Burkina faso: In the dynamic of the Popular Progressive Revolution (RPP), 199 actors from higher education and research took part in a 30-day patriotic immersion at the Loumbila Training and Production Center, in order to strengthen the spirit of patriotism in the exercise of their functions.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister of Higher Education and Research, Professor Adjima Thiombiano, emphasized that Burkina Faso, engaged in a multidimensional struggle, requires not only competent individuals but also those driven by a profound love for their country. "Technical skills alone are no longer enough today. We need hearts filled with patriotism to effectively meet the expectations of the people," stated Minister Thiombiano, presiding over the graduation ceremony for the first class of graduates who completed their patriotic immersion program.
Professor Thiombiano addressed the gathering on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the official graduation ceremony for the class of teacher-researchers participating in the patriotic immersion program. Named "Mi Banma Djakonda," meaning "Fighters of Knowledge" in French, this class is expected to serve as a model, with a daily motivation to love and loyally serve their country, according to the Minister.
Throughout the 30-day training program, participants received instruction in various modules, including civic and patriotic education, university pedagogy, security, intelligence, and concepts of discipline and order inspired by military training. The class representative, Francis Somkieta Ouedraogo, a university hospital assistant in pediatric surgery, praised the enriching experience, which was characterized by camaraderie among colleagues and a supportive atmosphere fostered by the military instructors.
Mr. Ouedraogo expressed the class's overall satisfaction with the quality of the instruction received, pledging their commitment to addressing the country's challenges and maintaining the trust and hope placed in them. Meanwhile, Captain Dao Daouda, director of the Loumbila Training and Production Center, acknowledged that adapting was initially challenging for the university graduates but highlighted their commitment, humility, and determination in embracing the values taught.
Upon completing the training, the participants are expected to become agents of change within their institutions, combining academic knowledge, civic responsibility, and patriotism to serve national sovereignty and the development of Burkina Faso. The Loumbila Training and Production Center, a service attached to the National Service for Development (SND) established in 1986, provides civic and military training to conscripts and vocational training in various fields to promote workforce integration among young people.