Abuja: The ceremony for awarding certificates of completion for soap-making training was held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the headquarters of the "Songtaaba-Nemarozian" association in L©o. Organized from May 11 to 14 for the benefit of 22 women, this initiative aims to promote "buying local" and strengthen the financial empowerment of the association's members.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was held under the chairmanship of the High Commissioner of the province of Sissili, T©windIsaac Sia, represented by the Secretary General of the province (SGP), Baowindsida Bingo, and under the sponsorship of El Hadj Ibrahim Kabor©, CEO of the company Eau Sissili. For four days, the participants learned the techniques of making solid and liquid soap from local raw materials. They were also made aware of the importance of precise measurements, hygiene standards, and safety instructions essential for handling chemical products.
In his opening address, the Provincial Secretary General, Baowindsida Bingo, commended the participants for their commitment, highlighting their determination despite the demanding period of agricultural work and household responsibilities. "Through this training," he said, "you have learned to transform what the land of L©o offers us-shea butter, oils, and plants-into solid and liquid soaps. You have proven that the women of L©o can undertake projects, produce goods, and feed their families through their work." Comrade Bingo also urged the recipients to continue on this path to supply the local market with natural and quality products, before officially declaring this training session closed.
The initiative comes from the Ghana-Yaare market traders' association in L©o, "Songtaaba-Nemarozian." Its president, Abdoulaye Ou©draogo, explained that the project responds to the national authorities' call for local production. He emphasized the immediate commercial potential of this project. "As traders, we regularly see imported liquid soap in our market. If we can produce it ourselves locally, the advantage is clear: we already have the network and the customer base." Ou©draogo outlined the association's future ambitions, which ultimately aim to establish an industrial soap production unit.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Awa Yago praised the quality of the knowledge acquired, while appealing to the local authorities and partners for start-up funding or production equipment (molds, utensils, oils). "When you acquire a skill, you become capable of helping each other and contributing. Today, to quickly launch our own production and start generating income, we have urgent needs. With a little support, we can get started immediately," she reassured them.
The meeting was attended by several local figures, including the provincial president of the Women in Solidarity of Faso. It concluded with a guided tour of the exhibition organized for the occasion, where officials were able to appreciate the quality of the samples produced by the trainees (soap balls and liquid soap), as well as Koko Dunda fabrics.