Burkina Faso’s military leader, President Ibrahim Traoré, has directed the country’s technical institutes and universities to shift their focus from theoretical research to practical engineering, reverse engineering and local manufacturing as part of efforts to accelerate national industrialisation.
Speaking to young people and students in technical institutions, Traoré said engineering education should be centred on producing tangible solutions to the country’s development challenges rather than lengthy academic papers.
He stated that engineering students would be expected to manufacture, replicate or build practical projects as part of their academic requirements.
“Regarding the technological universities… If you are an engineer, for your thesis, you must manufacture, copy, or build something. Otherwise, we will no longer support the writing of long papers,” he said.
The Burkinabe leader also urged students to use the internet as a tool for acquiring practical knowledge that could support the country’s industrial development.
He encouraged them to learn by studying existing technologies and adapting them to local needs, rather than focusing solely on theoretical concepts.
“Young people, use the Internet to seek knowledge. Copy everything you can copy except theory. We are currently putting all necessary conditions in place so that you can succeed,” Traoré said.
He added that students who are unable to develop original inventions should at least demonstrate practical skills by reproducing existing mechanical components or creating functional products.
“If, at the end of the year, a student cannot produce something practical but only theory, give them something and let them copy it. Whether it is a motor part or anything else, let them copy it or create something,” he said.
The directive forms part of the administration’s broader push to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and encourage innovation aimed at addressing Burkina Faso’s economic and technological needs.
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