Hailed  by Ocean News as one of the five leading Togolese women-entrepreneurs, Viviane Assogba Tsogbaley has been heading for three years now Génial Wok, a business that specializes in vegan and vegetarian food, and makes natural fruit cocktails. In this interview, she relates with passion how the adventure had been for her over the past three years.

Togo First : You have been the head of GENIAL WOK for three years. Why did you decide to enter the agribusiness sector?

Viviane Assogba Tsogbaley (V.A.T): I had been passionate about agribusiness since my last year of Junior High. When I came to the university, I would provide my services to my friends, making cakes and other pastries for their parties. However, I thought of starting a business when I started working at SYL CONSULT. There, I was working under the National Agency for Employment (ANPE in French) and was responsible for amending young entrepreneurs’ projects. These young individuals were later funded and became business owners. It was then that I wondered ‘why should I keep writing job application letters?’

It was at that time that I started making juices at home. My initial goal was to open my own restaurant but to have enough customers, I had to begin by making juices. Next, the Organization for Food and Local Development (OADEL) took some samples of my products and liked them. It then ordered hundred bottles which were sold in their BOBAR shop that promotes Togolese products, agro-food products that is. Looking at the positive return our products got from customers, they decided to help us meet standards related to agro-food.

We benefited from their support for a year, from February 2016 to February 2017. We were trained in business management, taught to respect standards in place in the agribusiness sector such as the HACCP. After this, OADEL staff came to take samples of our products, again, and assessed them. Since the tests were satisfying, we officially launched our products.

T.F : So would you say that was the starting point of GENIAL WOK ?

V.A.T : Yes, indeed. We also got support to manufacture stickers where barcodes meeting standards are displayed. We decided to focus on these products and perfect them because they are good for health. There are lots of young people that currently suffer from diabetes, high-blood pressure, etc. At Genial Wok, we give particular attention to health and that is why we started selling vegan food. Regarding our cocktails, we have six flavours (pineapple-grapefruit, pineapple-banana-melon, pineapple-melon-passion fruit, pineapple-sugar beet-orange, tamarind). In fact, in one of our brochures, we described the positive impacts derived from consuming our products daily. Humans need an average of five fruits and some vegetables every day. One of our juices equates about two to three fruits, thus nearly half of the energy value recommended daily.

T F : Besides OADEL, did you get any other entity’s support? If yes, how did these contribute to your development?

V.A.T: Yes, besides OADEL, we were also supported by INNOV’UP, an incubator of startups, headed by women especially, for a year. It helped us better manage our business. Our incubation period ended in November 2017 which is why we officially launched on December 8, at INNOV’UP Centre. This was in the presence of Mrs. Assilevi (head of PNUD), ANPE’s Managing Director, Mrs. Leguédé (FEFA’s President). At the moment, OADEL is still helping us secure a license to export our products.

T.F : In terms of funding, how did you handle things ?

V.A.T : We were trained by the Support Programme for Grassroot Development (PRADEB) to secure funding but it yielded no result. We also submitted an application to FAIEJ, but have obtained no response yet. So far, we operate with our own funds.

T.F : You took a course in communication and marketing. So, how were you able to secure for yourself a spot in the nutrition and agro-food sector?

V.A.T: It’s true, I had the passion and my husband is a nutritionist. This helped me greatly as I had personally taken a course in marketing-communication. He helped us with the dosing before we launched. You would notice that it has been three years since we launched our activities but it is only recently that we started offering all flavours we had in stock. This is because they were being tested and we can firmly attest now that our products are good for health. They contain no added colouring, preservatives, or sugar.

T.F : You said your products were well received by customers so that brings us to ask at what pace you manufacture?

V.A.T: Presently, we produce 2000-2500 bottles per month, and soon, with FAIEJ’s support (hopefully), we could reach 5000 bottles. Some of our seniors who have been operating in the same segment the past six years and more (up to eight for some) actually produce 10,000 bottles. I believe that if we are able to reach 5000 bottles in less than three years, we will last long.

T.F : Do you eye foreign markets ?

