Togo First
University of Lomé Opens Hall Showcasing 2 Billion Years of Togo’s Geological History
The University of Lomé on Wednesday opened a fossil and rock exhibition hall showcasing specimens from the country’s coastal sedimentary basin. Led by the geology department, the facility is intended to support conservation, research and the promotion of Togo’s paleontological heritage.
The permanent exhibition brings together fossils and rocks spanning nearly two billion years of Togo’s geological history. Project officials said the initiative has several aims. These include creating a dedicated facility to house and conserve paleontological and geological collections, promoting the heritage among researchers, students and the general public, and encouraging exchanges with national and international experts.
The initiative also seeks to help develop scientific and cultural tourism, a sector that remains largely underdeveloped in Togo. “This hall is a hub for knowledge, a tool of inestimable value for future generations,” said Professor Yawoa Dzidzo Da Costa, who led the project.
Beyond research, the space is designed as a place of discovery and learning for schoolchildren and university students, and as a platform to raise public awareness of paleontology and geology. With mineral resource extraction playing a significant role in the national economy, the university says science outreach can help strengthen public understanding of environmental and heritage issues.
For the University of Lomé, the facility marks another step in expanding its research and innovation capacity. It is part of a broader effort to position the institution as a leading center for earth sciences in the region. The project received support from several extractive companies operating in Togo, including Scantogo Mines, WACEM and the Société Nouvelle des Phosphates du Togo (SNPT).
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Reviews Investment Governance to Align with AfCFTA Investment Protocol
Togo launched a three-day workshop on Wednesday to review its investment governance policy, aiming to align it with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Investment Protocol and promote a more integrated approach to sustainable development.
The workshop is led by the Ministry responsible for Investment Promotion and Economic Sovereignty in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). It is held under the theme: “Reforming Investment Governance for Sustainable Development in Line with the AfCFTA Investment Protocol in Togo.”
The event follows the adoption of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol, which marks a new phase in investment governance across Africa.
The workshop will provide participants with an overview of Togo’s investment governance framework, focusing on key legal instruments. Attendees include representatives from public administrations, parliament, the private sector and development partners.
The initiative also seeks to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the AfCFTA Investment Protocol and to spur discussions on the strategies and tools required to carry out comprehensive reforms of the country’s investment framework.
The reforms are intended to channel investment toward priority sectors while limiting economic, social and environmental risks. Togo has already aligned its development strategy with this approach, placing private investment, industrial transformation and mining development at its core.
“But our ambition is not limited to attracting more investment. Our ambition is to attract better investment: productive and responsible investment that creates value locally, respects the environment and generates decent jobs,” said Bedembada Bedinade, chief of staff at the ministry.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo launches Assinyon digital marketplace to promote local products
A new digital platform called Assinyon, meaning “quality marketplace” in English, became operational in Togo on Feb. 17, 2026. Designed as an online platform to showcase local products, the initiative was launched by the ministry in charge of Trade and Quality Control.
Presented as an innovative solution to help organize and regulate online commerce in Togo, Assinyon aims to increase visibility for Togolese entrepreneurs and provide them with a platform to promote their products. The initiative ultimately seeks to support the development of e-commerce in the domestic market.
Designed to operate independently, the platform features an automated publishing system. “When an entrepreneur publishes a product, it is first validated by the ministry. Once validation is obtained, the product is automatically shared on the pages and social media networks dedicated to the platform,” said developer Eastman Lokossa.
More than just an administrative step, this mechanism acts as a seal of approval for consumers. “The products featured will not only meet quality standards, since they will be validated by the ministry’s control services, but the visuals will also be optimized to better meet market standards,” he said.
The system enables products to be promoted online without requiring entrepreneurs to navigate complex social media algorithms. The quality and presentation standards aim to enhance the professional image of local micro, small and medium enterprises and strengthen their competitiveness against major international e-commerce platforms.
For Mensah Koffi Vinyo, chief of staff at the ministry, the initiative addresses the visibility challenges many micro, small and medium enterprises face. The platform seeks to close the gap in access to digital markets and facilitate connections between producers and consumers.
The Assinyon digital platform is the result of a joint initiative by the ministry in charge of Trade and Quality Control and the United Nations Development Programme, through the Project to Support Entrepreneurship and Development of Opportunities in Value Chains. The partnership is part of broader efforts to support local entrepreneurship and strengthen value chains in Togo.
