On April 21st, Abidjan buzzed with technological innovation at Science Fest Africa . Organized by the Maarif Foundation of Turkey, this event brought together young talents from some twenty African nations. Primarily composed of high school students, this event aims to transform these young people's curiosity into real scientific careers.

Concrete solutions to everyday challenges

Among the hundred or so projects on display, two Ivorian initiatives particularly captured the attention of visitors:

1. Smart energy for the home: Students from Sainte-Marie High School in Cocody presented an innovative home automation system. Faced with power outages, their device manages backup power via a home web application, allowing the user to prioritize which essential appliances to power.
2. AI to the rescue of agriculture: Hailing from San Pedro, young Cheikh Coulibaly unveiled "Tibascan." This tool uses artificial intelligence to diagnose diseases in cocoa and cashew trees. Its key advantage? The results are translated verbally into French and local languages (such as Dioula), making the technology accessible to all farmers.

Preparing the next generation of technology

The success of this edition has not gone unnoticed by professionals. For Wilfrid Koffi, a technology professor, it is crucial to encourage these vocations early on in order to close the technological gap on the continent: "Children have the best ideas," he affirms enthusiastically.

To reward this creativity, the winners will not leave empty-handed. The prizes include:

1. The installation of a robotics workshop in their school.
2. A comprehensive one-year training program offered to each member of the winning team.

This exhibition confirms that the Africa of tomorrow is being built today, in the classrooms and laboratories of these young inventors.