The 10th edition of the African Salon of Invention and Innovative Enterprise (SAIIT) came to a close on Thursday, October 7, 2026, at the Bravia Hotel in Niamey, Niger. The event, which was held from October 5 to 7, was marked by a gala evening and an award ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Nigerien officials, including Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdoulaye Seydou and Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Sidi Mohamed.
The event also saw the presence of a delegation from the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), led by its Director-General, Denis L. Bohoussou, as well as representatives from the 17 member countries of the organization. Several speeches were delivered during the closing ceremony, including those by the OAPI Director-General and the Nigerien Minister of Commerce and Industry. The ceremony also featured the presentation of several awards to outstanding projects.
At the national level, the winners of the grand prize were the Islamic University of Niger, which took home the top prize of 1 million Fcfa, followed by Swiss-Umf University of Niger with 600,000 Fcfa, and the School of Mines, Industry, and Geology (EMIG) with 200,000 Fcfa. The President of the Republic of Niger's prize, which recognizes the best innovative enterprise, was awarded to Ousseini Salatikoye Mamane Kabirou for his company Likita Care, earning him a check for 5 million Fcfa.
Other awards were also presented during the ceremony, including OAPI prizes in the fields of health, hygiene, machinery, agriculture, energy, ICT, and best female inventor. Each winner in these categories received a prize of 1.5 million Fcfa. The three best SMEs were also awarded special prizes by the Agence AMANA transfer d'argent, ranging from 1.5 million to 500,000 Fcfa.
The event, which had the theme "Technological Sovereignty as a Driver of Economic Sovereignty," brought together inventors, start-ups, and investors from the 17 member states of the OAPI, as well as Algeria and Tunisia. The focus of the event was on financing endogenous innovations in areas such as agro-industry, health, renewable energy, and digital technology.
The 10th edition of SAIIT was placed under the authority of the President of the Republic of Niger. The event recorded a significant participation of innovators and stakeholders from across the region. The ceremony also included the belated recognition of a Nigerien entrepreneur, who was supposed to be honored during the 2023 edition of SAIIT in Togo.
The SAIIT 2026 event demonstrated the commitment of the OAPI and the Nigerien government to promoting innovation and technological development in Africa. The awards ceremony marked the culmination of a 72-hour event that brought together key stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. The next edition of SAIIT is expected to build on the momentum generated by this year's event.
Key points
- The 10th edition of SAIIT was marked by a significant participation of innovators and stakeholders from across the region.
- The event featured the presentation of several awards to outstanding projects in various fields.
- The ceremony also included the belated recognition of a Nigerien entrepreneur, who was supposed to be honored during the 2023 edition of SAIIT in Togo.
