On October 26, 2026, Niger's Minister of Refoundation and Promotion of Social Values, Abdourahamane Oumarou, delivered a public conference at the University of Tahoua. The event, themed "Refoundation and Changing Mentalities in Niger: Values for a Patriotic, Responsible, and Engaged Youth," drew the university community and several high-profile attendees. These included the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture, regional authorities, and the university's rector.
Minister Oumarou's conference began with a moment of reflection for the victims of terrorism in Niger. He then posed several questions before defining refoundation as a matter of conscience, behavior, and values. According to him, refounding the citizen and the state is crucial for the success of refoundation. He emphasized that artists and universities play a vital role in addressing contemporary problems.
The second part of the conference focused on changing mentalities. Minister Oumarou stressed that no revolution can succeed without a shift in mentalities, including intellectual identification of problems and finding solutions. He also highlighted the importance of work culture, food sovereignty, and solidarity.
The third part of the conference explored social values such as patriotism, responsibility, integrity, discipline, solidarity, and social cohesion. Minister Oumarou extensively explained these values, providing context and examples. His explanations aimed to help the audience understand the significance of these values in the refoundation process.
The fourth part of the conference centered on youth unity and taking action. Minister Oumarou urged the youth to take ownership of the refoundation process and move from awareness to action. He emphasized that this collective effort would guarantee a better future for the youth.
During the fifth part of the conference, Minister Oumarou discussed the five cardinal values underlying refoundation: excellence, protection of goods, solidarity, and promotion of dialogue. He elaborated on each value, illustrating their relevance to the refoundation process.
The sixth and final part of the conference focused on refoundation as a responsibility towards future generations. Minister Oumarou reiterated that refoundation requires a collective effort and a long-term perspective. The Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture also spoke, highlighting the context of the Nigerien revolution and the crucial role of youth in shaping the country's future.
Key points
- Minister Abdourahamane Oumarou emphasizes the importance of changing mentalities and social values in Niger's refoundation process.
- The conference drew a large audience, including the university community, regional authorities, and high-profile attendees.
- Minister Oumarou defines refoundation as a matter of conscience, behavior, and values, stressing the need for collective action.
