As President of the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI), I am always driven by the conviction that mastering strategic intelligence and influence diplomacy is essential for the development of our continent. It is with this mission in mind that I recently had the honour of leading a series of high-level training sessions in Abidjan.
From 4 to 5 August 2025, we reached an important milestone by certifying 70 executives and leaders from Ivorian civil society in influence diplomacy. This event was not a simple seminar but the culmination of a comprehensive programme launched in November 2024, thanks to the vision of Mr Salomon N’Dri, President of FEDEV, and Reverend Professor David Silué, Executive Secretary of FECI. Our objective was clear: to equip these leaders with the means to influence public decision-making, a crucial issue in the pre-electoral context but also far beyond.
A Training Journey for Tomorrow’s Leaders
This session on influence diplomacy, the fourth in our series, built on the foundations we established together. We began with geostrategy and augmented collective intelligence, then explored how to influence public decision-making in Africa. The third stage focused on managing intercultural risks, an essential element for operating effectively in a diverse environment.
My team and I designed these modules to be directly applicable and relevant. These trainings, like the ten others that the ACCI has offered over the past decade—from strategic intelligence to financial investigations—reflect our expertise and understanding of the unique challenges Africa faces.
A Decade of Trust and Partnership
Celebrating our tenth anniversary fills me with particular pride for the path we have travelled. Over one decade, we have trained a thousand leaders across a dozen countries, from the Presidency of the Republic of Togo to companies such as Marsa Maroc and Afriland First Bank. This diverse client base, whether public, private, or associative, demonstrates the trust they place in us and the relevance of our approach.
The recent recognition from FECI, which awarded me a certificate for “my involvement, my expertise, and my positive attitude,” is an honour that touches me deeply. Moments like these remind me that the work we accomplish at the ACCI has a real impact.
For me, every training is an opportunity to share our expertise and contribute to a future where African actors are not only competitive but also capable of exercising a positive and strategic influence on the global stage. This is the very essence of our mission, and it is a commitment I will continue to defend with passion.
GG