Innovators call for business-friendly environment for science, tech enterprises

The participants further called on African governments to provide adequate legislation that would help develop the science and technology/ innovation efforts being made across the continent.

A participant from Senegal, an innovator specialised in electronic waste recycling,  suggested the need to inculcate science, technology and innovation training in children’s school curriculum in order to build a generation of African  innovators who would make impacton the global community.

“From the education level, when people are young, you start to support them, and also funding, to pilot some innovation before expanding them, and that is what we really need, to fund research,” Boussoura said.

Another participant from Ghana Ernest Agyenim Boateng revealed that the platform was an eye opener in providing solutions to some of the problems affecting Africa.

“We are hoping that this program will not end here, and let’s see how the issues of border control are removed so that we will easily trade among ourselves because there are so many innovations going on and if we cannot trade among ourselves then it doesn’t add a lot of meaning to what have been done here, so we are hoping that ECOWAS will go beyond this one and try to remove the barriers as well,”Boateng said.

Further Collaborations between the innovators after the Forum was what another participant Ernest Iwum Barima from Ghana emphasised on, as he noted that it will improve trade relations.

Another innovator from Cote D’Ivoire, Abe Valere said his innovation of bio-fuel for cooking made from Cassava liquid is a clean energy that will protect the ECOWAS forest zone.

The Nigerian Minister of Science Technology and innovation Dr Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora while expressing his appreciation to the participants from different parts of West Africa said that there was the need to make it a challenge for the African nations to improve on Science, Technology and innovation for the socio- economic development of the region.

“We need to challenge ourselves and face our challenges. We cannot afford to wait for any other person. Am talking of Science Technology and innovation which is a global concept, it’s about doing things better faster and greater and achieving results particularly respect to solving our own problems and by so doing getting a better society In terms of socio-economic development of our people” Mamora said.

The Minister prayed the country hosting FARI after Nigeria which is yet to be decided will take it to a greater level in seeing that the aims of the Forum continue to be achieved.

Highlights of the event were the presentation of award and certificates to various categories among which Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari was recognised and awarded for hosting the maiden edition of FARI.

The three outstanding start-ups were also awarded as SETTIC-Senegal emerged first and winning the sum of 25000 dollars, Second place winner, EDINDIA Industries of Cote D’Ivoire worn a sum of 15000 dollars and HAJNADY-Nigeria worn third place and the sum of 10000 dollars in reward for their innovative business models.

The Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS also used the medium to recognise and award the sum of 10000 dollars to a 15-year-old Nigerian student, Faith Odunsi who won the Global mathematics competition in 2021.