Thierry Zomahoun is the President and CEO of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Africa’s first and biggest pan-African network of centres of excellence in mathematical sciences education. Thierry has spent the last 2 decades of his career in international development and the consultancy sector, focusing mainly on innovative and scientific educational initiatives. He spearheaded the growth of AIMS Next Einstein Initiative from one to six centres of excellence established across Africa to harness the power of mathematical sciences for Africa’s development in academia, research, education, and industry. Considered an education innovator and science entrepreneur by policy makers, academic and research scientists, and development influencers, Thierry is a development strategist and a thought-leader in innovative and strategic education initiatives.
Thierry is also the Founder and Chairman and of the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) , a premier global forum for science, the first to ever take place on African soil. The NEF mandate is to showcase African Scientific excellence, discoveries & technological breakthroughs. In March 2016, to honor Thierry’s lifetime dedication to innovative education, science, and research, the AIMS International Board of Directors announced the creation of the Thierry Zomahoun Fellowship Program. The Program was established to enable promising young Africans from disadvantaged backgrounds access to cutting-edge science education and research. Thierry’s infectious passion for innovative education, science, research and skills development continues to be driven by the promises he made his grandmother over 40 years ago: that he will turn challenges into opportunities, that he will use education to shape his destiny, and that he will ensure African youth are given the chance to do the same. As AIMS continues to work towards a favorable policy environment and partners with private and public sector players to build scientific infrastructure in Africa, for Thierry, the emergence of an African Einstein in his lifetime is a certainty.
Thierry holds a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from McGill Desautels Faculty of
Management, a Master’s Degree (DEA) in development studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies at the University of Geneva and a Master’s Degree (M.A) from the National University of Benin (West Africa).