Paris, October 5, 2025 – The 2025 edition of Africa Day will be remembered not only for its success but for the powerful convergence of the venue, the mission, and the man who headlined it. Opened by Luis Vassy, Director of Sciences Po, and driven by the French-African Foundation, the event found its ideal spokesperson in Hassanein Hiridjee, whose personal journey embodies the very message he came to deliver: a return to serve the continent.
In his introduction, Mr. Vassy highlighted the deep connection between his institution and Africa, noting that the Paris campus is home to over 700 African students and that its Reims campus, with its unique African Minor program in Europe, hosts nearly 300 more. This provided a fertile ground for Nachouat Meghouar, director of the French-African Foundation, who affirmed her mission: “What matters to us is to highlight these African talents, this youth on the move.”
The Journey of a Visionary ‘Repat’
When Hassanein Hiridjee speaks, his personal history lends exceptional weight to his every word. Born in Madagascar to a family of entrepreneurs of Indian origin, he was part of the diaspora sent to France for their education, earning a degree from the prestigious ESCP Business School. After starting his career in finance in Paris, he made a life-defining choice: he returned to Madagascar in 1997 to take the reins of the family business.
What was then a local company, he methodically transformed into Axian, a pan-African group that now generates several billion dollars in revenue, employs over 8,500 people, and operates in vital sectors like telecoms, energy, and financial services across the continent. His journey is the very embodiment of the potential that the diaspora can unlock in Africa.
“Your Place is in Africa”: A Message from a Man Who Led the Way
Backed by this legitimacy, his call to the youth resonated with amplified intensity. Facing a packed and attentive hall, he passionately declared: “I am speaking to the young Africans in this room: your place is not here… but in Africa. Africa needs each and every one of you to develop.” The message electrified the audience because it came not from a theorist, but from a leader who himself made that journey home to become one of the greatest builders of the continental economy, recognized by his peers as “CEO of the Year” in 2022.
Humility, the Lesson from a Pan-African Leader
His speech turned into a masterclass in management when an 18-year-old student posed a question. His answer offered the key to his own success as an investor on such a diverse continent: humility. He urged the youth born in the West who return to Africa to listen to everyone and adapt to local realities. This is the same strategy that allowed him to successfully establish Axian across cultures and markets as varied as Senegal, Tanzania, and Togo.
Confirming his commitment, the CEO did not leave after his speech. He spent his day at his group’s booth and in the event’s hallways, remaining accessible, advising young entrepreneurs, and presenting opportunities within Axian, an official partner of the event.
The day was thus a perfect demonstration of an ecosystem in action: an institution of excellence (Sciences Po), a visionary foundation (French-African Foundation), and an economic leader (Hassanein Hiridjee and Axian) united to transform the potential of African youth into a concrete force for the continent’s development.
