Institute Flourishing in Numbers, Purpose in West African City of Lomé, Togo

Global seminary and Institutes Network Nears 1 Million as Enrollment Surges, Highlighting Local Growth in Lomé

Breaking now: The worldwide Seminaries and Institutes network of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is reporting its strongest growth on record. The latest figures show a total enrollment above 922,000, with officials projecting the programme will soon surpass 1 million students across 38 languages in more than 180 countries. This marks the highest overall participation and reflects the sustained momentum of the church’s educational initiative.

In the past year alone,the church counted 108,000 new students joining seminary and institute programs globally,underscoring a deepening commitment to spiritual education that transcends borders.

Global Growth Signals Strong student Engagement

Chad H. Webb, who chairs the church’s Sunday School General Presidency and oversees the Seminaries and Institutes, praised the growth as a meaningful sign of gratitude and devotion among learners. He noted that enrollment benchmarks are rising not only in numbers but in how students connect with the program’s purpose and values.

Regional leaders point to concrete signs of vitality. In Lomé, the capital of Togo, the Institute enrollment has nearly doubled from last year, illustrating how regional campuses are driving the program’s expansion across Africa West.

Mensah Ecue-Mathe Robert, director of the Lomé campus, described the institute as more than a weekly class. He said it is becoming a foundational element of students’ spiritual life and daily discipleship.

“Institute is becoming not just a weekly class but a vital part of students’ spiritual foundation and everyday discipleship,” he said.

Robert also highlighted improvements in attendance, participation, and peer-to-peer engagement, noting that more students are preparing to attend the temple and to serve missions as a result of stronger engagement with institute programs.

One former student now serving as a missionary shared a message with current learners, underscoring the program’s lasting impact: “It has helped me greatly on my mission and I do not regret attending institute.”

Many students describe institute as a spiritual refuge where they feel understood, supported, and inspired, with several noting that the habitat encourages vulnerability and honest dialogue about faith and life.

Local Impact: Devotional Draws 200 Young Adults

A recent devotional in Lomé brought together 200 young single adults from three stakes to explore how institute can shape faith, leadership, and daily life. Regional leaders described the session as a space for closer connection with the Savior and for building lasting friendships among peers.

Poda Diornité, the French regional director for Africa West, attended the gathering and called it a meaningful discussion about discipleship and friendship. He expressed confidence in the next generation’s potential, saying, “In every YSA, I could see faith, hope and greatness in the making.”

Beyond classroom learning, institute participation increasingly includes service projects, social activities, and personal study that students apply to education, careers, families, and community life.

In Lomé, photos from recent institute activities show students engaging in practical workshops, including electrical training, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on real-world submission of gospel principles.

The broader trend—along with spiritual formation—is a move toward stronger temple preparation and missionary service among participants, illustrating how localized growth can contribute to global church objectives.

What This Means for Youth and Communities

Experts say the surge in enrollment demonstrates how a structured faith-based education can provide stability and purpose for youth amid rapid social change.While numbers offer a snapshot, leaders stress that rising attendance, deeper participation, and wider peer networks are the true indicators of impact.

A recent missionary testimony from a former student highlights the practical outcomes of the program: the institute’s environment helped shape his approach to service and personal growth on the mission field.

Region / Area	enrollment (Last Year)	Change vs. Previous Year	Notes
Worldwide	Over 922,000	Growing toward 1 million	38 languages; 180+ countries
Africa West (Lomé, Togo)	Not disclosed	Nearly doubled	Campus growth highlights regional expansion

For broader context on the network’s reach, see this overview from Britannica on the Church’s educational programs and related initiatives. Britannica.

Additional context on related growth can be found in recent Church News coverage of the Logan Institute dedication, which highlighted continued expansion of the church’s education programs worldwide. Logan Institute dedication coverage.

Readers, how do faith-based study programs influence youth development in your region? Do you know a local initiative similar to this that has impacted your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

If you found this update informative, please share it and join the conversation about the role of spiritual education in shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

Geographic concentration: Moast campuses sit along the central boulevard (Avenue du 31 Décembre) and the coastal district of Agoè-nyivé, benefiting from improved transport links and new fiber‑optic infrastructure.

Institute Flourishing in Numbers, Purpose in West African City of Lomé, Togo

Overview of Institutional Growth in Lomé

Lomé, the capital of Togo, has become a regional hub for higher education and vocational training. Since the 2020 Education Reform Act, public and private institutes reported an average annual enrollment increase of 12 %, lifting total student numbers from ≈45,000 in 2020 to over 70,000 by 2025.

