It is an innovation in gastronomy in Côte d'Ivoire. A showroom opened its doors this Thursday in Abidjan to exhibit and promote soy products and foods.
Ama Justine, left her position as director of a social assistance center to embark on entrepreneurship through the manufacture and sale of soy bread. A bet that may seem crazy but which succeeds. A few years later, thanks to this showroom, she shows all her know-how. And has big ambitions.
"My challenge is to make Côte d'Ivoire self-sufficient in soy. And to ensure that Ivorians adopt soy. After this showroom, my dream is to build my own production unit. We already have two plots. We are looking for funding", informs Ama Justine.
In his "garden", a whole range of food products, skewers, "chepdjènne" (rice au gras of Senegalese origin), meat, "kedjenou" (Ivorian sauce), milk, wheat, flour , the gnomi (doughnut), the stuffed bread, the sausage, the peanut leg, the cream (for the skin), all with soy.
This sexagenarian intends to promote the consumption of soy in all its forms for its nutritional richness and for its therapeutic virtues. Because, she says, soy is a cereal containing lecithin, calcium, vitamins and proteins that help fight cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, anemia, malnutrition in children and delay menopause.

This showroom, fully equipped, was offered by Khalil Hesné, president of Afrique Soleil. A foundation created in 2012 to provide medical equipment to hospitals and support the care of the poor. This philanthropist says he is committed to the cause of women. This showroom is, for him, the materialization of his support for the development of female entrepreneurship.
" When she (Ama Justine) will reach cruising speed, we will connect her so that she can sell online. And support her in having vehicles to deliver everywhere, while waiting to open other showrooms in several communes ", confides Khalil Hesné, president of the Fondation Afrique Soleil.
Ama Justine, affectionately called "soy mom" has won numerous distinctions including the Tony Elumelu Prize obtained in 2016. In 2015, she received the Ivory Coast Excellence Prize where she ranked 3rd in the category "best initiative in the promotion of agricultural products". And in 2011, she carried the national colors high in Banfora in Burkina Faso, where she was awarded the Quality and Hygiene Prize at the Promotional Days.