Togo joins regional REWARD programme to cut rice import dependence
Togo is one of 14 West African countries included in the new REWARD-AfricaRice regional programme, launched in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, with support from the African Development Bank, the Africa Rice Center and ECOWAS.
The initiative has secured $8.5 million in funding over five years and aims to strengthen rice value chains and accelerate regional self-sufficiency.
The programme seeks to address persistent structural challenges. Average yields range between 2.2 and 2.5 tons per hectare, post-harvest losses reach up to 42%, and local production meets roughly 60% of demand. Import dependence remains high amid population growth, urbanisation and climate-related pressures on yields.
REWARD will distribute improved varieties, strengthen seed systems and introduce more efficient processing technologies. It also includes national seed roadmaps, training programmes and greater knowledge-sharing among participating countries. The goal is to raise average yields to nearly 7 tons per hectare over the medium term.
Projections suggest higher farm incomes, estimated at about $1,605 per producer compared with $1,385 currently, as well as the creation of 78,000 jobs, nearly half for women.
At the regional level, intra-regional rice trade could reach 250,000 tons, helping reduce imports and deepen agricultural market integration in West Africa.
In Togo, the initiative comes as rice plays a growing role in the national diet, while the sector continues to face structural bottlenecks. Production, dominated by lowland rice (55%) and rainfed rice (34%), remains limited despite favourable agroecological conditions, reflecting weak infrastructure management and limited access to quality inputs. In 2020, national output stood at around 153,000 tons, meeting only part of domestic demand and leaving the country heavily reliant on imports, which exceeded 43 billion CFA francs in 2023, more than half of consumption.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Enko Education, owner of Togo’s Cours Lumière, closes $46 mln funding round
Enko Education, a pan-African network of international schools that includes Togo's Cours Lumière, has finalized $46 million in financing. The funding includes a $22 million loan from South African bank Standard Bank.
The deal completes a fundraising round that began in 2025 with a $24 million equity investment led by Africa Capitalworks and West African fund Adiwale, bringing the total to approximately 25.4 billion CFA francs.
Enko said the new financing will support its expansion strategy across Africa. The network plans to accelerate acquisitions of schools with strong academic foundations while supporting their development, including in Togo. The group aims to consolidate its presence in Africa's fragmented private K-12 education market and reach 20,000 students by 2029.
Founded in 2013 by Frenchman Eric Pignot and Cameroonian Cyrille Nkontchou, the group now operates 16 schools in 10 sub-Saharan African countries. Togo joined the network in 2024 through Lycée Cours Lumière. Enko's model focuses on preparing students for admission to international universities, with more than 80 percent of graduates accepted into over 600 institutions worldwide.
The fundraising comes at a time when education spending remains limited in several African countries, driving growth in private education providers.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo welcomes AU move to revise Africa’s map depiction
Togo has welcomed a decision adopted last week at the African Union’s 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government to revise how the continent is represented on world maps. The initiative was led by Council President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.
The Assembly encouraged member states to promote the use of fairer and more scientifically accurate map projections in schools, official publications and institutional materials. It also called on international organizations, academic institutions and publishers to adopt representations that reflect the continent’s geographical reality. In addition, the Assembly asked the African Union Commission and member states to undertake a comprehensive review of cartographic standards with a view to proposing continental guidelines.
The AU’s position follows Togo’s 2025 initiative at the United Nations to “decolonize geography.” The country criticized distortions associated with the Mercator projection, which makes Africa appear smaller than it is relative to other regions. Africa accounts for about 20% of the world’s land area and nearly 18% of its population.
The decision, described as “historic,” is intended to “remedy historical distortions caused by certain cartographic projections, notably the Mercator projection, which tends to reduce the apparent size of the African continent compared with other regions,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
Togolese authorities say the initiative is more than symbolic and could help strengthen Africa’s standing in diplomatic, academic and media circles.
R.E.D.
Togo's KYA-Energy Group expands to Côte d'Ivoire
Togolese energy solutions firm KYA-Energy Group signed a partnership agreement last week in Lomé with Côte d’Ivoire-based Optima to deploy tailored energy solutions in the Ivorian market, particularly in the datacenter sector, Optima’s core business.
The partnership will focus on joint market development, training initiatives and the implementation of shared projects. It is part of KYA-Energy Group’s international expansion strategy.
“We have integrated an international dimension into our growth strategy for some time. After Niger, Benin and Mali, we are now taking the next step with Côte d’Ivoire,” said Yao Azoumah, chief executive of KYA-Energy Group.
