Houet: The compulsory patriotic immersion of new high school graduates was officially launched this Wednesday in the Guiriko region, at the private high school Gasmo II in sector 24 of Bobo-Dioulasso.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was chaired by the governor of the Guiriko region, Mariama Konat©/Gnanou, and brought together administrative, military, and traditional authorities, as well as representatives of youth organizations. The program aims to strengthen young people's attachment to their homeland and is targeted at those who have passed the baccalaureate exam and are about to begin higher education. Over the course of a month, participants will receive training in civics, social cohesion, and the values of discipline and civic engagement.

The Governor emphasized the importance of the program, urging participants to "demonstrate discipline, courage, honesty, and excellence" and to "seize this unique opportunity to imbue themselves with strong values that will make them worthy and proud ambassadors of their country."

The ceremony included the raising of the national colors, described by the organizers as "a strong symbol of commitment and unity." This year, the patriotic immersion will involve more than 60,000 new high school graduates across Burkina Faso, including 9,236 from the Guiriko region.

The launch in the Guiriko region forms part of a national initiative aimed at strengthening citizenship and social cohesion by equipping young people with the tools for active engagement in nation-building.