Organized until now only with establishments in Port-Gentil, the public speaking competition created by the NGO Festival de la Jeunesse took on another dimension this year by opening up to other provinces of Gabon, in this case Estuary, Moyen-Ogooué and Ngounié. He has just delivered his verdict.

Organized since February, under the leadership of Paul Toukourou, president of the Youth Festival, the preselections of Libreville, Lambaréné, Mouila and Port-Gentil made it possible to select eight candidates, i.e. two per province.

The following were chosen to represent their respective establishments: Alene Biyoghe and Ndombi Okoumba for the Aubin Georges Modjekoude high school in Lambaréné, Minto Niels for the Michel Dirat Complex (Grand Libreville), Abagha Akwe for the Mohamed Arissani high school (Grand Libreville), Moanda Bignoumba for the high school of excellence (Mouila), Ughulu Naomie for the Saint-Gabriel high school (Mouila), Assa Diawara for the Joseph Ambourouè Avaro high school (Port-Gentil) and Essono Mvono for the Islamic high school (Port-Gentil).

Faced with a jury made up of public speaking professionals, a representative of the Youth Festival, environmental education professionals who are partners of the NGO, namely Mouyissi Environnement from Mouila and OELO from Lambaréné, the finalists had to deliver on themes inspired by the World Climate Week held in Gabon in September, on the one hand, and the recent One Forest Summit in Libreville, on the other.

The final, first scheduled to be held in Port-Gentil, finally took place by videoconference, following the tragedy of the sinking of the boat Esther Miracle.

By presenting a plea on the impact of deforestation, Assa Diawara, from Joseph Ambourouè Avaro high school was crowned, followed by Essono Mvono from Islamic high school and Ughulu Naomie from Saint-Gabriel high school, both tied.

An appointment has been made for next year, certainly with the entry into the running of other provinces.

Faithful AFANOU EDEMBE