Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, on Tuesday urged members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to develop homegrown solutions in higher education, research and innovation to meet their populations’ needs and reduce reliance on foreign models.
“The invader has left, but unfortunately, in many areas, we ourselves are prolonging its presence. We must become aware of this and develop homegrown solutions to our challenges,” the head of government said during a meeting with the ministers responsible for higher education from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Togo.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the second Conference of Heads of Higher Education and Research Institutions of the AES, held in Ouagadougou on October 13 and 14.
Discussions focused on harmonising and adapting higher education, research and innovation systems to local needs, with the aim of training qualified professionals and supporting development across the confederation’s member countries.
Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo urged participants to tailor educational programmes to local realities and the needs of their populations.
He also welcomed Togo’s participation as a guest, stressing that knowledge should not be confined by national borders.
Niger’s Minister of Higher Education, Mamadou Saidou, said the second edition built on commitments made at the first conference, held in Bamako in June 2025.
His Togolese counterpart, Gado Tchangbedji, welcomed the initiative, describing it as consistent with his country’s vision for regional integration and shared development.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger established the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) to strengthen cooperation, particularly in the political, economic and security fields.
HO/te/Sf/lb/as/APA