Ouagadougou: The Sunni Movement of Burkina Faso (MSBF) has urged the private An-Nahdah University of Africa (UP-2A) in Ouagadougou to focus on producing competent and responsible citizens dedicated to fostering a sovereign Burkina Faso. This call to action was made during the university's official opening ceremony on Thursday.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the MSBF's president, El Hadj Oumarou Zoungrana, emphasized the organization's commitment to education as a means of societal transformation. He highlighted that the An-Nahdah Private University of Africa was established as part of a broader educational initiative that began in 2015, aiming to invest in education from kindergarten to secondary school. This initiative, he stated, underscores the importance of education in driving development, emancipation, and sovereignty.
El Hadj Zoungrana provided details about the university's infrastructure, which spans 28,589 m² and includes five buildings, 28 classrooms, two lecture halls, a laboratory, and both physical and virtual libraries. The initial investment in the university is estimated at around 1.5 billion FCFA, with potential expansions bringing the total investment to nearly 3 billion FCFA. He noted that the university's true value will be reflected in the number of graduates it produces and the impact they have on addressing Burkina Faso's challenges.
Highlighting the guidance of Burkina Faso's President, Captain Ibrahim Traor, Zoungrana stressed the importance of patriotic commitment, discipline, and responsibility in education. He asserted that sovereignty extends beyond territorial defense to encompass economic, industrial, technological, cultural, and intellectual realms. Students, he urged, should view the university as a place of knowledge acquisition and innovation, rather than merely a means to obtain diplomas.
The university aims to cultivate citizens with a strong attachment to their homeland, focusing on training individuals to serve both Burkina Faso and the broader African continent. The initiative seeks to expand educational opportunities and equip young people with the skills needed to contribute actively to national development.
Dr. Oumar Lingani, representing the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, applauded the Sunni Movement's efforts to enhance higher education in the country. He encouraged UP-2A to prioritize excellence, discipline, and innovation in its educational mission. El Hadj Issouf Kientega, the secretary of the Federation of Islamic Associations of Burkina Faso, also endorsed the university's opening, emphasizing education as a collective national duty.
For the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year, UP-2A will offer bachelor's degrees in private law, public law, international logistics, marketing, and communication, along with master's degree programs. The annual tuition fees are set at 360,000 FCFA for undergraduate programs and 630,000 FCFA for master's programs.