Benin Gears Up for FARI-2025: Scientific and Startup Committees Position Innovation for Enhanced Regional Scientific Devt.
By Raymond Enoch
Key stakeholders meet 17th March 2025 in Cotonou Benin Republic to launch a crucial phase of preparations for the 2nd African Forum for Research and Innovation tagged FARI-2025).
This major event, which aims to spotlight Africa’s young talent, innovation, and entrepreneurship, is seen as a critical stepping stone in the region’s drive to foster a sustainable future built on scientific and technological advancements.
Koladé Josué Azandégbey, Deputy Chief of Staff at Benin’s Ministry of Higher Education, underscored the importance of youth innovation in the region, noting that West Africa’s young people are a driving force capable of creating groundbreaking solutions for the continent. “Youth is a very important human resource for innovation in the West African region,” Azandégbey stated, highlighting their potential to shape the future of Africa.
The gathering was led by Amadou Diongue, the Resident Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Benin, who passionately stressed the need for Africa to move beyond mere consumption of science and technology to becoming a producer of cutting-edge innovations. “Development can only come from people, and these people need science and technology,” Diongue emphasized, echoing the call for Africa to leverage its young talent for scientific and technological advancement.
In his role as Chairman of the FARI-2025 National Organizing Committee, Diongue outlined the strategic importance of FARI-2025, not only as an event to showcase innovations but also as a forum for positioning Africa as a global leader in science and technology. He expressed his pride in Benin’s role as the host country and pledged the nation’s full commitment to ensuring the success of the event.
The focus of this session was the finalization of the work programme, with sub-committees tasked with specific duties: the Scientific Committee sub-committee will concentrate on defining the central themes and panel discussions, while the Jury for Start-ups will identify the three top innovators from each ECOWAS member state. The jury, led by Abbas Miezan, Chairman of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will play a key role in selecting the startups that will showcase their projects at the forum.
With a vision of transforming FARI into a benchmark event for science and innovation across the West African region, the meeting also aimed to address the technical and financial phases necessary for the forum’s execution. Prof. Saliou Touré, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, voiced his enthusiasm for the event, stating that FARI-2025 would be instrumental in revealing the immense potential of African youth to the world.
This year’s FARI event is expected to build on the success of the first edition and align with ECOWAS’ broader strategy to support and promote innovation, research, and entrepreneurship across the region. As Africa’s brightest minds converge in Benin in 2025, the Forum will undoubtedly set the stage for a new era of innovation driven by the continent’s young pioneers.
