Benin: The four startups encouraged by Paul Kagame during the launch of “Sèmè City Stories” in Cotonou
Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2025 9:01 am
During a state visit to Benin, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, took part in the launch of Sèmè City Stories, a platform for exchanges and sharing experiences designed to showcase talent and agents of change in Africa.
During this launch event, HE Paul Kagame spoke with innovative project leaders from the Sèmè City ecosystem.
The Sèmè City Stories aim to highlight the new generation of African talents who, through innovative initiatives having a positive impact on their environment, embody a paradigm shift.
The event was marked by a speech by the cyprus mobile database Director of Sèmè City, Claude Borna, who called for the promotion of African solutions to African problems and for a change of mentality in favor of Made in Africa innovation with the slogan "I AM IMA".
“I AM IMA” is above all a state of mind that allows one to free oneself from all limiting thoughts in order to unleash one’s creative potential. For her, “ Together, we can build a regional ecosystem that promotes Made in Africa innovation and positively impacts millions of young people to advance the vision of a future written by Africans and for Africans .”
The Director General of Sèmè City then spoke of the need to strengthen partnerships between Sèmè City and leading Rwandan institutions, such as Kigali Innovation City, Green City Kigali, Klab Rwanda and FabLab Rwanda.
For this first edition of "Sèmè City Stories", several ingenious initiatives were presented by changemakers* in the fields of environment, security and tourism, highlighting the collaborative, experimental and creative approach of young talents in the Sèmè City ecosystem:
229 Cadre de vie, a digital solution designed by Paola Crinot and Ursanne Vissoh, two students from Africa Design School, to combat unsanitary conditions and incivility; this project responds to a request from the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development in Benin.
Sécu Moto, a digital platform developed by Fémi Facia and Mohamed Salifou, both graduates of EPITECH Benin, a leading IT school, to prevent motorcycle theft and facilitate the management of complaints by the police.
Fiwé , a tourism application that highlights Beninese heritage and culture, developed by Cléopâtre Kougniazondé and the AfrikaFun agency as part of a Sèmè City entrepreneurship support program financed by the World Bank.
Xtechlab , the experimental research platform of Sèmè City, for which the young researcher Marielle Agbahoungbata is responsible, and which serves scientific and technological research around the issues of sustainable development on the African continent, particularly innovative construction materials.
His Excellency Paul Kagame encouraged Sèmè City to continue its efforts to develop a community of changemakers*. Regarding the issue of brain drain, he sees Sèmè City as an opportunity not only to retain talent but also to attract and create new talent.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration between the two African countries to address common challenges in the development of a knowledge economy in Africa: “ I want to assure you that a partnership is guaranteed between Rwandan institutions and Sèmè City. We will partner in every way possible to work together to grow together. ”
This is how, by relying on strong partnerships born from South-South cooperation, Sèmè City is continuing its development with a view to installing a real regional hub on its main campus under construction in Ouidah.
During this launch event, HE Paul Kagame spoke with innovative project leaders from the Sèmè City ecosystem.
The Sèmè City Stories aim to highlight the new generation of African talents who, through innovative initiatives having a positive impact on their environment, embody a paradigm shift.
The event was marked by a speech by the cyprus mobile database Director of Sèmè City, Claude Borna, who called for the promotion of African solutions to African problems and for a change of mentality in favor of Made in Africa innovation with the slogan "I AM IMA".
“I AM IMA” is above all a state of mind that allows one to free oneself from all limiting thoughts in order to unleash one’s creative potential. For her, “ Together, we can build a regional ecosystem that promotes Made in Africa innovation and positively impacts millions of young people to advance the vision of a future written by Africans and for Africans .”
The Director General of Sèmè City then spoke of the need to strengthen partnerships between Sèmè City and leading Rwandan institutions, such as Kigali Innovation City, Green City Kigali, Klab Rwanda and FabLab Rwanda.
For this first edition of "Sèmè City Stories", several ingenious initiatives were presented by changemakers* in the fields of environment, security and tourism, highlighting the collaborative, experimental and creative approach of young talents in the Sèmè City ecosystem:
229 Cadre de vie, a digital solution designed by Paola Crinot and Ursanne Vissoh, two students from Africa Design School, to combat unsanitary conditions and incivility; this project responds to a request from the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development in Benin.
Sécu Moto, a digital platform developed by Fémi Facia and Mohamed Salifou, both graduates of EPITECH Benin, a leading IT school, to prevent motorcycle theft and facilitate the management of complaints by the police.
Fiwé , a tourism application that highlights Beninese heritage and culture, developed by Cléopâtre Kougniazondé and the AfrikaFun agency as part of a Sèmè City entrepreneurship support program financed by the World Bank.
Xtechlab , the experimental research platform of Sèmè City, for which the young researcher Marielle Agbahoungbata is responsible, and which serves scientific and technological research around the issues of sustainable development on the African continent, particularly innovative construction materials.
His Excellency Paul Kagame encouraged Sèmè City to continue its efforts to develop a community of changemakers*. Regarding the issue of brain drain, he sees Sèmè City as an opportunity not only to retain talent but also to attract and create new talent.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration between the two African countries to address common challenges in the development of a knowledge economy in Africa: “ I want to assure you that a partnership is guaranteed between Rwandan institutions and Sèmè City. We will partner in every way possible to work together to grow together. ”
This is how, by relying on strong partnerships born from South-South cooperation, Sèmè City is continuing its development with a view to installing a real regional hub on its main campus under construction in Ouidah.