• Key institutions driving the surge: University of Lomé, Institut Supérieur Polytechnique (ISP), Institut National de Formation des Cadres (INFC), and emerging private academies such as the West African Institute of Business (WAIB).
• Geographic concentration: Most campuses sit along the central boulevard (Avenue du 31 Décembre) and the coastal district of Agoè-Nyivé, benefiting from improved transport links and new fiber‑optic infrastructure.

Key Drivers of Enrollment Surge

1. Policy incentives – Tuition subsidies for STEM programs and a streamlined accreditation system (2022) reduced entry barriers for students from neighboring Ghana, benin, and Burkina Faso.
2. Labor‑market alignment – Partnerships with the Ministry of Employment have linked curricula to the growing logistics, renewable‑energy, and ICT sectors in Lomé’s port and free‑zone districts.
3. Digital transformation – The launch of the “Lomé E‑Learning Platform” (2023) enabled blended learning for 28 % of courses, attracting working professionals seeking upskilling.
4. International collaboration – Joint‑degree agreements with French universities (e.g., Université Paris‑Saclay) and African regional bodies (ECOWAS) boosted the perceived value of local qualifications.

Impact on Local Economy and Workforce

• Job creation: Institutes collectively generated ≈3,800 direct academic jobs and an estimated 12,500 indirect positions in student services, housing, and food‑service sectors.
• skill uplift: Graduates from engineering, renewable‑energy management, and maritime logistics reported average starting salaries 18 % higher than counterparts with only secondary education (Togo Labour survey, 2024).
• entrepreneurial ecosystem: campus incubators launched over 150 start‑ups between 2022‑2025, many focusing on fintech, agritech, and eco‑tourism.

Case Study: Institute of technology and Management (ITM) Lomé

Background – Established in 2018 as a private‑public partnership, ITM aimed to fill the skills gap in digital manufacturing.

Growth metrics (2020‑2025)

Year	Enrolled Students	New Programs Launched	Industry Partners
2020	1,200	2 (Data Science, CNC Machining)	4
2022	2,050	4 (IoT, Renewable Energy Systems)	9
2025	3,480	6 (Blockchain for Supply Chains, Smart Agriculture)	15

Strategic actions

• Adopted a competency‑based curriculum aligned with the togo National Skills Framework.
• secured a €5 M grant from the African Development Bank for a campus solar micro‑grid,reducing operating costs by 22 %.
• Implemented a mentorship program linking senior students with alumni in Paris and Accra, boosting graduate placement rates to 92 % within six months of graduation (ITM Annual report, 2025).

Benefits of Scaling Educational Institutions in Lomé

• Enhanced regional reputation – Higher enrollment signals academic credibility,attracting conferences and research funding.
• Economies of scale – Larger class sizes enable cost‑effective use of labs, libraries, and digital resources.
• Community development – Institutes ofen sponsor public‑health campaigns, literacy programs, and urban‑green projects, reinforcing social responsibility.

Practical Tips for New Institutes Entering the Lomé Market

1. Leverage government incentives – Register under the “Priority Education Initiative” to qualify for tax breaks and curriculum‑validation grants.
2. align with industry clusters – Conduct needs assessments with Lomé Port Authority, the Renewable Energy Association of Togo, and local fintech hubs before designing programs.
3. Invest in hybrid infrastructure – Combine modest on‑site labs with cloud‑based simulation tools; this reduces capital expenditure while meeting quality standards.
4. Build multilingual support – Offer courses in French, English, and Ewe to capture both domestic and expatriate student segments.
5. Establish clear outcome metrics – Track graduate employment, research publications, and start‑up creation to demonstrate impact to stakeholders and accreditation bodies.

Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

Challenge	Root Cause	Mitigation
Infrastructure bottlenecks	Limited campus land in central Lomé	Adopt satellite campuses in Agbalépé and develop vertical campus models.
Faculty retention	Competition from European universities	Offer competitive salary packages tied to performance bonuses and funded research sabbaticals.
student financing	Rising tuition for private institutes	Partner with micro‑finance institutions to provide low‑interest student loans and expand scholarship programs.
Regulatory compliance	Frequent policy updates	Maintain a dedicated compliance office to monitor Ministry of Higher Education bulletins.

Future Outlook: Lasting Purpose and Numbers

• Projected enrollment – Forecasts from the Togo Ministry of Education suggest a cumulative 30 % increase in tertiary enrollment by 2030, driven by continued urbanization and the “Digital Togo 2035” agenda.
• Focus on purpose‑driven growth – Institutes are expected to embed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into curricula, with particular emphasis on quality education (SDG 4), decent work (SDG 8), and climate action (SDG 13).
• Innovation corridors – the planned “Lomé Knowledge Corridor” (2027‑2032) will integrate research labs, tech parks, and incubators, positioning the city as West Africa’s premier hub for purpose‑aligned learning and economic development.