For development of archiving sector: BEPA decorates Biya Very Distinguished Archival Authority.

The award was handed over in Yaounde Thursday September 7. This was during a double ceremony to close the 2022 Archiving Week.

The distinction that saw President Paul Biya standing tall was tagged: “Best Practicing Archiving Awards, BEPA”. It also marked the launch of activities of the 2023 International Archiving Week.

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, represented President Paul Biya at the ceremony. He was accompanied by several members of government, members of the diplomatic corps as well as senior officials of some state corporations.

The award was handed over to President Biya’s envoy, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Ismael Bidoung Mkpatt.

Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Bidoung noted that the award to President Biya is for his role in the preservation and promotion of Cameroon’s arts and culture.

He equally hailed those in attendance for their massive presence and urged all to work for the promotion of the archival chain. The minister encouraged other winners to continue to play exemplary roles.

Dion Ngute also urged winners to continue to work hard to develop the archival chain and develop good practices for the sector.

The International Archiving Week, the head of government said, was an opportunity for the different sectors to have a better rating and understanding of the role of archives in national development. 

The Prime Minister said under the “strong guidance of the President of the Republic, government is reaffirming its constant determination to work towards building and establishing a powerful international archiving logistic”.

He equally hailed the Minister of Arts and Culture for arrangements made to ensure the success of the event. The massive turn out of guests, the head of government said, was a true reflection of the role archives play in consolidating the past to build a better future.

Other laureates 

Some public and private actors were also recognised at the event. The Minister of Arts and Culture, Bidoung Mkpatt, was handed over a special award for respecting and following high government instructions in the archival sector. 

A special jury prize was awarded to all the members of jury for objective and impartial works during the exercise.

In public administration, the Ministry of Higher Education was awarded the Best Practices Archiving Award; the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries and the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife were distinguished with the prize of Archiving Commitment; the award of the Archiving Infrastructure was handed to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

In the category of companies and public administrative bodies, the Telecommunications Regulatory Agency won the prized of Archiving Commitment; the National Social Insurance Fund, CNPS took home the Best Practicing Archiving Award; the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, FEICOM, won the Best Academy Management Award as well as the 3^rd prize of the award. Meanwhile, the Cocoa and Coffee Sub-sector Development Fund, went home with Archiving Commitment Award.

In the private sector, the Golf University Institute, IUG was distinguished with the Best Archiving Infrastructure award while the National Financial Bank, NFC, took home the Archiving Commitment recognition.

About BEPA

The BEPA is a competition that seeks to encourage and promote good archiving practices within public and private institutions. The competition also seeks to raise the awareness of actors of the national archiving chain on the importance of archives.

The competition falls in line with government’s commitment to ensure the respect of best practices in the preservation of the country’s archives. Officials said it is also part of Cameroon’s National Development Strategy, SND30.