In the heart of Agoè, a bustling district on the outskirts of Lomé, sparks fly from a small workshop where Patient Pouwereou Bodjona bends steel into the shape of a dugout canoe. At first glance, the scene looks ordinary. Yet, within the rhythmic clanging of metal lies a quiet revolution transforming Togo’s blue economy. Bodjona, a determined entrepreneur in his early thirties, is the founder of Bo-Bateaux, a pioneering company that builds boats from recycled steel — a daring innovation in a country where wood has long dominated the maritime craft.
Since establishing Bo-Bateaux in 2016, Bodjona has worked tirelessly to change how people think about local industry, sustainability, and innovation. He believes Africa’s waters hold vast untapped potential, not only for fishing and transport but also for industrial creativity. However, he quickly learned that ambition alone was not enough. Financing a metal-boat business in a country accustomed to wooden canoes presented countless challenges. Banks were cautious, investors were skeptical, and regulations often slowed progress. Still, he refused to give up.
Through persistence and adaptation, Bodjona began sourcing scrap steel and recycling it into affordable, durable boats for local fishermen, transporters, and tourism operators. These vessels, resistant to rot and less expensive to maintain, soon gained attention for their practicality. More importantly, his approach significantly reduced the pressure on Togo’s forests, which had long suffered from the continuous demand for boatbuilding timber. Thus, his innovation served both economic and environmental purposes, aligning perfectly with global calls for sustainable development.
Over the years, his company has grown from a modest workshop into a symbol of possibility. Bodjona now employs a small team of skilled welders, engineers, and apprentices — young Togolese who see in his work a chance to learn, earn, and dream. His impact goes beyond creating boats; he is building capacity, nurturing skills, and inspiring a new generation of African innovators who believe that modern solutions can emerge from traditional sectors.
Moreover, Bodjona has become an advocate for inclusive industrial growth. He frequently speaks about the importance of collaboration between local entrepreneurs, government institutions, and international partners to unlock Africa’s industrial potential. He argues that innovation cannot thrive in isolation; it needs supportive policies, access to credit, and fair regulation. His experience navigating bureaucracy and limited funding has made him a voice for reform in Togo’s emerging blue economy sector.
Today, Bo-Bateaux stands as a testament to resilience, creativity, and vision. Each steel canoe that leaves Bodjona’s workshop represents progress — a small yet powerful step toward economic self-reliance and environmental balance. As he looks to the future, Bodjona dreams of expanding production, training more young artisans, and positioning Togo as a regional hub for eco-friendly boat manufacturing.
With unwavering determination and a clear sense of purpose, Patient Pouwereou Bodjona is not only reshaping his country’s boatmaking industry; he is charting a new course for Africa’s sustainable industrial future.
