The University of Lomé on Wednesday opened a fossil and rock exhibition hall showcasing specimens from the country’s coastal sedimentary basin. Led by the geology department, the facility is intended to support conservation, research and the promotion of Togo’s paleontological heritage. 

The permanent exhibition brings together fossils and rocks spanning nearly two billion years of Togo’s geological history. Project officials said the initiative has several aims. These include creating a dedicated facility to house and conserve paleontological and geological collections, promoting the heritage among researchers, students and the general public, and encouraging exchanges with national and international experts.

The initiative also seeks to help develop scientific and cultural tourism, a sector that remains largely underdeveloped in Togo. “This hall is a hub for knowledge, a tool of inestimable value for future generations,” said Professor Yawoa Dzidzo Da Costa, who led the project.

Beyond research, the space is designed as a place of discovery and learning for schoolchildren and university students, and as a platform to raise public awareness of paleontology and geology. With mineral resource extraction playing a significant role in the national economy, the university says science outreach can help strengthen public understanding of environmental and heritage issues.

For the University of Lomé, the facility marks another step in expanding its research and innovation capacity. It is part of a broader effort to position the institution as a leading center for earth sciences in the region. The project received support from several extractive companies operating in Togo, including Scantogo Mines, WACEM and the Société Nouvelle des Phosphates du Togo (SNPT).

Esaïe Edoh