KYA-Energy said it selected Optima for its expertise in developing datacenters, infrastructure that requires continuous and reliable power supply.
For Optima, the Togolese firm represents a strategic partner to support its expansion in Côte d’Ivoire, a country of more than 30 million people with a dynamic market and significant energy challenges.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo's Median Age of 18 Poses Jobs Challenge as Population Grows
The United Nations has lowered its estimate of Togo’s population after fully incorporating data from the 2022 census. The nearly 12% adjustment reshapes several economic indicators, including GDP per capita, which has been revised upward by more than 14%.
With a population estimated at just over 8.13 million in 2023, Togo remains one of West Africa’s youngest countries. But new projections from the UN Population Division also point to a country that has been undergoing a gradual demographic transition for decades.
A Massive Youth Population
Togo’s median age is about 18, meaning half the population is younger than that. This demographic profile strongly shapes the country’s social and economic landscape.
Hundreds of thousands of young people enter the labor market each year. This trend poses a major challenge in terms of jobs, training and education infrastructure, but it also presents an opportunity. If this generation is successfully integrated into the economy, it could become a powerful driver of growth.
About 54% of the population is between 15 and 64 years old, the conventional working-age bracket. That share is expected to rise gradually in the coming years.
Togo is no longer the high-fertility country it was in the 1970s, when women had nearly seven children on average. In 2023, the fertility rate stood at just over four children per woman.
The decline reflects structural social changes, including urbanization, rising education levels, particularly among girls, and broader access to reproductive health services.
Fertility remains relatively high, however. The population continues to expand even as the pace of growth gradually slows.
Progress in Health
Demographic transition is not only about declining birth rates. It also reflects improvements in survival. Life expectancy at birth has risen from around 44 years in 1960 to more than 63 years today. Infant mortality has dropped sharply over the same period. These gains reflect expanded vaccination coverage, improved control of infectious diseases and generally better living conditions.
According to UN projections, Togo’s population will continue to grow in the coming decades. It could approach 9.5 million by around 2030 and rise further thereafter. Much of this expansion is driven by demographic momentum. A very young population implies a high number of births in the years ahead, even if fertility per woman declines.
The central challenge is therefore not only population size, but the country’s capacity to convert this demographic shift into sustained economic and social progress.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Danyi 1 Municipality Unveils Tourism Plan to Drive Growth
Danyi 1 municipality in Togo’s Plateaux region plans to develop its natural and cultural assets to spur local economic growth. Local authorities aim to build a more organized tourism sector around largely untapped sites, including Agoumacha, Akpalagbo and Takpla.
“We will also open up other newly discovered waterfalls to visitors,” Mayor Paul Kossivi Onyiran said in a public statement last week, outlining planned activities for 2026.
The municipality hopes to attract both domestic and foreign visitors while generating income for local communities. The plan includes environmental measures to protect the area’s landscapes, including reforestation campaigns and awareness initiatives to curb deforestation and bush fires.
Beyond tourism, local authorities also plan to promote cultural diversity through traditional dance competitions and investment in sports infrastructure. Danyi 1 has just over 30,000 residents, with Danyi Apéyémé as its administrative center. The population is largely rural, split between a small urban hub and surrounding villages with dense housing and narrow streets.
Togo Plans First 2026 WAEMU Market Issuance, Targeting 20 Billion CFA Francs
Togo is preparing its first issuance of 2026 on the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) regional financial market. The Treasury aims to raise 20 billion CFA francs through a simultaneous issuance of Treasury Bills (BAT) and Treasury Bonds (OAT) in an operation organized by UMOA-Titres, closing on March 6, 2026.
According to tender documents reviewed by Togo First, the amount will be raised through 346-day BAT issued at a face value of 1 million CFA francs, alongside three- and five-year OAT offered at a face value of 10,000 CFA francs. The three-year bonds carry a 6.15% interest rate, while the five-year bonds offer 6.35%. The BAT will be issued at variable rates.
The operation forms part of the government’s 2026 financing strategy under a budget set at 2,751 billion CFA francs. The proceeds will help cover financing needs outlined in the 2026 budget.
For 2026 as a whole, Togo plans to raise 463.5 billion CFA francs on the WAEMU regional public securities market, equivalent to about 17% of the annual budget.
At the end of fiscal year 2025, the country had raised 325 billion CFA francs on the same market, reaching 97% of its initial target, according to data compiled by Togo First.
Esaïe Edoh