Africa Top Success Ils font l'Afrique
The Togolese Jules Minsob Logou, the inventor of « Foufoumix » machine, honours his country by winning on 5th May 2014 in Abuja, Nigeria, the 2nd Innovation Prize for African (PIA) edition 2014.
And the piece of news makes the pride of a whole nation mainly the one of the Togolese Head of State, Faure Gnassingbé, who sent his « warm congratulations » to the prize-winner.
« You won the second prize of innovation on the level of African continent for year 2014 during a ceremony held in Abuja some weeks ago. I was informed about it and I would like to address you my deep and warm congratulations », wrote Faure Gnassingbé to Mr Logou.
In his turn, M Logou testified in the name of all his team, his gratitude and the one towards the Togolese number 1 in these terms: « It is a great honor for me and especially an encouragement for my team that worked hard. I thank the Head of State for this encouragement because this will allow us to move forward in order to win the other prizes ».
Recognizing the support of the World Bank which allowed them to move from 40 to 250 machines per month, Mr Logou took the opportunity to call on sponsors and investors to put at their disposal the necessary capital for the industrialization which will help to reduce the selling price to customers.
« At present, we have produced 700 machines while we intend to produce 15 million. We are thus looking for capital and investors in order to lower the production cost of the machine to make it more affordable to all levels of the population », he wished.
The second prize of an amount of 25.000 USD won by Mr Logou is the one of the best innovation with commercial end. On the whole, 10 candidates of whom the Togolese were selected over 700 candidatures from 42 countries of Africa.
The Innovation Prize for Africa rewards excellent innovations which value the African potential in the following five domains: agriculture / food processing industries, environment, energy and water, Health and well-being, Information Technologies and Communication (ITCS), Manufacturing industry and services.
We should remind that Foufoumix is a kitchen small robot which, on by electrical power, allows discreetly and without physical effort, to quickly transform tubers of yams (boiled in water) into “Foufou”, favorite dish of a lot of Togolese.
There are two models: the domestic model (250.000 F.CFA) and the professional model (300.000 F.CFA).
Jules Minsob Logou is an electrical technician who made his secondary education in the Technical Secondary School of Adidogomé in Lomé. His « Foufoumix » has already won several prizes of excellence and was the most innovative product of the International Trade Fair of Lomé in 2010.
Original text by: Blaise AKAME
