🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
First African Finance and Technology Innovation Exhibition concludes in Ouagadougou
via Lefaso.net3 min read
The first African Finance and Technology Innovation Exhibition SAFIT concluded on Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Ouagadougou, following three days of conferences, panels, exhibitions, and business meetings focused on the digitalization of financial services in Africa. The event culminated in a gala dinner, celebrating the success of the inaugural edition. Komlan Ametefe, Deputy Manager of Africasoft, praised the participants' engagement and the quality of discussions, noting that SAFIT created a platform for dialogue among African financial and technological ecosystem stakeholders, fostering collaboration for digital transformation. He emphasized that the exhibition achieved its goal by facilitating exchanges, enabling microfinance institutions to discover relevant tools, developers to understand financial sector regulations, and NGOs to adopt technological solutions for governance. Nomwendé Claire Lossiane, General Director of the Professional Association of Microfinance Institutions in Burkina Faso, a SAFIT partner, highlighted the event's role in sharing experiences and discovering digital solutions. The first edition gathered approximately one hundred participants. Organizers aim for future editions, with the second planned for May 2027, to expand significantly, involving more participants, exhibitors, sponsors, and the Ministry of Financial Inclusion and Digital Economy. Steve Khaunbiow, Commercial Director of Cagecfi SA, expressed the ambition for SAFIT to become a traveli
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Must ReadThe Technical University of Munich TUM has officially opened the "Kinderoase," the first permanent building designed by German-Burkinabe architect Francis Kéré in Europe. After over two years of construction, this innovative crèche is ready to accommodate up to 60 children of university staff members. Conceived as a "vertical kindergarten," the building features sustainable architecture primarily using wood, spaces designed for children's height, and an indoor play area connecting different levels with slides and playful routes. The building also includes a rooftop terrace, offering children an outdoor space for discovery and recreation. This achievement exemplifies Francis Kéré's architectural vision, which emphasizes innovation, sustainability, and user well-being. A professor at TUM since 2017 and recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2022, Francis Kéré continues to make his mark on the global architectural scene. Originally from Burkina Faso, he is known for his projects that combine local materials, energy efficiency, and community participation in construction. With the "Kinderoase," the architect provides Munich with an iconic structure that places children at the heart of its design, demonstrating that architecture can be functional, ecological, and inspiring.
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