UBA rewards winners of essay competition in Burkina Faso
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Netafrique
The United Bank for Africa Foundation rewarded the winners of its first national essay competition, held in Ouagadougou after receiving 1,256 entries. Tassnim Idrissou, a student at the Prytanée militaire de Kadiogo, won one million CFA francs and a motorbike for an essay on the digital transformation of schools, according to Netafrique.
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation rewarded the winners of the first edition of its national essay competition in Burkina Faso at a ceremony held on 23 October 2026 in Ouagadougou. Tassnim Idrissou, a final-year student at the Prytanée militaire de Kadiogo, won first prize, comprising one million CFA francs, a certificate, a UBA bag and a new motorbike, Netafrique reports.
The competition, open to students under 18 from the equivalent of Year 11 to Year 13, focused on the digital transformation of schools in Burkina Faso. The UBA Foundation launched it on 17 April. More than 1,000 candidates took part; the jury received 1,256 essays, of which 760 were selected after an initial marking round.
Eight finalists then sat an in-person test, seven in Ouagadougou and one in Bobo-Dioulasso. The test score accounted for 70% of the final mark, compared with 30% for the first stage. Second prize went to Aron Clauvis Yempabou Ouoba, from the Lycée scientifique régional de Bobo-Dioulasso, who received 750,000 CFA francs.
The awards ceremony was attended by UBA Burkina managing director Rasmata Djibo, as well as the winners’ mentors and families. The competition adds to initiatives recognising young people in Burkina Faso, including the science competition for girls that honoured 15 school-leavers, announced on 20 September 2026.
