Published
14 Apr 2022
Top Burkina Faso universities sign agreement with the Endeavour Foundation to boost careers in the mining sector
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On 8 April 2022, top Burkinabe universities signed a three-year partnership with the Endeavour Foundation to kick-start the careers of young graduates in the mining sector
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Under this partnership, 60 students a year will benefit from placements at Endeavour’s mines in Burkina Faso
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The partnership aligns with Endeavour’s target to promote the skill development of not just our current employees, but future employees, particularly local talent in the communities with whom we work
In an official ceremony on 8 April 2022, in Ouagadougou, the Endeavour Foundation took its next step in supporting the emergence of highly-qualified professionals in Burkina Faso by signing agreements with local higher-educational institutions to improve the integration of young graduates into the mining sector.
Adama Soro, our VP Public Affairs, Burkina Faso, explained that "this approach is part of the Education axis of our sustainable development strategy. Through the "Youth Talent" programme, which aims to identify promising young local talent and facilitate their access to top universities, internships and job opportunities, we support Burkinabe students in contributing to their country’s development.”
Through the "Youth Talent" programme, which aims to identify promising young local talent and facilitate their access to top universities, internships and job opportunities, we support Burkinabe students in contributing to their country’s development
Adama Soro
VP Public Affairs, Burkina Faso
The partnership is the continuation of Endeavour’s efforts to support educational initiatives in West Africa. Since 2017, through the “Elites de Demain” programme, we have invested close to 400 million CFA to support the education and training of 29 young people, 27 of which are in Burkina Faso. This is in addition to the regular annual internships Endeavour offers at its mine. In 2021 alone, we received a total of 400 interns. This university agreement is another significant step forward to achieving our long-term goal to hire close to 100% (2021: 95%) of our workforce directly from our host communities and countries.
Honorary Chair of the Université de Technologies et de Management (UTM), Tertius Zongo, was delighted with the signing of the partnership framework agreements which "convey Endeavour’s desire, through its Foundation, to contribute to training and promoting local skills”. He indicated that “the universities are committed to making this partnership work to have as many students trained as possible”.
Public-private education and training partnerships are a win-win for university students and companies: empowering students in securing lasting economic change in their countries and facilitating company searches for dedicated and qualified young talent to join their teams.