Closure of the african forum for research and innovation (FARI) in Cotonou: ECOWAS offers $50,000 to the top three start-ups with the best innovations.

Cotonou, the economic capital of the Republic of Benin, hosted the 2nd edition of the African Research and Innovation Forum (FARI 2025) from 05 to 09 May 2025. Organised as part of the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS and around the theme of ‘African Youth, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Building a Sustainable Future’, the event brought together a host of leading political and administrative figures from Benin, as well as representatives of young start-ups and scientists from the Member States, around exhibition stands and panel discussions on the future of West African youth.

Presented as a continental event aimed at improving public understanding of the role of Science, Technology and Innovation in socio-economic development, this year’s FARI focused particularly on the innovations of young Africans in a context where the ECOWAS region today has more than 60% of young people under the age of 25, and where these young people are unfortunately exposed to irregular migration across  the Sahara Desert at the risk of their lives, as well as to the ever-increasing danger of terrorism and violent extremism.

After days of exhibitions, debates, competitions and deliberations, the last day of the African Forum for Research and Innovation (FARI 2025) was marked by the presentation of prizes to the three best young entrepreneurs who had proposed innovative solutions. The 1st prize of 25 thousand US dollars was awarded to the start-up EAZY CHAIN from the Ivory Coast for an innovation to facilitate and reduce the costs of maritime transport in West Africa, The 2nd prize of 15,000 US dollars was awarded to the startup CODE CLUB ACADEMY from Ghana, which developed a solution to help people with visual disabilities get around, and the 3rd prize of 10,000 US dollars went to the startup FESAM from Benin for creating an instant screening kit for cervical cancer in women.

In his closing speech, delivered in the presence of H.E. Mrs Eléonore YAYI LADEKAN, Minister of Higher Education and Research, representing H.E. Patrice TALON, President of the Republic of Benin, H. E. Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission, spoke of the importance of FARI, emphasizing that  “FARI embodies the spirit of learning, collaboration, knowledge-sharing and innovation, values that are fundamental to the progress and sustainable development of our beloved continent.”

“I am delighted to see young and experienced scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs from all over West Africa gathered here to exchange ideas and build together the pathways to progress through innovation.” He added.

In her official closing address to FARI, on behalf of President Patrice TALON, H.E. Madame Eléonore YAYI LADEKAN, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Republic of Benin, made it clear that: “science and technology shaped in Africa by Africans can meet local needs, while competing on the world stage…. As I close this edition of the FARI, I hope that the commitments made, and the recommendations formulated will be translated into concrete action”.

It could be recalled that on the 4th day of FARI 2025, the members of the Scientific Committee led by Professor Saliou TOURE, former Minister of Education of Côte d’Ivoire, made a number of recommendations to improve future editions of this major creative event in West Africa. They called on ECOWAS to encourage collaboration between young people in the ECOWAS region through innovation competitions and exchange programmes, and to create and strengthen regional platforms for sharing best practice, market access and co-development of solutions.

Member States were asked, among other things, to strengthen the entrepreneurial skills of young people in emerging fields, to facilitate access to financing by drawing on the mechanisms and opportunities available to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and to set up special programmes for women and young people with disabilities to ensure equitable participation in innovation and entrepreneurship.

On the fringes of FARI 2025, HE Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY visited the laboratory of the Applied Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances Research Unit (URMAPha) at the University of Abomey-Calavi on the evening of Friday 09 May 2025, accompanied by H.E. Amadou DIONGUE, EC-WEA Resident Representative in Benin. This laboratory was equipped thanks to a grant of 200,000 dollars offered in 2021 by ECOWAS as part of the African Research and Innovation Programme (ARIP), which is a competitive programme to promote scientific excellence initiated by the ECOWAS Commission to subsidise the two (02) best research projects submitted by research teams in West Africa.