Enko Education, owner of Togo’s Cours Lumière, closes $46 mln funding round

Education

Wednesday, 18 February 2026 12:31

Enko Education, owner of Togo’s Cours Lumière, closes $46 mln funding round

(Togo First) - Enko Education, a pan-African network of international schools that includes Togo's Cours Lumière, has finalized $46 million in financing. The funding includes a $22 million loan from South African bank Standard Bank.

The deal completes a fundraising round that began in 2025 with a $24 million equity investment led by Africa Capitalworks and West African fund Adiwale, bringing the total to approximately 25.4 billion CFA francs.

Enko said the new financing will support its expansion strategy across Africa. The network plans to accelerate acquisitions of schools with strong academic foundations while supporting their development, including in Togo. The group aims to consolidate its presence in Africa's fragmented private K-12 education market and reach 20,000 students by 2029.

Founded in 2013 by Frenchman Eric Pignot and Cameroonian Cyrille Nkontchou, the group now operates 16 schools in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. Togo joined the network in 2024 through Lycée Cours Lumière. Enko's model focuses on preparing students for admission to international universities, with more than 80 percent of graduates accepted into over 600 institutions worldwide.

The fundraising comes at a time when education spending remains limited in several African countries, driving growth in private education providers.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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