In Togo, Boutamekpo Adakpo is crowned champion of the 2019 edition of the EDF Africa Tour. On October 2, 2019, the day the results of the national final were announced, the young entrepreneur was once again able to count on his Energy Cycle. Thanks to it, he was ranked first, compared to four other candidates, all of whom had innovative projects in the electricity sector. “It is a great joy for me to be selected to represent Togo at the Grand Finale in France. I intend to defend my country validly on this occasion. And it won’t be easy,” the young champion told the Togolese press. This delight may well be explained, because beyond the influence on the international scene, Boutamekpo will be able to get an envelope of five to fifteen thousand euros and possibly benefit from technical support, if he is ever crowned champion at the grand finale of the EDF Pulse Africa, to be held in Paris on November 21, 2019.
In Togo, Boutamekpo has designed a 5-volt USB device that attaches to two-wheeled machines. This equipment is used to recharge phones and other devices. A solution that seduced the jury and earned first place for the founder of Afrique Tech. The young company has also launched solar lamps on the market that serve as light at night, especially in remote areas of the country that are most often affected by power outages. In Togo, only half of the population has access to electricity, according to World Bank data.
For the EDF Group representative in Togo, Olivier Clément, “EDF Pulse Africa provides support and assistance to Togolese entrepreneurs who, every day, propose innovations that meet the needs of the local economy.” The jury for the national finale was composed of His Excellency Marc Vizy, Ambassador of France to Togo, Astria Fataki, President of Energy Generation, Elie Lara Santiegou, Managing Director of Bboxx, Urbain Amoussou, Founder of Cube, Fatoumata Touré, Financial Analyst at the West African Development Bank, Olivier Clément, Director of EDF-Togo and Anderson Ahoua Boua, Off-Grid Project Manager, EDF.
Luchelle Feukeng