Morehouse College Student Selected as 2026 Rhodes Scholar

by Marlena Chertock |

Aniaba N'guessan stands with two other 2026 Rhodes Scholar recipients in front of a blue banner that says Rhodes Trust and Standing Up for the World. They are holding pieces of paper that say Guess Who's Joining the #RhodesClassof2026.

Aniaba Jean-Baptiste N’guessan, a senior at Morehouse College, a UNCF-member institution, has been selected as a 2026 Rhodes Scholarship recipient. The Rhodes Scholarship, the world’s oldest and most prestigious international postgraduate award, provides N’guessan with a fully-funded opportunity to pursue graduate studies in economics at the University of Oxford.

N’guessan, from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is a triple major in economics, mathematics and computer science. He is one of three 2026 Rhodes Scholars from the West African country, and the sixth Morehouse student to earn the scholarship.

Aniaba Jean-Baptiste N’guessan, a senior at Morehouse College, has been selected as a 2026 Rhodes Scholarship recipient. He wears a tuxedo and red bowtie. On the bottom of the photo is a red banner with white text that says Morehouse Triple Major, Aniaba N'Guessan '26, Becomes the College's 6th Rhodes Scholar.“Morehouse prepared me for this moment, not only by sharpening my intellect, but by grounding me in purpose, service and the belief that leadership must uplift others,” N’guessan said in a Morehouse College press release. “The trust, guidance, and institutional support I received from Morehouse faculty and mentors gave me the confidence and the calling to pursue opportunities like the Rhodes.”

N’guessan is also an Oprah Winfrey Scholar and two-term president of the International Studies Organization.

He is carving the path for artificial intelligence (AI). N’guessan co-founded Viridis AI, a life management platform powered by AI and cognitive science that has secured early-stage support from the Mastercard Foundation, JPMorgan Chase and Blackstone. He is also a research assistant at Stanford University, where he works on projects related to AI-driven causal interference and economic development, and previously developed computational models at Emory University to classify brain signals.

“I am so immensely proud of Aniaba for this prestigious honor and recognition,” Dr. F. DuBois Bowman, president of Morehouse College, said in the press release. “He is such a great young man, and as exceptional as his academic achievements are, his humble leadership and willingness to serve resonate just as powerfully. His selection as a Rhodes Scholar is another profound testament to his academic ambitions, intellectual caliber and tireless dedication. Aniaba is an exemplary representation of the mission and ethos of Morehouse College.”

Before Morehouse, N’guessan attended the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, which works to cultivate the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial African leaders.

N’guessan plans to become an economist-entrepreneur who strengthens education, economic mobility and leadership development worldwide.

He has a forthcoming memoir that delves into his faith, resilience and the transformative power of education.

“This experience is a pure testament of God’s faithfulness in my life,” said N’guessan. “I learned that a story rooted in faith can travel across nations, touch hearts, and open doors no human effort could force open. My faith was tested in moments when giving up seemed logical, yet I was reminded, as Nelson Mandela once said, that we must believe in the impossible, trust the invisible and walk boldly into the unknown. Above all, I’ve learned to trust my intuition, take risks led by conviction and remember that our achievements are never for us alone but to serve God and serve humanity.”