Gervais koffi djondo biography books

Gervais Koffi Djondo,

Founder of the pan-African bank Ecobank and the airline Asky, is one of the most daring figures of the last fifty years in Africa. Born in 1934 in Djondo-Kondji, in Bas-mono in Togo, he is a model for young entrepreneurs thanks to his numerous achievements.

Renowned African manager and President of the Economic and Social Council, Djondo revitalized the city of Lomé as Delegate for Togo of the SCOA group, transforming the Pariscoa supermarket into the main branch of Ecobank. In 1977, he introduced the Goyi Score supermarket, which, however, later closed its doors.

Djondo also initiated the construction of UTB and CNSS branches in Aného, ​​his home prefecture, despite friction with the late President Eyadéma. A political actor, he was a member of the “Group of Ten” and contributed to promoting the ideals of the Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT).

In 1978, he became president of the Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry of Togo, and later of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In 1985, with Henry Fajemirokun and Adeyemi Lawson, he co-founded Ecobank in Lomé. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ecobank from 1996 to 2003, he became Honorary Chairman in 2004. Thanks to his partnership with Ethiopian Airlines and other banking institutions, he launched Asky in 2010.

A discreet but visionary man, Djondo is passionate about African economic integration. His career, marked by distinctions such as the Good Individual Performance Award from “Aviation & Allied Business” magazine and the Afraa Excellence Award, makes him an example of determination and courage for a better Africa. Gervais Koffi Djondo was made Commander of the National Order of Benin.

He bit the bullet and only just saved Ecobank that was about to sink a few months ago. It was at that time the Togolese businessman, Gervais Djondo, one more time showed his tenacity, his strike force. A return to a calm within the group and appreciated by all the shareholders and that will remain engraved in the records of the Pan-African bank.

Co-founder of the Ecobank group and honorary chairman of Asky Airlines, Gervais Koffi Gbondjidè Djondo is above all guided by the Pan-Africanism.

According to the latter, the achievement of all his projects was possible through rigor and spirit of unity. « Well, the African strength lies in the unity; what we can call putting together« , declared Mr Djondo.

And it is moreover his passion for the African economic integration that led him to set up the Pan-African bank and the airline company, two ambitious projects that are moving the continent today.

From 10 passengers during the first flights in 2011, Asky Airlines nowadays registers more than 8 000 passengers per week on its various routings (West Africa and Central Africa) with 80 % occupancy rate.

In March 2014, the airline company was elected in Geneva, « the Best African Company of the year » during Africa CEO forum awards.

In spite of the recent shocks occurred within the company, Ecobank remains for its part a trusting bank for investors and economic operators with 14 % growth of income during the first half of the year 2014.

The Ecobank Group was rewarded « the Best African bank » and « the Best investment bank » via its subsidiary Ecobank Capital by the British magazine « Emeafinance » at the end of last week.

As to say, all that the hands of Mr Djondo touch are transformed into gold. The man of « vision and action », has an exceptional career path and excellent curriculum vitae; a career path that was worth to him many prizes and awards at the world level.

After his training at the Overseas High Studies Instit

(Togo First) - Gervais Koffi Djondo, founder of Ecobank and Asky, has always spoken about Africa and his vision for entrepreneurship on the continent. It is even this love of Africa that brought him out of retirement.

Few weeks ago, Gervais Koffi Djondo, founder of Ecobank and Asky airlines came out of retirement by releasing a book titled L’Afrique d’abord (Africa first, in English). In his book which is a more than a memoir, the Togolese businessman shares his vision of entrepreneurship and how it can contribute to Africa’s growth. Many reacted to the publication, mostly praising it; quite expected considering the journey of Gervais Koffi Djondo.

A true African icon, the 80-year old has succeeded in all stages of his career, a feat he owes mainly to an almost-genetic rigor.

A true lover of Africa

“I love our continent and wish it awakens. I wish to see Africa truly grow,” declares the entrepreneur. He strongly believes that, despite the many challenges the continent faces, Africans have what it takes to turn the tide and shine. “It’s up to us to move forward. I primarily think of African integration. This is why Ecobank is a pan-African bank and Asky a pan-African airline. As long as Africans do not understand how important it is that they get united, they will only reproduce the colonial model of countries with weak economies which barely trade among themselves,” added Gervais Djondo.

The Togolese has, over the many decades he spent working in both the private and public sectors, learned all about the various obstacles hampering African growth, especially while heading Asky airlines.

“For me, pan-Africanism is about concrete actions. All around the world, big airlines are coming together. Meanwhile, in Africa, each country is creating its own small airline just out of pure national egoism.” Besides integration which the entrepreneur believes to be one of the major issues the continent has to deal with, there is also the lack of rigor.

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