🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Communication caravan addresses menstrual health and hygiene in schools to promote girls' education in Tenkodogo
via Lefaso.net5 min read
A communication caravan, launched on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Dédougou, Bankui region, and continuing in the Nakambé region, arrived in Tenkodogo on Monday, April 27, 2026. This initiative, led by the Consultation Circle of NGOs and Associations Active in Basic Education CCEB-BF in collaboration with local authorities, aims to promote girls' schooling and retention. A public conference was held at the general education college in Sector No. 2 of Tenkodogo on the theme: "Menstrual health and hygiene in schools: breaking taboos, ensuring dignity to promote retention and academic success." Innocent Sissao, technical support officer at the Directorate General of Specific Support and a founding member of several educational frameworks, led the discussion. He highlighted the pervasive societal taboo surrounding menstruation, even within families, citing an anecdote where his own daughter was uncomfortable discussing the topic with him. Mr. Sissao discussed with students the significant challenges related to menstrual management in schools. These include disruptions to classes, discomfort experienced by girls, a lack of gender-specific latrines, insufficient water supply in schools, and teasing from peers. These issues lead to repeated absences, school dropout, frustration, and a lack of self-confidence among girls. He emphasized that the negative impact extends beyond families, affecting national development through girls' educational attrition and increased vulnerability. Mr.
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The Tony Elumelu Foundation, in partnership with Burkina Faso's Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Employment and UBA bank, held a meeting in Ouagadougou on July 23, 2026, to discuss financing for young entrepreneurs. This second edition aimed to explore mechanisms to enhance youth access to funding, particularly in green entrepreneurship. The Tony Elumelu Foundation's program, which runs annually from January to August, focuses on supporting young entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on green initiatives. Chidinma Nioaukuo, the Foundation's communication manager in Burkina Faso, noted that the program has supported 384 entrepreneurs in the country, leading to the creation of over 39,000 jobs and generating more than $11 million in revenue for beneficiary businesses. Jacqueline Ilboudo, representing the Ministry of Youth and Employment, praised the Foundation's vision, aligning it with Burkina Faso's sovereign ambitions. She highlighted the meeting as a crucial platform for dialogue on financing young entrepreneurs and sharing experiences within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Ministry's representative also expressed a desire for discussions to cover access to finance, business formalization, technical capacity building, and improving the business environment, seeing these as vital for addressing climate challenges and fostering green entrepreneurship. Serge Coulibaly, Deputy General Manager of UBA Burkina, emphasized the program's success in transforming African economies by empow
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Faso, Head of State, and Supreme Commander of the National Armed Forces, presided over the official graduation ceremony of the 25th class of active student officers from the Georges-Namoano Military Academy on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Pô, Nazinon region. A total of 217 new second lieutenants are joining the service of Burkina Faso and nine other African countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Chad, and Togo. The Burkinabe contingent of this class comprises 199 officers. The class is sponsored by General Kassoum Coulibaly, former Minister of Defense and current Ambassador of Burkina Faso to the United States of America. It is named "Lieutenant Sawadogo Alexandre Bienvenu" in honor of the officer who died in service in February 2022. Major General Moussa Diallo, Chief of Staff of the Armies, urged the new second lieutenants to demonstrate integrity and loyalty to their respective nations, instructing them to reject "ease, arrogance, corruption, and treachery." This year's ceremony was held at the site of the new academy under construction. Lieutenant-Colonel William Desmond Baguera, Commander of the AMGN, stated that the new academy symbolizes "assumed national pride" and the Head of State's commitment to its construction. The 25th class wore new uniforms made from traditional Gourmantché fabric, worn at the end of initiation rites in eastern Burkina Faso. Second Lieutenant Abdallah Cédric Ki
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