Burkina Faso: Hakili Mousso makes women’s scientific excellence a lever of sovereignty -

In Ouagadougou, the first edition of Hakili Mousso sets up a new narrative around female success. The national competition, dedicated to mathematics, physics and chemistry, places the scientific performance of young girls at the heart of the educational agenda. The award ceremony, presided over on September 19, 2026 by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, thus gives institutional significance to an issue that has long been relegated to the background: the place of girls in scientific fields.

The results give a concrete picture of this ambition. Inès Nikiema won the first prize in chemistry with 18.73/20. Aminata Traoré comes first in physics with 15/20, while Adjaratou Bama dominates the mathematics test with 14.25/20. Behind these individual performances, the challenge concerns an entire generation called upon to invest more in science, technology and industrial sectors.

However, the statistical contrast remains significant. In 2025-2026, girls represent 36.7% of the students in scientific fields, compared to 59.5% in non-scientific fields. Hakili Mousso intervenes precisely on this divide. The competition turns academic recognition into a public signal: a young girl can excel in science, earn a national distinction and become a reference for other students.

The choice of rewards reinforces this logic. Academic success thus finds a concrete extension, with resources likely to support the continuation of studies. The government’s discourse also associates this dynamic with the role of parents and teachers. This dimension is important, because scientific orientation is built very early on, in the confidence given to girls’ abilities.

With Hakili Mousso, Burkina Faso is therefore carrying a precise educational message: female scientific excellence deserves visibility, support and investment. The winners become the first figures of a movement that seeks to bring together educational ambition, technological skills and national development.

TheHatLady