V.A.T:  Yes, we do. Last year, we took part in the Forum for Young African Entrepreneurs and Business Owners (FOJECA) which regroups young entrepreneurs from West Africa. We were sent by INNOV-UP to Burkina Faso. Visitors were much interested in our products. Today, we have some partners in Switzerland and are in talks with them to determine how to export to this country. There is also another potential partner interested in importing them to France.

T.F : You were recently nominated among the five women-entrepreneurs making Togo proud by Ocean News ; how do you feel about this ?

V.A.T : When I came across this publication, I thought to myself that I should persevere because it was not easy, especially since we progressed with our funds. I am proud today to be an example for young people desiring to start a business also. However, it demands more than passion, training and support are also necessary.

T.F: What could you say to your young brothers and sisters who also wish to become entrepreneurs?

V.A.T : My advice to my young brothers and sisters is that it is good for one to work for himself. At first, it might not be profitable, but it is important not to focus on money. The most important thing rather is to realize that we are an example for others, it is to know that we can positively impact our society, to know that we create opportunities for others who will follow our steps and that our lives will not be vain.

Interview by Tajudeen Waliyullah

A study conducted by the Groupe de Réflexion et d’Action, Femme Démocratie et Développement (GF2D) on unusual practices impairing the protocol on free movement of people and goods across the Togo-Benin, Togo-Ghana and Togo-Burkina Faso borders, showed that 68.4% of population surveyed, in the framework of the study, negatively perceive and has some doubt about the effectiveness of this protocol.

These individuals denounce abuses such as racketing, illegal money collection, physical violence, seizure of goods, etc.

Thus, 40 years after it was adopted, the protocol on free movement of goods and people within the economic region seems to be facing some challenges.

Results from the same study reveal that only 45.5% of surveyed populations know about the protocol. 61.5% of those used to cross the Cinkassé border, 51.1% of those using the Kodjoviakopé (Togo-Ghana) border and 51% of those using the Sanvee Condji border do not know it also.

To reduce the various abuses and offences impairing the free movement of goods and people within ECOWAS, GF2D intends to accelerate the adoption of a national biometric card. This through its project to “promote community citizenship by relying on a sensitization campaign focused on the biometric national ID card and combat against various abuses at Togo’s border stations”.

French firm Linagora, which specializes in open-source software, and Comtel Technologies, a major actor of the tech industry in Benin, Niger and Togo, were just selected to develop a cloud-based professional messaging service for the whole Togolese public administration.

This was disclosed after the recent council of ministers held last Wednesday.

During the pilot stage of this project which was initiated by the ministry of posts and digital economy, 20,000 messaging accounts were created for ministers, advisors, private secretaries and diplomats. The project aligns with the government’s objective to modernize its public administration.

Looking at the success recorded during the pilot stage, ministry of digital industry wants to expand it to the whole public administration. To this end, “Linagora was selected, through a call to tenders, to install and commission the professional messaging solution, just like Comtel Technologies which will provide required equipment for servers and virtualization tools”, the minutes of the ministers’ council indicates.

With their level of experience, these two companies will handle technical aspects related to the project, mainly in regards to operations and security.

The new messaging solution will provide Togolese administration “G Suite” tools. With it, the government wants to give each of its servants required means to provide quality services to the Togolese people.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

In June last year, Teolis, Togo’s third internet service provider (ISP), spent more than CFA211 million to acquire an operating license. The telecommunications operator however launched its activities in the country only last February 22^nd. With a total investment of CFA1 billion since its creation, the new firm seems to be faring well. Its goals in Togo apparently align with that of the government, knowingly connecting the whole Togolese population, both rural and urban, to the rest of the world via broadband over the next decade.

In this interview with Togo First, José Anyovi, Managing Director Teolis, answers some of our questions.

Togo First: What innovations does TEOLIS bring to the Togolese market?

José Anyovi (JA): First, Teolis is a new ISP that acquired a license to operate in Togo. It will thus add much value to the country’s digital economy. Our main objective at Teolis is to provide a reliable, fast and economic internet service, both for professionals and the general public. We want to cover all of Togo and connect Togolese people to the rest of the world. In terms of innovations, we bring a certain diversity with technologies that our firm uses. This would allow all groups of the society to have access to internet services at interesting prices.

