Back in Benin on 20 December 2021 after two years of training in digital transformation, e-business and information systems at the Multinational Higher School of Telecommunications (ESMT), a delegation of former Beninese scholarship holders led by their representative, Mr Félicien LOKOSSOU, was received by the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU, and her colleague Mrs Eléonore YAYI LADEKAN, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Back in Benin on 20 December 2021 after two years of training in digital transformation, e-business and information systems at the Multinational Higher School of Telecommunications (ESMT), a delegation of former Beninese scholarship holders led by their representative, Mr Félicien LOKOSSOU, was received by the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU, and her colleague Mrs Eléonore YAYI LADEKAN, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The meeting, held in the conference room of the Office of the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, gave these young graduates an opportunity to report to the Beninese authorities on their period of study and professional training at this sub-regional school headquartered in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
On the agenda:
- A review of the two years of training and work placements completed at ESMT Dakar;
- Making digital skills available to serve Benin (public and private sectors);
- Prospects for successful entry into the job market in Benin
The meeting was also an opportunity for the guests to share feedback on the training they received at ESMT, student life and the particular difficulties encountered during their studies, and to submit their requests.
At the start of the session, after a round of introductions of all the stakeholders, Mr Félicien LOKOSSOU, on behalf of his peers, thanked the Government of His Excellency President Patrice TALON for the opportunity given to the delegation to study at a leading multinational school, whose Council of Ministers Benin has chaired since the 6th session of the Council of Ministers held in Niamey on 28 January 2022. In turn, the members of the delegation then shared their student experiences with the Ministers and set out the exceptional difficulties they had encountered. They said that, overall, they were satisfied and felt listened to and supported by the teams of the two ministries.
“You are well organised,” said a pleased Mrs Eléonore YAYI LADEKAN, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, after the presentations by the members of the delegation. She then gave them advice and recommendations for a successful integration. Among her exhortations: sitting the competitive examinations and entrance tests for the public administration as soon as opportunities arise, and keeping a regular lookout for professional opportunities.
Following her colleague from Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation congratulated these ambassadors of Benin at ESMT. “You have done the country proud through your dedication,” she told them, before inviting them to keep the door open for their successors through their successful integration in Benin. To this end, Mrs Aurelie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU advised the former Beninese ESMT scholarship holders to:
- Look out for and apply for high value-added job opportunities in the public and private sectors;
- Favour sustainable jobs while focusing on employers’ needs;
- Prepare properly for job interviews
Finally, the Ministers assured the members of the delegation of former ESMT scholarship holders that they and their staff would be available whenever they sought their support.
Fifteen (15) Beninese scholarship holders funded by the Government of the Republic of Benin are currently being trained at ESMT Dakar in telecommunications and multimedia, information systems security engineering, digital transformation management, and data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) engineering, as part of the 2022 cohort.