Abidjan is hosting the climactic phase of the Sika Invest Challenge 2025, bringing together the top student teams from across West and Central Africa for a week of intense competition.
The contest, which began eight months ago, blends stock market simulation, financial strategy, and live presentations before expert juries.
This year’s final sees twelve students from Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Gabon compete for the top honours.
The four finalist teams include two Ivorian squads—Wolf-Traders from Université CERAP and Tigers Trade from Université Jean Lorougnon Guédé—alongside Dinosaures de l’ESP UCAD from Université Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal and AX Capital from BGFI Business School in Gabon.
“These teams have demonstrated remarkable market acumen,” said one organiser. “They were selected based on their ability to generate the highest returns from a simulated portfolio of 20 million FCFA, replicating real conditions on the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM).”
Before the final showdown, participants are undergoing a week-long bootcamp led by industry professionals.
The intensive training combines coaching, practical simulations, and experience-sharing to sharpen both technical and soft skills.
“The bootcamp not only prepares students for the final presentations but also enhances their readiness for the professional world,” the organisers explained.
The theme of the finale, “How to secure a mortgage through the financial markets,” challenges the finalists to demonstrate how capital markets can be leveraged for real-world projects. With access to credit remaining a barrier for many young Africans, the task highlights the practical relevance of financial literacy and market strategy.
Since its inception five years ago by Sika Finance, the Sika Invest Challenge has aimed to promote financial education and cultivate investment expertise across francophone Africa. By offering a hands-on, performance-driven framework, the competition seeks to develop the next generation of finance professionals capable of advancing local capital markets.
The final, scheduled for Saturday, September 6, promises a showcase of innovation, technical skill, and entrepreneurial thinking, highlighting the potential of young talent to shape Africa’s financial future.
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