BlueInvest Africa: Kplolali Ahama Awarded for Aquaponics Project
Monday, 20 October 2025 09:37 
(Togo First) - Togolese entrepreneur Kplolali Ahama, founder of Aquaponie du Togo, was among the winners at the third BlueInvest Africa Forum, held in Lomé in 2025. She was honored for an innovative sustainable farming project that combines fish farming with vegetable cultivation.
Co-founded with Kokoevi Agbevenou, Aquaponie du Togo uses an aquaponics system that recycles waste from tilapia and catfish to fertilize vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs. The pilot site, covering 40 square meters in Lomé, stands out for its modular design, which can be adapted to spaces as small as one square meter—making it suitable for urban households and schools.
“I want to thank the BlueInvest Africa team and the European Union for giving us the opportunity to showcase our company and its project,” Ahama told Togo First.
The founders plan to build the first 3,000-square-meter commercial aquaponics farm in Lomé as their next step.
Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the European Commission (DG MARE), praised the project for its “strong environmental and social impact.” She said it embodies BlueInvest Africa’s mission to connect entrepreneurs and investors in sustainable and inclusive ventures.
Aquaponie du Togo, which won in the “Aquaculture Promotion” category, will receive continued support until the next forum in 2026, to be held in South Africa, along with four other winners.
Choosing Togo for the third forum—after Seychelles (2022) and Kenya (2023)—marked BlueInvest Africa’s first event in West Africa.
“The success in Lomé shows the Blue Economy is no longer an abstract idea but a real source of jobs, innovation, and investment,” Vitcheva said.
The two-day event brought together more than 200 participants from 30 countries, including 24 African startups that pitched their projects to European investors, financial institutions, and donors.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
