Aniaba Jean Baptiste N’guessan’s pursuit of education has carried him across continents and into the ranks of the world’s most distinguished scholars.
Born in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, N’guessan enrolled in the African Leadership Academy in South Africa in 2018, one of the continent’s most prestigious secondary institutions. Three years later, following a pivotal conversation with his university guidance counselor, he traveled nearly 8,000 miles to Atlanta to begin studies at Morehouse College in 2021 as an Oprah Winfrey Scholar.
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A triple major in economics, mathematics and computer science, N’guessan balanced an intense academic workload that included as many as seven courses per semester. That commitment has now earned him one of the highest academic honors in the world. Upon graduating in May, the 23 year old will attend the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
In November, N’guessan was named a 2026 recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship, the world’s oldest and most prestigious international postgraduate award, established in 1902 to cultivate global leadership and promote international understanding and peace. His selection makes him the sixth student from Morehouse College to earn the distinction, the highest number from any historically Black college or university.
Morehouse College President F DuBois Bowman praised N’guessan’s achievement, noting that his impact extends well beyond academics. Bowman described him as a leader whose humility and commitment to service are as powerful as his scholarly accomplishments, adding that his selection reflects the college’s mission of developing men of consequence.
N’guessan’s historic selection also marks several firsts. He is the first Ivorian and the first Francophone chosen by the Rhodes Committee to represent West Africa. He maintains a 3.72 grade point average and plans to pursue graduate studies in economics at Oxford.
Reflecting on his journey, N’guessan said the honor represents a deep sense of responsibility. He noted that joining the Rhodes community makes him feel seen, supported and trusted, and that he carries the obligation to represent his country, his family, his schools and all those who invested in him.
Faith, he said, has been central to his path. He described his experience as a testament to God’s faithfulness, explaining that moments when giving up seemed reasonable instead became opportunities to trust more deeply. He emphasized that achievements are not solely personal milestones but tools to serve both God and humanity.
N’guessan’s connection to Morehouse began after a 2019 visit by students from the Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program to his high school in Côte d’Ivoire. Encouraged by his guidance counselor, he researched historically Black colleges and universities and saw Morehouse as a continuation of the African Leadership Academy’s mission to develop leaders for Africa and the world.
Initially enrolling as a biology major, N’guessan later transitioned to economics and business before being encouraged by faculty to pursue additional majors. After careful consideration, he added mathematics and later computer science to prepare for doctoral studies in economics, a field that demands strong quantitative training. He acknowledged the difficulty of managing such a heavy academic load but said he approached it one semester at a time.
Beyond the classroom, N’guessan has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and research. He returned to the African Leadership Academy in 2022 as a teaching intern in its Global Scholars Program and has spoken at multiple Mastercard Foundation summits. He is also the founder and chief executive officer of VIRIDIS AI, a life management platform powered by artificial intelligence and cognitive science, which has received early stage support from organizations including the Mastercard Foundation, JPMorgan Chase and Blackstone.
His professional experience includes internships at St Paul’s School in New Hampshire and Intel, a research fellowship at the joint biomedical engineering department of Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, and most recently a role as a research assistant at Stanford University. There, he explored how large language model artificial intelligence systems can simulate human responses in economic decision making.
Looking ahead, N’guessan plans to become an economist entrepreneur focused on strengthening education, economic mobility and leadership development globally. He hopes to build on the technical skills and moral grounding he gained at Morehouse while continuing to lead with faith and purpose. He also plans to write a memoir exploring the transformative power of education.
For N’guessan, the Rhodes Scholarship is not simply an academic destination but an opportunity. He said his ultimate goal is to work diligently, with God’s grace, to enter spaces where he can share his gifts in ways that create meaningful and practical impact in the lives of others.
