Emmanuel Vitus Agbenonwossi

Organization:	Afro Tribune Group
Affiliation:	Fellowship Program
Stakeholder Group(s):	,|xyz|xyz| }}
Region:	Africa
Country:	Togo

Career History

Emmanuel Elolo Agbenonwossi is Social Entrepreneur, Web Journalist and Internet Policy Researcher from Togo. He is the founder and CEO of EvaFarms and Co-founder of Chocotogo, two award-winning agriculture technology start-up and agri-business companies based in his native Togo. With its organic non-melting chocolate, Chocotogo has won 7 awards in the last 2 years including the prestigious Innovation Prize of Young Entrepreneurs in Italy, the Francophonie start-up of the year and Togo’s start-up of the year 2015.

Based in Accra and traveling extensively through Africa and Europe, he has been working as journalist and Researcher for Alliance for Affordable Internet, the North Africa Post, Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC Afrique, Ghanaweb and other regional media outlets and ICT Policy research institutes.

He is the project leader of Cameroonweb News Agency based in Douala, Cameroon. CameroonWeb provides about 150 articles and videos daily to about 1.5 million visitors monthly, mostly from Cameroon.

In May 2017, Emmanuel has embarked on a new self-funded media project called Afro Tribune, with a focus on African success stories. He firmly believes that Africans need a new voice to tell their success stories and daily news o the World.

ICANN and Internet Governance Participation

Emmanuel is prominently involved in Togo’s iInternet governance processes through research, multi-stakeholder engagement and co-coordinate Togo’s national Internet Governance Forum. Graduate of the African School of Internet Governance (class 2016) and the internet governance Academy , Emmanuel’s interests include IT entrepreneurship, Africa digitalisation, e-education, e-agriculture, Freedom of Expression and digital rights. He believes that the bedrock for the sustained development of his nation is through youth involvement, internet development, and Entrepreneurship. His work and research led lead him to acquire a deep understanding of the Entrepreneurship and Internet ecosystem in Togo. He provides policy makers and young entrepreneurs with advice. He is a vibrant member of Internet Society's chapter in Togo and a member of the Policy Committee. He was in the 2016 Africa Internet Forum as a participant and panelist. He has also attended the Global IGF in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2016. Emmanuel has recently joined ICANN as a fellow of the ICANN59 in Johannesburg.

Education

M.A Journalism (Central University of Tunisia) B.A. Degree in Finance (IAEC University, Togo)

Awards

1. Start-up of the year 2015 (Togo)

2. Francophonie Success Story of the year 2016 (France)

3. Innovation Prize of Young Entrepreneurs 2014 (Italy)

4. Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship programme 2016 (Nigeria)

5. Guest of Honour Salon du chocolat de Bruxelles 2016 (Belgium)

6. Innovation Award of Togo Agriculture Trade Fair 2015 (Togo)

7. Success Story of Togo’s 56th Independence Anniversary (Togo)

10. Young African Leadership Initiative Ambassador ( Ghana)

12. UNESCO Youth Leadership Fellow (South Korea)

Internet Governance Forum