Access to quality international education in Africa is set to grow following a major funding milestone by Enko Education, a fast-growing network of African international schools. The organization recently announced the closing of a US$46 million fundraising round, a move that will support its mission to help more African learners gain entry to top universities around the world.
The new funding will accelerate Enko Education’s expansion across the continent and strengthen its ability to support students through internationally recognized academic programmes and university preparation initiatives. The investment also signals growing confidence in Africa’s education sector and the potential of locally rooted institutions to prepare students for global opportunities.
Founded by Cyrille Nkontchou and Eric Pignot, Enko Education has built a network that connects African students to high-quality international education at a lower cost than many traditional international schools operating in Africa.
Announcing the funding milestone, Eric Pignot emphasized that the initiative goes beyond expansion.
“It started with WACA and then École Bilingue Avenir in Senegal. Then Lycée Kondonso and then Ecole Kalanso 2 in Mali. Then Cours Lumière in Togo,” he said, referring to several schools that recently joined the Enko network.
“Five remarkable schools that recently chose to join the Enko family and a signal of something bigger. Today, Enko Education announces the closing of our US$46M fundraising.”
According to Eric, the funding will support the organization’s broader ambition of building the largest group of African international schools focused on helping students reach the world’s best universities.
“This funding will accelerate our ambition: building the largest group of African International Schools to help more learners in Africa access the world’s top universities,” he said.
Expanding Opportunities for African Students
Across Africa, many high-quality schools were created by founders who wanted to transform education in their communities. While these institutions have helped thousands of students succeed, many now face the challenge of sustaining growth and maintaining quality over the long term.
Enko Education aims to provide a long-term platform for such schools, helping them expand while maintaining their identity and values.
“This story is not only about growth,” Eric said.
“Across the continent, many exceptional schools were built by visionary founders. They created institutions that transformed thousands of lives. Many of them face the same question: how do you ensure that what you built continues to grow stronger in the decades ahead?”
“At Enko, we want to offer a long-term home for these schools, helping them blossom further while preserving the spirit and ambition that made them great.”
The model focuses on combining strong academic programmes with targeted support for students who want to study abroad. Enko schools offer internationally recognized qualifications and structured university guidance programmes that help learners identify suitable universities and secure admission and funding.
The approach has already produced results. Students from Enko schools have gained admission to leading global institutions such as Yale University in the United States, Sciences Po in France, University of Toronto in Canada and African Leadership University in Rwanda.
Building a Pan-African Education Network
Enko Education currently operates 16 schools across nine African countries and the organization plans to grow significantly in the coming years. Its goal is to expand to 60 additional schools in at least 20 African countries within the next five years, creating one of the continent’s largest networks of international schools.
The organization is backed by several international development finance institutions and investors including Proparco, Investisseurs & Partenaires, Oikocredit, BIO Invest and LiquidAfrica.
By combining international academic standards with an African perspective, Enko Education aims to prepare students to succeed globally while remaining connected to the continent.
The organization says its goal is not only to grow its network but also to strengthen the educational foundations that allow African students to compete at the highest levels internationally.
“And the journey is just beginning,” Eric said. “Thank you to our parents and to the teachers, staff, Heads of School and central team who make this mission real every single day.”
As demand for quality education continues to rise across Africa, initiatives like Enko Education’s expansion could play a significant role in opening new pathways for young Africans seeking global opportunities.
