It is with a profound sense of loss that we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Pascal Edoh Agbove, a strong and dedicated champion of Togolese entrepreneurs and a global leader for economic empowerment. “Edoh was a great entrepreneur and visionary ecosystem builder,” said Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network. “After we launched Global Entrepreneurship Week in Togo in 2010, he grew the movement and developed the strategic partnerships that led to the infrastructure we see today.”
Through his leadership of GEN in Togo, Edoh brought global expertise and resources directly to the entrepreneurs of Lomé and became the face of Togolese innovation on the world stage. From the halls of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) to various strategic summits, he ensured that the challenges and triumphs of Togolese startups were recognized internationally. “A monumental figure for Togo whose impact cannot be understated,” said Ayla Matalon, who leads GEN in Israel.
Before launching GEW, Edoh founded SIM-Afrique, a consultancy focused on organizational management, economic development, and public policy support. In 2000, he founded the Initiative des Jeunes pour la Développement (IJD), a non-government organization that supports youth leadership and community engagement through training and programming. In December 2025, he was elected president of the board of directors of the Federation of Non-Governmental Organizations of Togo (FONGTO).
His impact on the growth of entrepreneurship in Togo is an enduring contribution. Under his leadership, GEN evolved from a series of meetings and workshops during GEW into a national movement for collaboration. In all his presentations, he repeated the phrase “ensemble pour un meilleur impact” (together, to have a better impact) to emphasize that the best way to achieve meaningful development was through the collaboration of the public, private, and civic sectors. This simple yet powerful statement became an inspirational rallying cry for Togo’s ecosystem leaders as they worked for collective progress.
His leadership institutionalized an annual policy hackathon, a monthly GEN Business Meeting featuring deep-dive panel discussions, and networking sessions that support young leaders. He also established FIDEL (International Festival of Local Economic Development), which bridges the gap between public policy and grassroots reality. These activities are supported through a variety of sources, including the Agency for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (ADTPME). “Dr. Agbove was a committed and visionary man,” said Sanjay Mungur, who leads GEN in Mauritius and collaborated with him on alternative finance sessions.
Other tributes that poured in from leaders of the GEN network across Africa, and from as far away as Bolivia, India, Indonesia, Singapore, and Pakistan, highlight three specific aspects of his leadership. He was a quintessential bridge builder with a remarkable ability to link local needs with global entrepreneurial strategies. He was an expert in local governance whose contributions are cited as providing a foundational roadmap for the country. And, he was a great mentor: testimonials emphasize his role as a "guide" for thousands of young Togolese leaders.
As a grand finale for Global Entrepreneurship Week, Edoh created “Nuit des Entrepreneurs” (Night of Entrepreneurs) to celebrate entrepreneurial excellence and foster high-level networking. It has become the signature gala event in Togo. The culmination of activities occurring across the country, it is a festive and inspiring space that brings ecosystem leaders together and propels the creation of new businesses. The evening includes a keynote address, musical performances, and an award ceremony. The 2025 edition was a milestone for Edoh as he successfully gained the international backing of the European Union (via the IYBA SEED project) and the German government (via GIZ, its development agency).
Edoh believed in “inter-communality”—the idea that we are stronger when we pool our resources. As we celebrate his life, we celebrate the blueprint he left behind. The networks he built, the entrepreneurs he inspired, and the policies he helped shape are the seeds of a stronger and more resilient Togo. In the spirit of the GEW 2025 theme, “Ensemble, construisons” (Together, we build), we honor his memory by continuing the work of building a world where everyone has the tools to turn an idea into a legacy.