Cameroon program graduates second cohort of ENABLE Youth agripreneurs
14 June 2024
The ENABLE Youth Cameroon (EYC) program aims to train 1,536 young Cameroonians—targeting 40% female participation—and create at least 600 agricultural enterprises. On 14 April, 273 agripreneurs (110 females and 163 males) graduated, while another batch of 695 (254 females and 441 males) graduated on 30 April at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel. All 968 graduates received 1 million CFA franc (USD1,690) incentive packages to boost their agribusiness start-ups while awaiting the funds for their business projects through banks and other financial institutions.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER), Gabriel Mbairobe, presided over the ceremony. The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, Dr Taïga; the Minister for Youth and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou; and the Minister of Women Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa. Other attendees at the joy-filled graduation included the National Coordinator of the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (AVC_DP), Mme Marie Jeanine Nkodo; the IITA country representative and Technical Coordinator of the EYC, Komi Fiaboe; the EYC coordination unit; the coordinators of the Youth Agribusiness Incubation Centers (YABICS); the YABICS host institution directors; senior officers from the different ministries; and the young agripreneurs. The successful completion of the program represents a huge win for the joint effort of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Cameroon government to help young people create jobs for themselves and fight hunger and poverty in the country.
In her opening speech, Nkodo applauded IITA–CGIAR for the achievement despite difficult beginnings and thanked AfDB for its continued support toward the youth agenda. Fiaboe congratulated the youths and reminded them of the change of paradigm, where they represent the unique hope for the long-desired African agricultural transformation and the Africa-feeding Africans’ expectations. He thanked the Minister for his strong support of IITA in this assignment. He also congratulated the Program Coordinator for successfully turning around a sinking program into a very inclusive and successful initiative. Minister Mbairobe, in his speech, cautioned the graduates to be responsible in using the resources at their disposal. During the graduation ceremony, he announced that 13 billion francs CFA had been deposited at the Commercial Bank of Cameroon to serve as guarantee funds for agripreneurs who will show up for loans if their projects are bankable. He congratulated both AVC_DP and IITA for their success and thanked AfDB for supporting youth agripreneurship. He expressed a desire to work with IITA on other initiatives soon.
The future of the graduates
The enthusiastic graduates look forward to fighting against hunger, joblessness, and poverty.
This is not possible without the necessary ammunition. So far, more than 385 agripreneurs have established agribusinesses.
Agnes Ndouga, an aspiring agripreneur from the YABIC Obala, revived a fish farming project associated with black soldier fly rearing from her initial project in apiculture after completing the program. The young graduate said she captured all rudiments to have her fish project take off. Soya beans, a protein source used in fish farming, are now costly, and its price keeps rising. With black soldier flies, which are a cheaper source of protein, she plans to produce more affordable, quality fish.
Contributed by IITA Cameroon
