At New Year’s wishes ceremony: Women’s empowerment minister urges women to embrace leadership.

She used the event to unveil the ministry's 2025 roadmap in the protection of women and the family. The event was also used by staff of the ministry present her 2025 New Year.

The minister stated that the ministry's primary objective for 2025 is to fight against poverty, especially among women. This, the minister said, will done through various programmes that have been put in place by the ministry to ensure women's economic empowerment, social protection, family development and the protection of children's rights. 

She further reminded women that the year 2025 is a crucial one for the country and it is imperative that they take part in civic and democratic processes.

“We have elections in 2025 and 2026. Women need to participate by voting, by registering. They also need to be represented in the various structures and in the right places,” Minister Abena Ondoa stated.

With regards to economic empowerment, the minister noted that government's current policy is based on import substitution, hence women have to be trained to be autonomous and be able to carry out income-generating activities.

To ensure that more women are equipped with skills to enable them become financially autonomous, she said the ministry has made plans to construct four centres for the promotion of women and the family, in Bambili in the North West, Gazawa in the Far North, and two in the Centre Region, in Bot Makak in Nyong and Kéllé and Afanloum in Mefou and Afamba Division.

“We haven't set aside the crisis regions because there are still people living there who need us. We must work to ensure that all this is achieved, and we are also strengthening collaboration with our technical and financial partners,” Minister Abena Ondoa added.

She regretted that women still suffer from gender-based violence.

“Families have to play their part, educate children well from the ground up, and then make sure they are not left to their own devices in society that is computer tools, social networks, as well as internet use. Families must play their part in family stability,” the minister stated.

Speaking earlier, the Secretary General of the ministry, Moussa Aoudou, disclosed that although results expected in 2024 by the ministry were not 100% achieved due to difficulties such as qualitative and quantitative staff shortages, poor and cramped premises, insufficient equipment, budgetary constraints, the achievements of the ministry remain laudable.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3348 of Friday January 24, 2025