Côte d’Ivoire: BNI Officially Launches the Talent Academy

On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the National Investment Bank (BNI) officially launched its Talent Academy during a ceremony held at the BNI Integrated Center in Cocody Les Ambassades, Abidjan. This initiative is part of the bank’s strategic vision to strengthen human capital, foster innovation, and promote excellence in support of national development.

The Talent Academy aims to enhance internal training and prepare the next generation of managerial leaders. According to Souleymane Traoré, Director of Human Capital at BNI, the initiative is built on three pillars: excellence, transformational leadership, and innovation through digitalization. The program includes two distinct components. The first, called "BNI Academy", targets current employees, offering them opportunities to acquire new skills and advance within the organization. The second, the "Elite Program", is intended for young graduates with zero to one year of experience, who will be integrated into the bank's incubation center for training and development.

Dr. Philippe N’dri, Secretary General of the Professional Training Development Fund (FDFP), praised the initiative. He emphasized that the academy would serve as a bridge between education and employment, providing relevant skills to meet performance challenges while creating real and lasting job opportunities for youth. He added that the program aims to close technical and soft skills gaps, reinforce the bank’s organizational culture, and improve customer relations.

Dioulo née Yangni-Angaté, a branch manager and one of the 40 staff members in the first cohort, spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries. She described the program as more than just a training opportunity, calling it a transformational experience that helped them refine their skills and better envision their professional futures.

Fatoumata Koné, Deputy CEO for Operations, reiterated the goals of the Talent Academy. She stated that BNI is committed to building a strong pool of operational talent, encouraging career development through skills enhancement, and improving the bank’s employer brand by engaging in youth-led innovation. She addressed the young participants directly, encouraging them to seize this opportunity as a platform for growth and a way to contribute meaningfully to the bank and the country.

Diakité Coty Fatouma, née Kanaté, Board Member and Chair of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee, underscored the institutional importance of the initiative. She emphasized that the Talent Academy is not just a training project but a strategic move to invest in people, the cornerstone of sustainable growth. She stated that the academy would become the foundation for grooming future leaders and developing critical expertise to make BNI a leading reference in the banking sector.

She concluded by officially opening the Talent Academy, expressing her hope that it would serve as a catalyst for both individual and collective success.

The event also featured project presentations by groups of young talents from the Elite Program. Their innovative proposals included "BNI Green Project", "My BNI Business Booster – BNI Rurales", and "BNI Agri-Secu".

This launch affirms BNI’s ambition to be not only a high-performing and competitive financial institution, but also a key player in the fields of education, innovation, and youth development in Côte d’Ivoire.