Over 20 Women in Nninong took part in the training workshop
By Mesumbe Nelly
In many rural communities in Cameroon and especially the Southwest region, women play a crucial, yet unrecognized role in community development, facing systemic barriers stemming from patriarchy and economic inequality.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) 8th March of every year, is one of the most important dates in the year for the global movement to strengthen gender equality and enhance women’s economic emancipation for a more equitable and resilient world.
Its against this backdrop that the Summa Cum Laude (Sango Madiba) Information and Learning Resource Centre, SCL-ILRC, Ekol-Muebah, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church, PC Mueban-Nninong, on the heels of the International Women’s Day celebrations organized a workshop to train some twenty women of Nninong Clan on Marketing Skills Development and Micro-Savings Management.
The workshop at the Sango Mabiba Centre, Ekol-Muebah took place March 6, 2025 ,holding under the theme, “Accelerating Action on Women’s Economic Emancipation “
The general objective of the workshop accordingly is to strengthen capacity of women leaders as economic actors to produce, manage and save economic resources (wealth).
The specific objectives according to a concept note from SCL-ILRC is to facilitate presentations on how to identify economic opportunities at local/community level,facilitate creation of common initiative groups (credit and loan facilities; Train women of how to operate personal savings options.
According to Dr Abwe Diabe, the workshop was supported by Nninong Women and Daughters Development Association, NIWODDA, Washington DC and Bakossi Cultural and Development Association, BACDA-USA. These US based organisations have contributed to Nninong women’s digital literacy over the years.
Dr. Ephriam Abwe Diabe in virtual address to the Nninong women pointed out the important role women play in society and the need for their empowerment.
He welcomed them to the Center which was created to encourage learning, innovation and community transformation. He said women have important role to play especially in a clan like Nninong where three quarter of the population is made up of women and girls and in a country like Cameroon where 50% of the population is made up of women.
According to Dr. Abwe Diabe, in order to play this cardinal role, women must be empowered to develop new skills.
” Women have the numbers to drive any development efforts. But they need to be trained and acquire the right skills,” he said.
He disclosed that it is for this reason that together with his wife and within the framework of EAD-PFE and partners, they decided to equip women with life changing skills, practical income generating skills like cake baking , making of soap etc.
“Women dont need to wait for this empowerment from elswhere, Every woman must claim her empowerment by taking action in one economic activity or another,” he said.
Strengthen gender equality and enhance women’s economic emancipation through training is part of the empowerment drive.
This is especially true in the context of Nninong and Bangem where a merciless armed violence called Cameroon Anglophone Crisis had for over three years (2017-2019) reduced the economic wherewithal of families and communities to zero.
Many women in these communities have been navigating the realities of the Anglophone crisis. “As the security situation and social cohesion are normalizing, the International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the key role that women play as economic actors, and device measures to further enhance their capacity to produce, manage and safe-up wealth in their communities,” a concept note from the workshop organizers sated.
Although many countries have made progress to combat discrimination and violence against women and girls, the problems of gender discrimination remain deeply ingrained in society, thus the need for continuous empowerment.
The workshop was facilitated by Rev. Tangyie Ndoh Neville of Presbyterian Church Muebah who drilled the women on Micro savings, while Ahone Bea-Anna Kelly in her practical session, drilled the women on the production of cakes and pastries.
The women were trained in income generating skills like cake baking.
Rev. Tangyie Ndoh Neville of PCC Muebah drilled the women on the importance of Micro savings,
