The Scientific Group SIGMA and the École Supérieure des Agricultures (ESA) of France are deepening their academic cooperation. The two institutions formalised a strategic partnership on Monday, 15 June 2026 in Lomé, aimed at strengthening the training of future agronomy engineers in Togo.

This collaboration will materialise with the opening, from the 2026-2027 academic year, of a scientific preparatory class for young science baccalaureate holders.

New excellence pathway for science baccalaureate holders

Presented during a meeting with media professionals, this new training offer aims to prepare students for agronomy engineering studies while meeting the growing needs of the agricultural sector in Togo and the wider West African sub-region.

The ambition of both institutions is to train profiles capable of supporting the agricultural, food and environmental transformations facing Africa.

“Connecting excellence to the land”

Dr Ingénieur Beaugrain Domongue, Director of Development and Prospective at the Scientific Group SIGMA, stated that this initiative is part of a vision to modernise the agricultural sector through science and innovation.

“We want to connect excellence to the land, strengthen the innovation potential of our producers and put knowledge at the service of developing our food sovereignty,” he said.

According to him, this partnership between SIGMA and ESA represents a major innovation in the Togolese higher education landscape.

ESA pedagogical expertise mobilised

As part of this cooperation, the École Supérieure des Agricultures will provide its pedagogical expertise through the provision of training benchmarks, teacher capacity building and participation in academic juries.

The partnership also includes the organisation of an annual “Summer Workshop” on the ESA campus in Angers, France, offering students an international perspective and immersion in a recognised academic environment.

The programme will place strong emphasis on life sciences, agriculture, environment, food and technological innovation, relying on active teaching methods that are the hallmark of the French institution.

Five-year pathway to become an agronomy engineer

The preparatory training will span two academic years dedicated to strengthening scientific knowledge and acquiring fundamentals related to agriculture, livestock and food.

After this phase, students can join the engineering cycle at ESA for three years. Upon completion, they will receive the agronomy engineer diploma.

This new track aims to meet the growing demand for experts capable of supporting agricultural sector changes and contributing to strengthening food sovereignty in Africa.

SIGMA, a player in scientific excellence in Togo

Founded in 2018, the Scientific Group SIGMA is an institution of excellence in scientific education comprising a middle school, a high school and preparatory programmes.

The institution’s mission is to train a new generation of scientists, engineers, researchers and decision-makers able to meet 21st-century challenges through a pedagogy based on rigour, innovation, international openness and academic excellence.