Ouagadougou: Divine Ouedraogo, a 4th-grade student at Notre-Dame de l'Esperance College, emerged victorious in the inaugural "Celestine Ouezin Coulibaly Prize" oratory competition, held on Saturday, with an impressive score of 91 out of 100. Her victory earned her a trophy, a check for 200,000 FCFA, and a laptop.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the 2026 inter-school oratory competition was organized around the theme "Can one voice open the way for others?" and included 14 winners from various schools in Ouagadougou. Four special prizes were also awarded. Ouedraogo, who calls herself "the Amazon rider Ouedraogo," expressed her happiness in winning, noting her frequent participation in public speaking competitions at her school. She found the theme engaging and was confident in her speech preparation. She aspires to further her skills in both public speaking and slam poetry.

The judging panel, consisting of Compaore Erwan and Abdoul Aziz Savadogo, assessed the contestants based on form and content criteria. They evaluated text structure, stylistic devices, illustrations, historical references, verbal communication, diction, and gestures. Compaore Erwan noted the candidates' satisfactory levels but emphasized the need for more training.

The competition was organized by the communication agency Leiodyprod Nova Com Influence (LNY), represented by Ramatoulaye Sawadogo, with the aim of highlighting young female talents in Burkina Faso through the Celestine Ouezin Coulibaly Prize. The selection process involved 46 establishments, which narrowed down to 15 candidates from 15 schools in Ouagadougou.

Celestine Ouezin Coulibaly, the prize's namesake, was a notable Burkinab¨ politician born in 1914 who played a significant role in the independence movement of Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso. She was the first female minister and member of parliament in the country.