A Second Life for a Landmark Lecture Hall
Students filing onto the Avenue de l’Université this week found a surprise: the flagship amphitheatre of the Faculty of Science and Technology now gleams with fresh paint and humming air-conditioners. The makeover, funded and supervised by the Burotop Iris Foundation, took just a few months, yet the change is striking.
- A Second Life for a Landmark Lecture Hall
- Lecturers Hail a Safer, Smarter Space
- Students Feel the Difference Immediately
- Inside the Renovation Work
- Burotop Iris and Its CSR Vision
- Why Marien Ngouabi University Matters
- Community Applause and Gentle Pressure
- Practical Gains for Daily Learning
- A Signal for Further Partnerships
- Aligning with National Development Goals
- Looking Ahead with Renewed Confidence
The hall, long considered a symbol of scientific ambition in Brazzaville, had slipped into disrepair. Peeling walls, faulty lighting and heat made classes exhausting. Faculty leaders therefore welcomed outside help to restore the building without interrupting the academic calendar.
Lecturers Hail a Safer, Smarter Space
Professor Basile Bossoto, speaking during the hand-over ceremony, called the work “a concrete boost to teaching quality”. He stressed that well-lit benches and reliable sound now let lecturers engage hundreds of undergraduates without straining voices or improvising around outages.
“The action of Burotop Iris eases students’ conditions,” he said, noting that the upgrade supports the ministry’s drive for modern, inclusive campuses. Bossoto added that the gesture complements internal efforts to digitise curricula and attract research partners.
Students Feel the Difference Immediately
Engineering student Irène Massamba admitted she used to avoid afternoon lectures when temperatures soared. “With the new air-conditioning you can actually concentrate,” she smiled, laptop open beneath an overhead fan. Several classmates echoed her view that comfort will translate into higher attendance and better grades.
The restoration of the electrical grid matters most to final-year physics groups who need steady power for lab demonstrations. “We can now plug oscilloscopes without fear of a blackout,” joked Jean-Paul Molinga, sparking laughter—and clear relief.
Inside the Renovation Work
According to project supervisor Stephane Ngoye, teams first rewired the hall, installing more than two kilometres of cabling to meet safety norms. New LED fixtures cut energy use while brightening sightlines for note-taking.
Carpenters then repaired tiered flooring and fitted 500 ergonomically designed tables and benches. Acoustic panels and a modern sound system complete the package, allowing lecturers to broadcast clear audio all the way to the back row.
Burotop Iris and Its CSR Vision
The foundation, philanthropy arm of the Brazzaville-based technology group, aligns its projects with the Sustainable Development Goals. Romaine Gangoyi, Head of Operations, explained that education remains “the surest passport to shared prosperity”.
Previous initiatives include computer labs in rural lycées and scholarships for women in IT. The Marien Ngouabi facelift, he said, fits a strategy of targeting infrastructure that benefits large numbers quickly.
Why Marien Ngouabi University Matters
Established in 1971 and named after a revered national leader, Marien Ngouabi University hosts more than 35,000 students across ten faculties. Its science campus trains engineers, technicians and researchers critical to Congo’s diversification agenda.
Government roadmaps place STEM skills at the core of industrialisation, from agro-processing to telecoms. Upgrading teaching spaces therefore supports wider economic ambitions without waiting for large-scale construction.
Community Applause and Gentle Pressure
During the ceremony, student union representative Grâce Koumba thanked the foundation yet urged continuous maintenance. “An amphitheatre is like a living organism—we must clean, repair and respect it daily,” she reminded peers.
Faculty administrators plan routine checks funded by a small portion of registration fees, a model already tested in the library wing. Bossoto believes shared responsibility will preserve the hall for at least another decade.
Practical Gains for Daily Learning
Reliable speakers and projection screens mean lecturers can now incorporate short videos and virtual experiments without tech glitches. Chemistry tutor Danièle Okemba notes that visual aids cut preparation time and spark lively debates.
The smoother schedule also benefits commuters from south-bank suburbs. Fewer class cancellations reduce unnecessary trips, saving transport money and easing congestion around the university’s main gate.
A Signal for Further Partnerships
Gangoyi hinted that Burotop Iris could extend support to neighbouring faculties if monitoring confirms strong academic impact. He encouraged other private firms to “adopt” blocks on campus, leveraging tax incentives for educational donations.
Local press reports cite at least four companies exploring similar ventures, reflecting a national mood that combines civic pride with pragmatic investment in human capital.
Aligning with National Development Goals
The renovation dovetails with Congo’s Horizon 2025 plan, which prioritises knowledge industries and youth empowerment. By improving learning conditions rather than building parallel facilities, the project maximises existing assets and reduces budgetary strain.
Officials from the Higher Education Ministry present at the event applauded the foundation’s timing, as public universities prepare for a wave of digital learning modules in the next academic year.
Looking Ahead with Renewed Confidence
As dusk settled on campus, the amphitheatre lights stayed on—symbolic proof of the new wiring. Students lingered, taking selfies against the freshly painted walls. Their optimism suggests the makeover is more than cosmetic: it is a statement of faith in their potential.
“We feel seen and valued,” Massamba concluded, echoing a sentiment that may inspire more collaborations between academia and the private sector. For now, a revitalised hall stands ready to host the next generation of Congolese innovators.