We have access to LTE technology which is expanding rapidly nowadays. It is one of the latest technologies in the telecommunication sector. None of the operators actually present in Togo has a license to use this technology.

Togo First: What about Vivendi Africa Group which is just landing in the market…?

JA: Well, Vivendi mostly deals with fiber optic and does not focus on the same sector as us. The technology that Teolis uses targets the general public, and is mostly related to mobile.

Togo First: Why did you decide to be established in Togo?

JA: Teolis is a Togolese company established by Togolese for Togolese people.  

Togo First: In Togo, customer service is still a major challenge that needs to be overcome. In this regard, what are presently the means at the disposal of Teolis to improve the quality of customer service?

JA: First, before offering any services, TEOLIS conducts a field study whose results it later releases. After this stage, deployment has to be planned. One of the advantages of TEOLIS is that it provides its major corporate clients monitoring tools.

Another thing is our teams’ reactivity. For example, a proactive team was dispatched to monitor our Network operations center (NOC). It is well equipped to tackle issues when they arise.

Togo First: TEOLIS comes with 4G. A technology that Togolese are not yet used to. What average speed should be expected? At what costs?

JA: Today, we wish under our strategy, to start our deployment with companies and the minimum speed we intend to provide is 4Mo/s. We have two different offers, including the business offer which is fully dedicated and the smart pro offer which is a shared formula.

Togo First: Togo’s government wants to increase Internet’s penetration rate to more than 90% by 2030. How will TEOLIS contribute to the achievement of this goal?

JA : Teolis fully shares the government’s ambition to increase internet’s penetration rate to 90% by 2030, especially since we also target the general public, both in urban and rural areas. The latter is left out in the major transition towards digital terminals. As a result, we mainly wish to focus on rural areas, as we said while launching.

Togo First: But more specifically, in terms of figures, what will your contribution be?

JA : We cannot tell since each operator has a role to play in covering the country. However, for its part, Teolis will focus on the general public as this is currently not fully taken care of.

Togo First: In Togo, mobile represents 99% of internet’s market shares while ISPs capture about 0.66%. What strategies will you leverage on to reach the general public?

JA: Teolis has a progressive expansion plan for the next five years and it will be unveiled at each developmental stage. As for our strategy, we have already revealed it while launching. Teolis Zone will be available soon. It is part of our strategy adressing mobile users.

Togo First :…Teolis Zone ? What is that?

The service will be presented when launched with all necessary details. It is our next offer.

Interview by Fiacre E. Kakpo

“Only vehicles meeting technical standards in place and respecting the maximum legal load and size, will be allowed to use public roads,” the Togolese government declared last Wednesday, during a ministers’ council.

This aims at avoiding the roads’ rapid degradation and make the infrastructures safer for populations, the ministers’ council said.

Still in the same regard, the government plans to use specific equipment to proceed to vehicle weighing and set technical control for vehicles.

Violations under the new approach include: exceeding maximum legal load, refusal to take vehicle to weighing station and road degradation (voluntary or not). In the case of the latter, the guilty individual is to pay for rehabilitation. In addition, the government also said it considers as a violation, failure to proceed to technical control.

During the recent ministers’ council held on March 21, 2018, the government declared it wants to tighten regulation against violations caused by social network users. The decision arose as authorities noticed limitations of the current regulation; one of such limitations being the inability to engage civil and penal liability of internet users.

Meanwhile, “many hate speeches and fake news are spread online, on social networks particularly; this is a global source of concern and a serious threat to social stability and social peace”, reads the decision’s explanatory statement. In this framework, new laws will be adopted. Among these, government plans to adopt a law related to fake news and create a reporting platform.    

However, before all these new measures are implemented, non-coercive measures will be first taken. For example, authorities want to “train populations to digital culture, through education and prevention measures; ease detection of abusive content by putting in place reporting processes; encourage self-regulation by establishing a trust-based relationship with ICT firms”.   

Additionally, the government wants to “tighten regulation of social networks by initiating a sensitization campaign on their use, and by signing with representatives of entities like Facebook and Twitter a code of good conduct”.  

This aims at ensuring a “responsible use of these media, to preserve social peace and ensure the respect of public and individual liberties”.