In her opening address, the Director General of CESAG, Mrs. WOROU HOUNDEKON, paid a heartfelt tribute to the founding fathers of CESAG (established in 1979 and operational since 1985), recalling its creation under the auspices of CEAO and its transfer to the supervision of the BCEAO in 1995.
Institutional Support: A “very high level of consideration” was expressed toward Mr. Jean‑Claude Kassi Brou, Governor of the BCEAO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, for his “steadfast commitment,” which remains a pillar of the Centre’s stability. Tribute was also paid to the late Charles Konan Banny for his decisive role in preserving the institution.
Recognition to Senegal and WAEMU: The State of Senegal, host country for forty years, was thanked for its “continued support” and its “institutional goodwill.” The WAEMU Commission also received the Centre’s gratitude for its political support, which has strengthened CESAG’s role as the Union’s operational arm for human capital development.
Achievements and Outreach: The evolution of CESAG has been structured around a vision (training elites), a mandate (supporting integration), and an ambition (achieving international standards). Thanks to the LMD reforms, and membership in CAMES, EFMD, and AACSB, the Centre now welcomes more than 1,500 learners each year and relies on a network of 15,000 alumni across nearly 40 countries.
The Colloquium: Introspection and Forward‑Looking Vision for the Future
The 40th anniversary is marked by an international colloquium intended as a moment of introspection and projection. The chosen theme is “Professionalization and Higher Education: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects.”
The colloquium responds to a rapidly changing African context: demographic growth and the mass expansion of access to higher education are colliding with fast‑evolving labor markets (technological shifts and sustainability imperatives).
The central question is now: How can we train differently?
How can we ensure that academic pathways lead to truly deployable skills?
How can higher education become a genuine lever for economic sovereignty and enlightened governance?
Mornings: Dedicated to parallel sessions featuring scientific presentations organized around six major thematic axes, including the alignment between training and employment, the evolving role of universities, and institutional financing.
Afternoons: Devoted to major thematic panels and a high‑level closing roundtable, aimed at generating concrete recommendations in terms of reform, pedagogical innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Among the highlights, the inaugural lecture by Professor Jean‑Pierre HELFER on “From Knowledge to Action: Professionalizing African Higher Education in an Era of Global Transformations” will set the strategic framework for reflection.
