PANS Burkina-2017 Prep. in full swing! A Mission Trip Report

PANS 2017 0

Africa Bound Corporation Pan-African Neem Summit

Mission Trip Report.  Burkina Faso. February 23 to March 4 2017

by Dr. Doudou D. Faye, PANS Chair

PANS Chair, Dr. D. D. Faye went is just back back form a 10-day mission trip to Burkina Faso (Feb. 23-March 4) to meet with the Summit local organizers under the leadership of Hon. Albert Ouedraogo, PANS Coordinator and Founder of Burkina Neem Fondation including: Meeting with the Organizing Committee: Mr. Barthélémy K. Poda, Mr. Simon Ilboudou, Mr. Joel Sedogo, Mme. Grace Ouedraogo et Mme. Monique. The country fervor for this upcoming african neem celebration is more than reassuring.
Dr. Faye and his local team met with several authorities including Her Excellency Anta Coulibaly Diallo, Senegal Ambassador in Burkina who was very happy and resourceful and supportive. The delegation was also received by the Minister of Health, Prof. Nicolas Médah, the Minister of Environment, Batio Bassière, the Minister of Commerce, of Industry and Handicraft/Artisanat, Stéphane Wenceslas Sanou, and one of the top ministers of the Moogho Naba, Lerle  Naba Tigré.
PANS delegation was also hosted by Mr. Issouf Sanou, Coordinator of the Fédération Nationale des Organisations Paysannes (FENOP), comprising about 50,000 farmer organizations nationwide. PANS was also honored by a warm reception of Mr. Harouna Dia, a successful Senegalese businessman in the fishery industry.
PANS hit the country trail to meet women organization in Sapouy, 100 km south of Ouagadougou for an interesting and participatory exchange on neem awareness, project building and involvement in the Summit. We also traveled to Nebore to meet with Mrs. Iniekema, a pioneer in neem oil extraction since 2005.
Several other visits were made in and around Ouagadougou, including visits of neem plantations. Dr. Faye and Honorable Albert Ouedraogo appeared twice in ImpacTV (live and as an hour-long program).  The mission was concluded with a very important press conference at the Ministry of Environment building where questions and answers, interviews and products show and tell and share were performed to the amiable surprise and interest of the entire press.
In a nutshell, Burkina is ready and willing to take the PANS as its own.  For more, please see this article from Burkina24 Daily: https://burkina24.com/2017/03/03/neem-sommet-sur-un-or-vert/.