A graduate with a scientific baccalaureate (S2), with honours, Djibrirou Ba, known as Ablaye to those close to him, was destined for a promising academic path beyond the borders of Senegal. However, fate had a different plan for this young man from Ben Barack, a Dakar Suburb, one of mediation, even acting as a guide for his generation and even younger ones who aspire to adventure. Due to circumstances, and ultimately by choice, the young man who completed his studies at the prestigious Limamoulaye High School in Guédiawaye ended up staying and has been trying to make his way in the country ever since. Dialogue Migration spoke to him to share his experiences and set an example for all those who, despite everything, stayed put and are still making a name for themselves on the continent.

Can you tell us about your journey in organizing overseas travel?

It all started after my S2 baccalaureate with honours in 2017. My ambition was to secure an excellence scholarship to study in France, but that did not materialize. I was then directed to study medicine at UCAD (Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar), a choice imposed by my family. After two difficult years, I realized that it wasn’t the path for me, so I decided to quit. During that time, I searched for ways to study abroad, and I invested a lot of money into travel agencies, to no avail. It was through searching for myself that I gained expertise in the admission and visa application processes. While my own efforts failed, I began helping other students who were successful in obtaining their visas and going to study in France and Canada, among other study-friendly destinations.

You briefly mentioned it; can we say that these accumulated experiences everywhere were the starting point?

It was then that I realized that God might have a different plan for me: instead of leaving, my mission was to help those who wanted to leave. That’s how TOUKI AGENCE was born. We started from my house, then moved to a coworking space, before evolving into a studio converted into an office. Today, we have a well-structured office setup with a team of four people, including our indirect collaborators such as the couriers. With TOUKI AGENCE, I’ve helped over a hundred young people, both students and workers, go abroad under good conditions. We don’t just submit files; we guide each candidate from A to Z, ensuring they make the best choices based on their future plans.

What motivated you to get into this field?

My main motivation comes from my own journey and personal failures. I saw many young people waste time, money, and miss opportunities due to a lack of information or good advice. By understanding the ins and outs of admission and visa procedures, I decided to structure this expertise into a professional and reliable service, to spare others from going through the same struggles I went through. But beyond the professional aspect, it’s a mission that is close to my heart. Many young people think that going abroad is the only way to succeed. My goal with TOUKI AGENCE is to show them that it’s a strategic choice and not an obligation. I want every student or worker to leave with a clear project, a well-defined vision, and not just a way of escaping a precarious situation without adequate preparation.

“Every obstacle I encountered, made me believe that my place is right here.”

Why did you decide to stay in Senegal when you could have traveled like many others?

In the end, I had the opportunity to leave, and I tried. But as I mentioned earlier, every obstacle I encountered made me realize that my place was right here. Many young people want to leave because they think success is necessarily elsewhere, while it’s also possible to succeed here by creating added value. I chose to stay in Senegal to be an agent of change rather than leaving in search of a more and more uncertain future.

Can you share any testimonials from people you have helped?

Since the launch of TOUKI AGENCE, we have assisted over a hundred young students and workers to arrive at various destinations. For confidentiality, we will not mention any names, but we’ve had the privilege of seeing many beneficiaries successfully complete their expatriation projects. Some have been able to study at prestigious universities in France and Canada, while others have secured job opportunities abroad. What motivates us the most is receiving messages of gratitude from our clients, thanking us for the support and advice they have received to help succeed.

What are your future plans in travel organisation and facilitation?

We continue to evolve, and we have a number of ambitious projects for the future. For example, we plan to set up language and technical travel experiences. Many young people want to learn a language or acquire a skill abroad without necessarily expatriating permanently. We want to offer them short, structured stays that will allow them to grow both professionally and academically, while also having the option to return home. We also intend to focus more on facilitating academic and professional exchanges. Therefore, we aim to strengthen our partnerships with schools, universities, and companies abroad to enable young people to access  high-quality training and international internships.

In this age of digital communication technologies, the focus will mainly be on creating a digital platform to streamline the process. We want to digitalise part of our support to make it easier for candidates… The overall goal is to structure immigration as a tool for development, and not as an escape. We aim to offer solutions tailored to the needs of young people, whether they wish to leave or prefer to better train before returning to contribute to the country’s development.

What is your final motivating message to young people who might want to remain in the country, like you?Moreover, after giving up my medical studies, in 2021-2022, I decided to resume my studies at ESEA – Planification Économique et Gestion des Organisations (Economic Planning and Organisational Management). Today, Alhamdoulilah, I’m about to finish my Bachelor’s degree and continue on to an engineering diploma. This training gives me a better understanding of economic dynamics and helps me to structure my businesses for the long term. I believe that we can succeed in Africa by developing innovative and sustainable models. Rather than taking the traditional route of emigration, I chose to build something here and inspire other young people to do the same. My commitment is simple: to support those who want to leave, while developing solutions for those who want to succeed here. Immigration should be a well thought-out and strategic choice, not an escape by default. I have turned my own failures into an opportunity to help others, and today I am convinced that Africa needs young entrepreneurs and leaders to develop.