The Deputy Chief of Staff, representing the Minister of Technical Education, Vocational Training, and Apprenticeship, N’Goran Kouakou Arnaud, presided over a triple celebration of excellence and merit on Friday, November 7, 2025, in Abidjan-Cocody.
The event included the award ceremony for technical and vocational training institutions ranked second and third, as well as for students who placed second and third in both the Technical Baccalaureate and the Technician’s Certificate categories at the 2025 National Prize of Excellence.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of five young Ivorian trainees who proudly represented Côte d’Ivoire at the WorldSkills 2025 competition in France—a global showcase of innovation, expertise, and professional excellence—and the recognition of 15 ministry officials who were honored in the Order of Merit of the Public Service last June (three Commanders, four Officers, and eight Knights).
On behalf of Minister N’Guessan Koffi, N’Goran Kouakou Arnaud encouraged the awardees to see these distinctions as motivation to aim higher, keep innovating, and continue contributing to the nation’s development.
“Through this distinction, you embody technical excellence—the very foundation upon which nations are built and destinies are shaped in a constantly changing world, where technical skills remain the cornerstone of development,” declared N’Goran Kouakou Arnaud.
He added that this event reflects the Minister’s commitment to making technical education and vocational training a true hub of competence, innovation, and expertise.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Bomoi Anibé, Director of the Yamoussoukro Vocational Hospitality High School, pledged that the laureates would remain worthy of this recognition, continue to serve with passion, dedication, and integrity, and uphold the values of the Republic.
For reference, under the 2025 National Prize of Excellence, the Yamoussoukro Vocational Hospitality High School and the Yopougon Sectoral Vocational High School ranked 2nd and 3rd, respectively. The Yopougon Vocational Commercial High School won the 1st prize.
The second-place winners received 1.5 million CFA francs and a trophy, while the third-place winners received 1 million CFA francs and a trophy.
Among the five trainees who competed at WorldSkills 2025, two won the first prize in the Francophone Hackathon “DigitAgro” on Artificial Intelligence Applied to Agroecology, thanks to an outstanding prototype combining AI and smart agriculture titled “AI Applied to Agritech: The Case of Smart Land Irrigation.”
Another trainee excelled in the African Best Competitor Prize in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), while the remaining two stood out for their creativity and commitment in the African Best Competitor Prizes in Pastry-Confectionery and Bakery-Viennoiserie categories.