Lionel Bilgo
{{Short description|Burkinabe economist, political analyst, and writer}}
{{Infobox politician
| name = Lionel Bilgo
| office = Minister of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages
| term_start = March 5, 2022
| term_end = October 21, 2022
| predecessor = Stanislas Ouaro
| successor = Joseph André Ouedraogo
| birth_name = Lionel Joel I Wendkouni Bilgo
| birth_date = October 21, 1981
| president = Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba
}}
Lionel Joel I Wendkouni Bilgo{{Cite web |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384471 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=unesdoc.unesco.org}} is a Burkinabe economist, political analyst, and writer who served as the Minister of Education of Burkina Faso during the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration government.
Biography
Bilgo was born on October 21, 1981, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.{{Cite web |last=SAWADOGO |first=Lassané |date=2022-03-05 |title=Burkina: Lionel Wendkuni Bilgo, le nouveau visage de l'éducation |url=https://www.minute.bf/burkina-lionel-wendkuni-bilgo-le-nouveau-visage-de-leducation/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Minute.bf |language=fr-FR}} Bilgo graduated from the ESCP Business School in Paris, France.{{Cite web |title=CONFINTEA VII Speakers |url=https://www.uil.unesco.org/en/node/325 |access-date=April 2, 2024 |website=UNESCO}} He gained prominence for his pro-government poetry and statements supporting the Burkina Faso Armed Forces and Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) during the Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso.{{Cite web |title=Soldat, je vous aime, lionel bilgo - Search Videos |url=https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Soldat,+je+vous+aime,+lionel+bilgo&docid=608041492431848391&mid=5E75FB312BC74DF30DE35E75FB312BC74DF30DE3&view=detail&FORM=VIRE |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=www.bing.com}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toV3CF40qc4 |title=Surface de Vérité avec l'analyste politique Lionel Bilgo -BF1TV |language=en |access-date=2024-04-02 |via=www.youtube.com}} Bilgo is also the head of the African Golden Association for African Renewal, where he hosts debates with Burkinabe and Malian politicians such as Abdoulaye Ly, Mélégué Traoré, and Aminata Traoré Bagayoko.{{Cite web |last=B24 |first=Rédaction |date=2019-11-07 |title=Burkina : Les jeunes de l'association African Golden à l'école de Aminata Traoré |url=https://burkina24.com/2019/11/07/burkina-les-jeunes-de-lassociation-african-golden-a-lecole-de-aminata-traore/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Burkina24.com - Actualité du Burkina Faso 24h/24 |language=fr-FR}}
Bilgo was appointed as the Minister of National Education on March 5, 2022, following the January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état. During his time as the Minister of Education, he also served as a government spokesman.{{Cite web |last=ZONGO |first=Daouda |date=2022-07-26 |title=Réconciliation: Blaise Compaoré demande pardon au peuple burkinabè et à la famille de Thomas Sankara {{!}} Wakat Séra |url=https://www.wakatsera.com/reconciliation-blaise-compaore-demande-pardon-au-peuple-burkinabe-et-a-la-famille-de-thomas-sankara/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |language=fr-FR}} As Minister of Education, his main focus was promoting nationalism among Burkinabe youth and connecting them with historical Burkinabe figures. Bilgo was ousted from his position on October 21, 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-24 |title=With Kyélem de Tambèla, is Burkina Faso turning to France? |url=https://lejournaldelafrique.com/en/with-kyelem-de-tambela-does-burkina-faso-turn-to-france/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Le Journal de l'Afrique |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020181613/https://lejournaldelafrique.com/en/with-kyelem-de-tambela-does-burkina-faso-turn-to-france/ |url-status=dead }}