The UBA Foundation recently held a ceremony in Ouagadougou to award prizes to the top candidates in the first edition of the National Essay Competition (NEC) in Burkina Faso. A total of 1,256 entries were received, with 760 deemed compliant with the regulations. Eight finalists were selected after a rigorous evaluation process. The competition, launched on April 17, 2026, aimed to promote reading, writing, and critical thinking among young people.
The competition was open to students from public and private high schools under the age of 18. This year's theme was "The Burkinabè school in the face of digital transformation: should we rethink the national education strategy?" The topic encouraged participants to reflect on the impact of technological changes on the education system and develop a structured argument on the challenges of education in the digital age.
Rasmata Djibo, Managing Director of UBA, emphasized the importance of education in shaping the country's future. She stated that investing in education is equivalent to investing in the nation's future. Djibo also highlighted that essay writing is not just a school exercise but a means of developing critical thinking, argumentation skills, and personal reflection.
Tassnim Idrissou, a Terminal A4 student, emerged as the top candidate with an average score of 94.625/100. She expressed her joy at participating in the competition, which she found enriching. Idrissou encouraged her peers to participate in future editions, stressing that the experience is valuable regardless of the outcome.
Clauvis Ouoba, a student at the Lycée scientifique régional de Bobo-Dioulasso, secured second place with an average score of 93.7/100. He attributed his participation to a friend's suggestion and was delighted with the outcome. Ouoba praised the experience and encouraged others to take part in future competitions.
The UBA Foundation awarded the top three candidates with financial prizes of 1,000,000 FCFA, 750,000 FCFA, and 500,000 FCFA, respectively. Each of the eight finalists received a motorcycle and a certificate. The competition aimed to promote reading, writing, and critical thinking among young people and provide a platform for them to engage with the challenges facing the Burkinabè education system.
The UBA Foundation's initiative seeks to support the academic ambitions of young people and encourage perseverance in their studies. By recognizing and rewarding outstanding essays, the foundation hopes to inspire a love of learning and critical thinking among the next generation of Burkinabè citizens.
Key points
- The UBA Foundation's National Essay Competition aims to promote reading, writing, and critical thinking among young people in Burkina Faso.
- A total of 1,256 entries were received, with 760 deemed compliant with the regulations.
- The top three candidates received financial prizes of 1,000,000 FCFA, 750,000 FCFA, and 500,000 FCFA, respectively.
