(Business in Cameroon) – On September 21, 2024, Adeline Tsemo Machega, also known as Adeline Tsemo Pelage, received the OAPI Performance Award in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. She was honored during the 7th edition of the Bénédicte Janine Kakou Diagou (BJKD) Foundation’s young entrepreneurs competition. The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) grants this award to recognize businesses with the most significant annual growth in production.
Tsemo’s company, Madinina Foods Sarl, which produces and sells madeleines, cookies, and shortbread using 100% natural sweet potato flour, earned high praise from the jury. In just eight months, her production increased fivefold, rising from 1,000 packages per month in December 2023 to 5,000 by July 2024. This achievement made her one of five winners among the ten finalists in the competition.
Founded in 2019 and based in Douala, Madinina Foods is known for its premium brand, “Bobo.” The quality and originality of its products helped Adeline win the 2023 Pierre Castel Prize in Cameroon, which awarded her €15,000 (CFA 10 million) to purchase new equipment and expand her production. With the CFA 3 million OAPI Performance Award, Tsemo plans to “improve our production process to establish a workshop that meets international standards.”
The BJKD Prize 2024 recognized five African entrepreneurs with various distinctions. These included the Grand Prix Janine Diagou (CFA 25 million in cash, training, and mentorship), the NSIA Prize (CFA 10 million), the Technical Innovation and Digitalization Prize (CFA 5 million), the Women Entrepreneurship Prize (CFA 5 million), and the Performance Award (CFA 3 million).
Launched in 2018, the BJKD Prize aims to support existing businesses financially and technically. It honors entrepreneurs aged 18 to 40 with innovative, high-potential projects, helping them enhance their production capabilities. So far, 34 African entrepreneurs have received financial and technical support totaling CFA274 million, creating over 1,000 jobs.
