Women of the South West Region have reiterated their desire to foster development, progress and national unity, given what they say is their indispensable role in the country’s development. They met recently at the Buea Youth and Animation Centre to draw up strategies geared towards fulfilling this commitment.
The South West Regional Delegate for Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF), Moffah Judith Lyengu in chairing the occasion, explained that networking between women’s associations was a prerequisite for enhancing development, adding that one of the ministry’s goals was the creation of women groups. She explained that working with groups created greater impact than with individuals. Her presence at the ceremony, she added, was to supervise the election and installation of the South West Regional Bureau of the Federation of Cameroon Women’s Associations Network, FERAFCAM.
While presenting FERAFCAM’s National President, Mrs. Moffah stated that the association’s objective is to sustain Divisional and Sub-divisional Women’s Forums, providing capacity-building opportunities and information on gender issues and family organisations, amongst others. She called on women to form groups, work hard to improve their livelihoods, and actively participate in decision-taking through massive voters’ registration, given their numerical advantage.
Addressing the women, FERAFCAM National President, Mrs. Rose Nyobe called on them to shun gossip, despair and any divisive attitudes. She urged them to create a fund to facilitate the offer of assistance to needy women so as to reduce their dependency. She lauded the women’s efforts, as witnessed during her working visit to all six divisional chapters of the South West Women’s Forum.
All six divisional presidents elected Mrs Agbor Martha Besem as South West Regional President of FERAFCAM. Other executive members are made up of representatives from the various divisions. The new bureau was installed by both the FERAFCAM National President and MINPROFF Regional Delegate. The event was marked by musical animation from women groups, female musician Mary Mandi, a talk on income-generating activities and another on the woman’s right in obtaining title deeds.
