The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) proudly participated in the first edition of "Innovative Africa," a pan-African platform dedicated to promoting innovation and women's entrepreneurship. The event, held on May 11 and 12, 2026, at the prestigious Tagitor site in Bangou, western Cameroon, brought together 21 innovative projects led by women entrepreneurs from Cameroon, Congo, and Gabon.
A high-quality competition:
For two intense days, the Tagitor site in Bangou was transformed into a true hub of African innovation. The 21 project leaders, selected from among the best entrepreneurial initiatives in their respective countries, presented their innovations to a high-level international jury.
The competition followed a rigorous format: each candidate had a limited time to defend her project, present her business model, demonstrate the expected social impact, and specify her needs for technical and financial support. The presentations were followed by in-depth Q&A sessions with the jury members.
Beyond the competition itself, the event offered thematic masterclasses, practical workshops, and networking sessions, allowing entrepreneurs to exchange ideas with experts and receive personalized advice.
An OAPI delegation
was represented by two experts who played a key role in the event's success. Guy Francis Boussafou and Moustapha Ramadan Nlend served on the international jury alongside their counterparts from Cameroon, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Their presence brought an essential strategic dimension to the project evaluation: the analysis of the potential for leveraging the intellectual property of each innovation. This specific expertise of OAPI enriched the jury's deliberations and helped identify the projects with the greatest potential for sustainable growth through adequate protection of their intangible assets.
A pool of female talent dedicated to development
: “The quality of the projects presented and the determination of these women entrepreneurs deeply impressed the entire jury,” emphasized Mr. Guy Francis Boussafou. “We witnessed presentations of remarkable maturity. These women not only have brilliant ideas; they understand their market, their customers, and can articulate a clear vision of the impact they wish to create. However, we also noted with concern that very few of them were aware of the strategic importance of protecting their intellectual property. It is precisely on this point that OAPI can and will intervene to support them.”
The ability of these entrepreneurs to clearly express their needs and expectations to technical and financial partners was also praised by all members of the jury, making their selection process particularly difficult.
Three Exceptional Winners
After intense deliberations, three projects stood out, each representing one of the three participating countries:
• Strong Exchange (Gabon), led by Danielle Boutoumbi, emerged as the "champion of champions" thanks to its solid entrepreneurial vision, robust business model, and strong potential for social and economic impact. The project convinced the jury with its ability to address a real market need with an innovative and scalable approach.
• SADEC Industrie (Cameroon), led by Sogolaine Kouamen, distinguished itself through the excellence of its organizational structure and its considerable market potential. The project demonstrated a deep understanding of its sector and a clear and realistic development strategy.
• Eden Santé (Congo), led by Angely Barbouta and focused on women's health and hygiene, caught the jury's attention with its highly innovative nature and promising commercial potential. The project addresses a crucial and often overlooked need and offers an accessible and tailored solution.
The three winners will benefit from comprehensive and personalized support: an immersion trip to Algerian industries, an incubation program, entrepreneurial coaching, networking with the financial sector, training in artificial intelligence and soft skills, and, most importantly, support in securing their intangible assets (trademarks, inventions, and innovations) through the OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organization).
Intellectual property: an overlooked but essential asset.
One of the key takeaways from this event emerged during the masterclasses and discussions with the entrepreneurs: only 20% of them reported holding trademarks registered with the OAPI.
"This finding struck us," explained Mr. Nlend. "Through concrete examples drawn from real-life cases, we demonstrated to the participants the considerable risks they run by building their company's reputation on elements of identity and identification without prior legal protection." An unprotected trademark can be copied, usurped, or even registered by a third party, potentially destroying years of effort and investment.
The practical scenarios presented by OAPI experts sparked a genuine collective awareness. The entrepreneurs acknowledged their lack of understanding of the strategic importance of intellectual property and proved highly receptive to the protection mechanisms offered by the Organization.
A winning bet by the Director General
. By agreeing to associate OAPI's image with this inaugural edition of the pan-African competition "Innovative Africa," Director General Denis Loukou Bohoussou took a bold gamble that paid off.
This gamble was based on a deep conviction: the member states of our Organization possess immense potential for innovation and entrepreneurship that deserves high-quality support to contribute to their economic and social development.
The results of this first edition fully validate this strategic vision. The quality of the projects presented, the enthusiasm and determination of the participants, the immediate impact of raising awareness about intellectual property, and the entrepreneurial momentum generated confirm that this initiative was a sound one.
OAPI's commitment to innovation:
Beyond financial support, OAPI provided highly valued technical assistance and is committed to offering further concrete opportunities to these women entrepreneurs. The Organization has relevant tools to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem: financing mechanisms for structuring projects, a financing mechanism for invention and innovation, technical support programs, and, of course, its expertise in intellectual property protection.
This first edition of Innovative Africa is a winning bet for OAPI and confirms the strategic role of intellectual property in the continent's economic transformation. The Organization reiterates its commitment to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs within its geographic area, particularly women, in the development and protection of their creations.
