On October 6, 2026, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo attended the handover ceremony of new facilities at the Université Pédagogique Nationale (UPN) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The new facilities were built under the fourth and final phase of the university's modernization works, which began in 2021.
The new facilities include three equipped buildings, two of which have been rehabilitated and modernized, while the third is a new construction. The newly built structure comprises 14 auditoriums with 91 seats each, a meeting room, an elevator for people with disabilities, sanitary facilities, storage spaces, and a recreational park.
The two other buildings are dedicated to administration and science. The administration building has 54 offices, while the science building features seven laboratories, including two for chemistry, two for biology, and two for physics, as well as a darkroom. All three buildings have sanitary facilities and are designed to facilitate access for people with reduced mobility.
Yvonne Ibebeke, rector of UPN, expressed her gratitude for the new facilities, stating that they mark a significant step in the university's modernization and development. The new facilities bring the total number of operational buildings on the campus to a higher level, allowing UPN to reaffirm its position as a leading institution in the country.
As a token of appreciation for the president's efforts, the students' coordinator presented him with a trophy on behalf of the student body. The students' coordinator praised President Tshisekedi, saying that his efforts have rekindled hope for a better, more powerful, and more dignified Congo.
The Minister of Higher Education, University Research, and Innovation, Marie-Thérèse Sombo, explained that the construction and renovation of university infrastructure are part of a broader presidential program aimed at building a coherent, modern, and inclusive national university network. The minister emphasized that education is a key driver of social, economic, and civic transformation.
The new facilities at UPN are a testament to the government's commitment to improving access to basic social services and modernizing public services, as outlined in the president's six key engagements. The project reflects the government's efforts to prioritize education and create a more inclusive and modern university system.
Key points
- President Tshisekedi inaugurates new facilities at Université Pédagogique Nationale in Kinshasa.
- The new facilities are part of a broader program to modernize and expand university infrastructure across the country.
- The project aims to create a more inclusive and modern university system, prioritizing education and social services.
