Togo students launch 45 small businesses through JA Africa-Boeing Entrepreneurship Program

March 18, 2026 in Business, Companies, Trade & Industry by Editor

JA Africa, YMCA Togo, and Boeing train 738 high school students in entrepreneurship, culminating in a national competition where SmartAir wins top prize for an innovative ventilation system.

 

Junior Achievement Africa (JA Africa), Union Chrétienne de Jeunes Gens Togo, and Boeing have delivered entrepreneurship training to 738 high school students across Togo in 2026, equipping them with practical skills to launch sustainable businesses that address local challenges.

Through the JA Company Program, participants explored modules covering problem identification, creativity and idea generation, market research, business model design, financial management, marketing and communications, pitching, and sustainable business management. The program aims to help students identify community needs and create businesses responsibly, fostering both economic and social impact.

“In Africa, young people have the ideas and energy to drive meaningful change,” said Henok Teferra Shawl, Boeing Managing Director for Africa. “Our partnership with JA Africa has already helped more than 5,000 young people across the continent unlock their potential. I am proud that the program in Togo produced 45 student-led small businesses, creating local economic opportunities in West Africa.”

The initiative culminated in a national youth entrepreneurship competition on March 14 in Lomé. Forty students from ten schools across Lomé and the Maritime region presented their business projects to a panel of judges.

The grand prize went to SmartAir from CS BAPTISTE, Kangnikopé, which proposed an Intelligent Fan — a ventilation system that automatically adjusts based on temperature, combining innovation with practical energy efficiency for homes and businesses.

The program demonstrates how structured entrepreneurship education can empower young people to create businesses that address real-world challenges, while building skills in leadership, financial literacy, and sustainable business practices.