Faith Without Borders: Stéphane Akoki’s Journey from Poverty to Purpose

In our latest podcast episode, we had the privilege of speaking with From Civil War to University Founder: Stéphane Akoki’'s Remarkable Journey of Resilience, a remarkable social entrepreneur whose life journey embodies resilience, faith, and unwavering determination. Born in Côte d'Ivoire, Stefan's path has been anything but straightforward, from surviving civil war as a child to being scammed in China, and ultimately becoming the first Ivorian graduate of Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Business.

Stéphane's early life was marked by extreme hardship. At just 12 years old, he experienced the devastation of civil war in his homeland. The university he hoped to attend was severely damaged during the conflict, effectively closing doors to higher education. Like many in post-conflict economies, Stefan became what he calls a "necessity entrepreneur," selling whatever he could on the streets to support his family. This experience planted the seeds for what would later become his life's mission.

What's particularly striking about Stefan's story is how he leveraged small advantages to create opportunities. When friends asked how he was making money in a devastated economy, he realized he had three critical advantages: English language skills acquired during his religious mission in Ghana, basic computer literacy that enabled him to modernize his sales through Facebook groups (before marketplace features existed), and vocational skills. These three pillars, language education, technical skills, and vocational training, would later form the foundation of his nonprofit organization, Elevate Côte d'Ivoire.

Stefan's journey took a dramatic turn when he attempted to pursue education in China. What should have been an opportunity became a nightmare when he discovered the agency that took his family's hard-earned money had scammed him. Landing in China without speaking Mandarin, with no school waiting for him as promised, Stefan had to survive by his wits. Rather than seeing this as a setback, Stefan embraced the challenge, learned Mandarin fluently, and developed resilience that would serve him throughout his life.

The transformation in Stefan's fortunes came when he received a scholarship to study in the United States. He describes the moment he landed in Washington D.C. as profound: "I remember looking out the window and feeling a sense of pride and gratitude... I just felt invincible at that moment and knew there was nothing that was going to come in my way that God and I couldn't overcome."

Today, Stéphane leads Elevate Côte d'Ivoire, a nonprofit organization creating pathways to education and job opportunities for Ivorians. What makes his approach unique is that rather than encouraging talent to leave Africa, he's bringing opportunities home. The organization's latest initiative, Elevate University, aims to provide world-class education within Africa, eliminating the need for talented individuals to leave their communities to pursue opportunities abroad.

Stéphane explains the university's innovative approach: "We flipped the script. Instead of training for jobs, we asked what problems the country and continent have today, and from there worked backward to say what degrees can solve those problems." This problem-first approach to education reflects Stefan's practical mindset and deep understanding of what his community truly needs.

Perhaps most impressive is Stéphane's perspective on his complicated past. Rather than harboring resentment, he expresses gratitude: "If I were to re-architect my life, I would tell God I'm so happy that I started where I started... I wouldn't have been able to appreciate life and the blessing of wealth if I had not started where I started."

Stéphane's story reminds us that true resilience isn't just about surviving hardship but transforming it into purpose, by staying anchored to his "why," helping others rise above poverty through education and opportunity, he has created an organization that's changing lives across Africa. His journey exemplifies how faith, determination, and a clear sense of purpose can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and create lasting change.