevent promising young Africans from accessing high-quality international higher education.
The "BOA EXCELLENCE" program will initially target high school graduates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Candidates will be identified in high school and selected based on their academic performance, emphasizing merit and equal opportunity.
Particular attention will be given to students who demonstrate excellent results but whose families lack the financial resources to afford private schooling. Candidates from public high schools will be given priority.
A First Cohort Expected in September 2027
The program plans to start with an inaugural cohort of 12 students in September 2027, with two beneficiaries from each participating country.
Three successive cohorts are scheduled, allowing for a maximum total of 36 students throughout the program’s deployment. The selected beneficiaries will join the International Bachelor Program in Business Administration (IPBA) at ESSEC Business School – Africa Campus in Rabat.
This program aims to provide high-potential young Africans the opportunity to pursue a rigorous academic path while minimizing financial constraints that could hinder their access to such training.
BANK OF AFRICA Covers Educational Expenses
The selected funding model is based on a mutual commitment between the students and the partner institutions. Beneficiaries will need to demonstrate attendance and maintain good academic performance, while the program offers financial support throughout their studies.
According to the announced terms, students will not incur any fees during their studies. Tuition fees will be covered by a student loan provided by BANK OF AFRICA, which will also take care of the loan’s interest during the program duration, as well as living expenses for the beneficiaries.
The financing may cover up to three years of education. This mechanism aims to allow selected students to focus on their academic journey without the burden of educational and living expenses serving as a significant obstacle.
ESSEC Manages Admissions and Student Support
On its part, ESSEC Business School – Africa Campus will be responsible for the academic selection of candidates, their support, and tracking their progress throughout the program.
The institution also plans to facilitate the beneficiaries’ access to housing at its Rabat campus, in accordance with the terms outlined in the partnership agreement.
The collaboration between ESSEC’s educational expertise and BANK OF AFRICA’s financial support forms the foundation of this program, which seeks to align the demands of international education with the needs of young talents from resource-limited backgrounds.
An Investment in African Talent
With "BOA EXCELLENCE," ESSEC Business School – Africa Campus and BANK OF AFRICA demonstrate a shared ambition: to contribute to the development of African skills and broaden access to quality education.
By targeting deserving students from six countries and providing financing that covers both tuition and living expenses, the program aims to promote equality of opportunity and support the training of a new generation of African professionals.
The first intake, set for September 2027, will mark the initial phase of this initiative, which is expected to extend over three successive cohorts.
