Bobo-dioulasso: The closing ceremony of the 72-hour training session aimed at strengthening the capacities of consumer rights associations in financial mediation and education was held this Thursday at the Bobo-Dioulasso Cultural Center. Organized by the National Agency for the Promotion of Inclusive Finance (ANPFI) through the Observatory for the Quality of Financial Services (OQSF), this event brought together more than thirty participants.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was chaired by the support officer, representing the Director General of ANPFI, Nicolas Kobiane, in the presence of the financial mediator of the OQSF of Senegal, Banda Diouf, special guest of the activity.
Over three days, from October 28 to 30, 2025, participants received training in several modules covering topics such as budgeting, savings, debt management, and consumer protection in financial services. This initiative aligns with the mission of ANPFI, which works to strengthen the financing capacity of financial service providers, improve access to financial services for vulnerable populations and SMEs, and protect consumers.
Following the sessions in Ziniare and Koudougou, the Bobo-Dioulasso session provided an opportunity to delve deeper into discussions on responsible personal finance management. Given the relevance of these discussions, participants expressed a desire to benefit from further similar training to better support their members.
The president of the Consumers' League of Burkina Faso, Dasmane Traore, welcomed the initiative, believing it addresses a real need. "This workshop is of great interest to consumer representatives. Many were not fully benefiting from the advantages of financial institutions. It was time to engage this important segment of the population," he stated.
According to him, "debt and savings management are necessary tools for every citizen to live healthily in an indisputable economic hygiene."
For his part, the OQSF's Financial Mediator, Edgard Ouattara, explained that the training aimed to strengthen associations' skills in budget management and financial mediation. "When a dispute arises between a consumer and a financial institution, the mediation system facilitates an amicable settlement to avoid litigation," he specified.
He finally invited the beneficiaries to act as relays within their respective structures to disseminate the knowledge acquired and contribute to financial inclusion in Burkina Faso.