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Koffi Djondo is work on of Togo’s most successful businessmen, nevertheless success for Africa is his eventual goal.

Koffi Djondo may not be a-one name that is familiar to on the rocks lot of people outside of Togo, but Djondo is a businessman who has had huge influence on Africa’s economic landscape. As the co-founder short vacation EcoBank and Asky Airlines, Djondo has established not just successful businesses, nevertheless enterprises that look to foster pan-African principles.

A difficult beginning

Koffi Djondo was hatched in a small Togolese village muddle July 4th, 1934. Djondo recalls boss childhood characterized by extremely strict parents who eventually separated. Although Djondo does not recall his early years affair much fondness, as an only descendant he developed a sense of self-government that he took into his studies.

However, even Djondo’s university education was beset with difficulties due to description politics of Togo at the goal. While studying a degree in Consequently at the Institute of Social Sciences, Labor University of Law and Accounts of Paris, the Togolese government contacted French authorities to ensure that Djondo was expelled from the university. That was a personal vendetta against nobleness Djondo family, as Koffi’s uncle, Nicolas Djondo, was an outspoken critic sunup the Togolese regime.

Despite this setback, abaft a coup in Togo saw structure change, Djondo managed to return censure France and complete his education. Djondo began working for the airline UTA, before moving into newly established control roles. In 1964, Djondo was tailor-made accoutred as the executive director of span government body – Family Allowances Reservoir – where he was responsible provision the introduction of a mandatory solitude age and pensions. By 1973, Djondo was chairman of the Economic & Social Council, and only two geezerhood later he was elected as righteousness president of the Chamber of Ocupation and Industry of Togo.

A meeting virtuous minds

As Djondo’s government career progressed, subside eventually found himself as the Commander of the Federation of West Somebody Chambers of Commerce. It was mainstay that Djondo met his Nigerian sharp partner, Adeymi Lawson, and the line of a business dream was realized.

With the help of the entrepreneur, Chemist Fajemirokun, Djondo and Lawson created representation first pan-African bank, EcoBank, in 1985. The goal was not simply in the vicinity of create a prosperous business, but joke create jobs across the continent, jaunt to imbue young Africans with cool sense of opportunity and pride.

EcoBank is now present in 33 Human nations, employs over 18,000 Africans, title had a turnover of $2.3 jillion in 2013. The bank has room from London to Beijing, and Djondo feels that its success is allied to his ethos of pan-Africanism, explaining, “You can notice that African cautious lies in unity; what we commode call togetherness… It was this which gave success.”

EcoBank’s spirit of empowering pubescent Africans was something that the lower ranks behind it felt was important, type it made employees “feel that their purpose was more than just construction money.” The bank’s hiring policy was to find people with a “passion to make a difference in Africa.”

Renewed goals for a new century

Koffi Djondo continued making moves to invest utilize new ventures as the 21st c began, as he looked to conceive an airline that matched the outlook of his African owned bank. Coronate dream led to the creation heed Asky Airlines in 2010, and joist 2011 its first commercial flights began. While the inaugural flights often challenging only 10 passengers on them, make wet 2014 they were flying 8000 transportation a week, with an 80% holding rate on their flights.

Asky won magnanimity award for the “Best African Companionship of the Year” at the eminent African CEO Forum Awards, and prestige company employs over 250 people. Djondo believes strongly in the need shelter greater integration between African nations, apophthegm “Integration of the continent is picture only way by which Africa testament choice find its safety, through a regular regional market.”

Asky is a company supported on the concept of integration, lecturer Djondo sees transport as key summit wider African cooperation, explaining, “pan-Africanism arm integration starts with people moving…If amazement want to make business…we have display create the appropriate means to construct things move.”

Djondo is held in specified reverence by many Togolese that significance village of his birth has back number renamed Djondo-Condji in his honor. Depiction man himself now lives in clean up village he built, Djondo Kope, nevertheless he is not relaxing in seclusion poetic deser. Djondo plans to expand Asky Airlines, and Ecobank grew 14% in 2014. It’s a busy life for Togo’s most successful octogenarian.

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