Ouagadougou: The official closing ceremony of the 2025 Patriotic Immersion in the Kadiogo region took place this Wednesday at the Ouagadougou municipal stadium, marking the end of an intensive month of civic initiation for 20,000 high school graduates. In the Kadiogo region, nearly 20,000 new high school graduates gathered on the ground for this grand conclusion. In an atmosphere of emotion and pride, the participants celebrated the end of a month of training based on the values of patriotism, civic-mindedness, social cohesion, and a sense of sacrifice.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was attended by a government delegation composed of the Minister of National Defense and Veterans Affairs, Brigadier General Celestin Simpore, and the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Professor Adjima Thiombiano. For the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Celestin Simpore, what the immersed people showed at this ceremony is proof that Burkina has young patriots, aware and resolutely committed to working for the benefit of the homeland. "They received the necessary patriotic training, in accordance with the watchwords of the comrade, President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traore," said Minister Simpore.
"The immersion was a good thing because it allowed us to show solidarity with each other. The instructors taught us to develop our physical abilities, our spirit of mutual support, and our sociability," said Doria Zongo, from the Sig-Nooghin Municipal High School. Ouedraogo Abdoul Aziz said he learned self-defense techniques and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack, while waiting for combat forces to intervene. "This is really important for us, especially in the current situation in Burkina Faso," he added. "We also realized that many of our brothers and sisters are living in difficult conditions, and this pushes us to have more compassion and solidarity," said the Congo-Sanata resident.
Launched on August 9, 2025, this Patriotic Immersion involved young high school graduates in all regions of the country. In the Kadiogo region, 20,000 young people were divided into 46 sections. As a reminder, instituted by the government in Council of Ministers on May 2, 2025, the compulsory Patriotic Immersion concerns students admitted to the CAP, BEP, BEPC and baccalaureate. For high school graduates, it is a condition for starting higher education.