The formal commencement ceremony for the 46th graduating class enrolled in the degree course at the West African Center for Banking Studies and Training (COFEB) was held on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. GMT, in Auditorium A of the Center.

The ceremony was presided over by Norbert Toé, Deputy Governor of the BCEAO.

In addition to members of the Government, the Directors General, the Executive Director, Advisors to the Directors General, the Secretary General, and Central Services Directors, the ceremony was also attended by COFEB’s facilitators.

In his opening remarks, the General Manager of COFEB, Patrick Kodjo, expressed his gratitude to the Deputy Governor for graciously attending the event despite his demanding schedule. He also extended his appreciation to the Bank’s Authorities and to all of the participants for their presence and support.

Mr. Kodjo stated that the graduating class commenced training on November 2, 2023, with refresher courses. He added that the COFEB Master’s program spanned twelve months, comprising nine months of theory classes followed by three months of practical training, at the end of which the auditors presented their final dissertations.

Describing the main characteristics of the graduating class, he noted that it was made up of thirty-one auditors, including ten women, the highest proportion of women of any graduating class thus far.

Mr. Kodjo added that COFEB was pursuing its efforts to establish itself as a world-class center. Accordingly, he mentioned certain ongoing projects, including the implementation of a quality assurance framework, the revision of the degree program, and its accreditation in collaboration with CAMES, among others.

The Deputy Governor took the floor to welcome the participants and auditors. He commended them on successfully passing the challenging COFEB entrance examination.

He also expressed his satisfaction with the number of successful candidates in this year’s graduating class, which was also an indicator of the enthusiasm generated by the degree course. In this regard, Deputy Governor Toé urged them to hold high the torch of excellence so dearly valued by our Central Bank.

He urged all of the participants to embrace the core values of the BCEAO—solidarity, professionalism, responsibility, loyalty, and integrity—with the ultimate goal of becoming skilled executives capable of tackling the challenges faced by the administrations of their respective countries.

In conclusion, he extended his gratitude and congratulations to the organizers of the COFEB training programs for their dedication to the Center’s educational initiatives. He urged them to maintain the same level of commitment in guiding and supporting the 46th graduating class.