KOUDOUGOU – The National Center for University Works (CENOU) launched an initiative on Saturday in Koudougou to encourage students residing on university campuses to adopt joking kinship and other cultural values to prevent conflicts and foster social cohesion.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the regional director of university works for the Center-West (DR-CROUK), the event, dubbed “72 hours of Koudougou university campuses,” which ran from July 4 to 6, was designed to deepen students’ understanding of Burkinabè culture, emphasizing the role of joking relationships in maintaining social harmony among diverse communities. The theme for this year was ‘Joking kinship, a factor of social cohesion in our universities and university restaurants’. “We wanted to invite our children to embrace this rich ancestral heritage and use it as a tool in exchanges both in the city and on campus,” said Mr. Yougbaré.
The activities included performances by students in storytelling, comedy, and traditional dances, demonstrating the principles of fraternity, solidarity, and mutual support, which are particularly poignant given the challenging times Burkina Faso is currently facing. Richard Oubda, the Secretary General of CENOU, commended the students for the quality of their artistic productions, which closely aligned with the theme of the event.
In addition to cultural displays, the students participated in sports competitions, including men’s and women’s football, with the best performers receiving awards during a ceremony on Saturday evening at the Fasotex university campus. A total of 21 prizes were distributed.
The event also supported broader student welfare initiatives, with 140 students receiving aid from the Governor of the Center-West region to join the National Student Health Mutual of Burkina Faso (MUNASEB). Koudougou is home to four university campuses: Ouédraogo, Zoundi, Sylvestre Pia, and Fasotex, accommodating 778 students this year, as reported by the Central-West regional directorate of university works.