1,000 applicants. 16 selected talents. A global audience. A new generation of entrepreneurs is reinventing Africa - and Ecobank will be by their side
Lomé, Togo, December 3rd, 2025– As the leading pan-African banking group, present in 34 countries, Ecobank is partnering with Les Les Nouveaux Boss, the new TV5 Monde program dedicated to African entrepreneurs who create, innovate and shape the future of the continent.
This partnership reaffirms Ecobank’s ambition: supporting the rise of an African economy driven by bold entrepreneurs. Designed as a true springboard, the program will offer global visibility to 16 talents selected from more than 1,000 applicants, who will be guided by four renowned mentors. It will air every Friday evening, in prime time, in more than 200 countries starting December 5th.
40 years championing African innovation and ambition
For four decades, Ecobank has made entrepreneurship one of the pillars of its strategy. The Group has developed major programs to support business creation, foster their growth, and encourage innovation to build a strong, inclusive, and globally competitive African entrepreneurial ecosystem.
To achieve this, Ecobank deploys tailored solutions that accelerate SME growth and strengthen their economic impact. The Group facilitates access to credit, enables real-time cross-border payments and provides digital tools to streamline day-to-day operations. The bank also connects SMEs to regional supply chains and provides targeted support — from financial training to integrating payment solutions — to help them grow and strengthen their competitiveness.
The Group also leads major initiatives such as Ellevate, a program that facilitates access to financing for women entrepreneurs (having already supported more than 16,000 women-led businesses) and the Ecobank Academy, the largest banking training centre on the continent, offering training in finance, digital skills, and management.
An alliance to showcase tomorrow’s talent
In episodes 5 and 6, Korédé Odjo-Bella, Head of Consumer Banking at Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire, will lead a masterclass on the art of persuasion — being clear and impactful — while sharing her fundamentals for successful customer relations.
Ghislaine Samaké, Managing Director of Ecobank Guinea-Bissau, will deliver an inspiring message to the ten finalists and to African youth as a whole. She will highlight the essential role of entrepreneurs — especially women — in transforming the continent.
Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group commented: “We deeply believe in Africa’s future — a future built in the hands of its youth and its entrepreneurs. Our role at Ecobank is to provide them with the tools, guidance, and opportunities to turn their ideas into strong businesses, into jobs, and into lasting impact for their communities. This is our mission: to propel the success of those who are moving Africa forward”.
Across the projects showcased in each episode, a portrait emerges of an Africa that innovates, reimagines agriculture, modernizes services, accelerates digital transformation and reinvents economic models - a vision fully aligned with Ecobank’s commitment to identifying, supporting and elevating African talent.
Press contacts:
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated
Christiane Bossom - groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com
About Ecobank
Ecobank Group is the leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise. Present in 34 sub-Saharan African countries, as well as France, the UK, UAE and China, its unique pan-African platform provides a single getaway for payments, cash management, trade and investment. The Group employs over 14,000 people and offers Consumer, Commercial, Corporate and Investment Banking products, services and solutions across multiple channels, including digital, to over 32 million customers.