CASE STUDY

Reshaping a National Legacy: ESCA Business School

The Challenge: A 50-Year Legacy at Risk

Founded in 1975 at the initiative of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the École Supérieure de Commerce d'Abidjan (ESCA) had produced over 1,000 graduates over five decades – including ministers, corporate leaders, and senior executives who shaped the Ivorian economy. Yet this flagship institution had been progressively stripped of its substance:

1996: ESCA became a simple "track" within the INP-HB, losing its autonomy and the name "ESCA" was reduced to a simple acronym, its meaning diluted
2023: A pedagogical reform altered its DNA

The alumni knew something had to be done. The 50th anniversary was their moment.

Turning Alumni Aspirations into Action

MORIM was commissioned by the Scientific Committee of ESCA's Golden Jubilee, representing the alumni association, to translate a shared vision for the future of ESCA (École Supérieure de Commerce d'Abidjan) into a structured, credible and actionable transformation programme. Working in close partnership with the Committee, MORIM adopted a phased approach to design and deliver the project:

Phase 0 – Structuring (January – April 2026)

Over a four-month period, MORIM conducted a comprehensive strategic structuring phase to establish the foundations for ESCA’s transformation. This phase focused on understanding institutional challenges, defining viable strategic pathways, and aligning key stakeholders around a shared vision.

Key activities included:

Conducting an in-depth diagnostic assessment of ESCA’s institutional vulnerabilities, operational challenges, and strategic positioning.
Producing the “Urgency Report – ESCA at a Crossroads”, highlighting critical issues, risks, and transformation priorities.
Developing preliminary academic, financial, governance, and institutional models to support ESCA’s future sustainability and growth.
Reviewing relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, including applicable decrees and institutional mandates, to identify the most appropriate pathway toward the strategic objectives.
Engaging with and securing alignment from the ESCA Alumni community on the proposed strategic directions and transformation roadmap.
Preparing a comprehensive strategic presentation dossier for the Director General of Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
Preparing a high-level presentation dossier for the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, outlining the strategic vision, proposed transformation model, and expected national impact.

Phase 1 – Strategic Advocacy (May – June 2026)

MORIM supported the alumni in their advocacy before key decision-makers:

Director General of Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny: Secured the principle agreement (May 2026)

Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research: Secured official government backing (June 2026)

Golden Jubilee of ESCA (June 11-12, 2026): Enabled a historic public announcement

Ministre Diawara MORIM ESCA Business School Cinquantenaire

The Outcome: A Historic Advocacy Victory

On June 12, 2026, during the closing ceremony of ESCA's 50th anniversary celebrations, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Adama Diawara, officially committed the State to the creation of ESCA Business School.

"I am fully committed to this project. Côte d'Ivoire will reclaim its place as a hub of educational excellence that it should never have lost. A quality business school here will attract students from across the sub-region. This is why I support this project with both hands."

– Professor Adama Diawara
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Key Commitments Secured

Bilingual Programme Excellence
Implementation of an English-French bilingual academic model aligned with UK higher education standards (FHEQ Level 7) and designed to position ESCA Business School for future international accreditation pathways, including Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, EFMD Quality Improvement System, and Association of MBAs.

State Scholarships for Excellence
Creation of a merit-based scholarship framework through INP-HB, supported by the State, to ensure that academic excellence and leadership potential remain the primary criteria for admission, regardless of students’ financial backgrounds.

Regional Education Hub Positioning
Repositioning ESCA Business School and Côte d’Ivoire as a leading higher education hub in West Africa, attracting high-potential students, executives, and academic partnerships from across the region and beyond.

The Role of Alumni

The transformation of ESCA Business School has been driven by the vision, commitment and leadership of its alumni. Rather than remaining passive observers, alumni became the catalyst for change, recognising the strategic importance of restoring ESCA's position as a leading business school in Africa.

To lead this ambition, the alumni established a Scientific Committee and a dedicated Executive Directorate to oversee the transformation programme, coordinate stakeholders and translate their shared vision into concrete action. Under the leadership of the President of the Golden Jubilee Organising Committee, the alumni have been instrumental in defining the strategic direction of the project, building institutional partnerships and ensuring that ESCA's transformation is both ambitious and sustainable.

Their leadership demonstrates the vital role that engaged alumni can play in strengthening institutions, preserving their legacy and shaping their future.

"Our ambition has been to be worthy of the 50 years past, but above all, useful for the 50 years to come."

– Emmanuel Essis
Alumnus (Class of 1983)
Former Minister and President of Organising Committee of the Golden Jubilee

Ministre Essis Emmanuel MORIM ESCA Business School Cinquantenaire

Ministre Tierry Tanoh MORIM ESCA Business School Cinquantenaire

"Our duty is not to make ESCA a copy of Harvard or LSE, but to make ESCA what these great universities are at home: a lever of sovereignty, a talent magnet, an ambassador of our nation."

– Thierry Tanoh
Alumnus (Class of 1985)
Former Minister of Petroleum, Energy, and Renewable Energy

CGECI and NSIA: The private sector mobilised alongside the alumni, signing key partnership agreements during the Cinquantenaire.

"There is no great economic power without great schools."

– Jean Kacou Diagou
President of NSIA Group

Jean Diagou MORIM ESCA Business School Cinquantenaire

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