The Western regional management of Éditions Sidwaya proceeded this Tuesday, May 02, 2023 to the launch of its open days. The event was also marked by the official opening of a new printing press in Bobo-Dioulasso.
Éditions Sidwaya is part of all the print media in Burkina Faso. It is with the aim of encouraging people to take an interest in its press articles that the Western regional management is organizing these open days from May 2 to 4, 2023. This is an opportunity for the public media to recall the importance of information and communication in life in society in general and in particular in the socio-economic development of a country.
“In a world where information circulates at high speed thanks to information and communication technologies, populations and players in the economic world are constantly connected so as not to miss any news, any opportunity. This increasingly advanced digitalization requires print media like Sidwaya to adapt to the technological evolution and the pace imposed on it by online media and social networks, in order to sustain its viability,” said sponsor Al Hassane Siénou, President of the Hauts-Bassins Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This ceremony was also an opportunity for Sidwaya to open a printing press in Bobo-Dioulasso with the aim of bringing paper newspapers closer to the populations of the Hauts-Bassins, Cascades, South-West and Loop of the Mouhoun.
“Welcoming this work tool, which is in line with the requirements of current technology, is a real privilege for the Hauts-Bassins region”, rejoices Mariama Konaté née Gnanou, secretary general of the region, representing the governor. And to add, “that by proceeding in this way, Éditions Sidwaya not only wants to get closer to the people who consume information, but also and above all to fully play its role, that of being the newspaper for all Burkinabè. In addition, the establishment of this printing press will have the merit of solving the problem of routing Sidwaya titles in the four regions that form the Great West”. “It will also be open to city works and will increase the supply in this area in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso and in the region”, she concluded.
The same goes for sponsor Al Hassane Siénou, who also invites economic players in the region to take over this printing press by carrying out all their printing work there. The implementation of the project to set up this printing press lasted several years before materializing, according to Assétou Badoh/Guiré, Managing Director of Éditions Sidwaya.
“It has been around 15 years since Éditions Sidwaya, supported by the Hauts-Bassins Regional Council, began to carry out this project in Bobo-Dioulasso. As a result, in February 2016, the Regional Council built the building housing up to 25 million CFA francs. As for the equipment, it was carried out with the state budget at a cost of 644 million CFA francs. she explained.
And the Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo to emphasize that “Sidwaya is the newspaper of all Burkinabè. It is therefore important that on the sidelines of this SNC to make known to the entire population to what extent these communication and information actors are fighting so that the entire Burkinabè population has sound information, verified and professional.
Ben Alassane DAO
Rufin Oula Allakagni TALK/Intern
