Bobo-dioulasso: "Tomorrow's illiterate will be the one who doesn't know how to use Artificial Intelligence," stated Yacouba Sow, Director General of the digital training center in Bobo-Dioulasso, Faso Code-X. This innovative center opens its doors tomorrow to equip young people with skills in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and Defense.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Faso Code-X was established to address Burkina Faso's over-reliance on foreign expertise for IT solutions, which has historically led to high costs and technological dependence. The center aims to retain local talent by providing training that can match international standards, thereby reducing the brain drain. Under the leadership of Roland Achille Sow, CEO of the Sissiman Group, the center collaborates with a U.S.-based Indian tech group to blend international expertise with local needs.
The center's official opening is scheduled for February 23, 2026, when the academic year will commence. Faso Code-X offers a specialized curriculum focusing on AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity and Defense. Graduates will be trained not just to use these technologies but to design solutions that support both the public and private sectors' digital transformations.
Faso Code-X aligns with the Sissiman Group's vision of human capital development. The center aims to produce graduates ready to enter the workforce or start their enterprises. It also extends its training to professionals, particularly in the banking sector, to optimize productivity through AI. The goal is for Burkina Faso to lead in technological advancements rather than merely follow global trends.
Addressing concerns about AI-related job displacement, Faso Code-X emphasizes transforming such threats into opportunities. The center aims to adapt traditional professions like law and accounting to incorporate digital tools, thereby enhancing efficiency. Unlike superficial online courses, Faso Code-X offers a comprehensive education that covers the entire process from data collection to AI model design.
The center plans to promote AI rooted in local culture and needs, focusing on areas like agriculture, tourism, and national security. With over 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa expected to be impacted by AI by 2030, Faso Code-X aims to prepare a generation of youth who can adapt these solutions to their socio-cultural context.
Faso Code-X offers competitive fees to support local students, with a payment plan to ease financial burdens. The center is strategically located in Bobo-Dioulasso, a significant economic hub, to foster industrial growth. The training program is hybrid, offering both in-person and online learning to accommodate students from across the region.
The center has garnered support from national authorities, including the Minister for Digital Transition, to validate digital skills and promote data mastery as a modern form of freedom. Faso Code-X guarantees professional integration by offering internships and direct recruitment for top graduates, with transportation provided by Elitis Express, a Sissiman Group subsidiary.
Finally, Faso Code-X trains students to tackle challenges like "Fake News" using AI, underscoring that digital technology is essential for development. With 46% of global companies already using AI for recruitment, Faso Code-X aims to prepare its students not only to adapt to the future but to shape it.