At handing over of Obala, Ntui, Mbandjock workshops: Gov’t hails NHPC for efforts in promoting employment, vocational training.

The positive remarks were made Thursday by MINEFOP boss, Issa Tchiroma Bakary. This was during a ceremony to officially hand over the keys of workshops built and equipped by the NHPC in Obala, Ntui and Mbandjock rural Artisan and Home Economic Centres, RA/HECs. 

The handing over ceremony, presided over by minister Tchiroma Bakary, took place at the esplanade of the RA/HECs of Obala, Lekie Division, of the Centre Region. 

It was attended by the representatives of the Governor of the Centre Region, the Mayor of Obala, the Managing Director of NHPC, as well as other administrative authorities of the region. 

According to the Environment and Social Deputy Director, Suzanne Ngapout, the modern workshops built and equipped by the NHPC in Obala, Ntui and Mbandjock, are valued at about 300 million FCFA. 

Ngapout mentioned that the magnificent donation from the NHPC was part of the partnership agreement signed on September 16, 2021, between NHPC and MINEFOP. 

The agreement, it was revealed, aims at promoting employment, and strengthening the vocational training system of RA/HECs located in the Nachtigal Project areas.   

While the RA/HECs of Obala received a mechanic workshop, other RA/HECs in Ntui and Bandjong received a carpentry and tailoring workshop respectively. 

These newly constructed spacious and modern workshops are equipped with classrooms for tools such as eight sewing machines, a modern engine and three pedagogic classrooms. 

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary expressed satisfaction with the works carried out by the NHPC. 

The minister stated that the newly constructed and equipped workshops will significantly contribute to the socio-economic development of the local population. 

According to Minister Tchiroma Bakary, the workshops will beyond the shadow of a doubt raise the standard and level of professionalism of the students. He stressed that without quality training, progress will be difficult to attain. 

“I am very delighted and very much pleased with what I saw. We have to continue our collaboration. This is a perfect example of a public-private relationship,” the minister said. 

Accelerating gov’t efforts

Minister Tchiroma Bakary disclosed that the construction of the workshops was part of government’s plans, prescribed by the Head of State, Paul Biya, to transform the about 300 RA/HECs to vocational schools. 

He also revealed that plans are underway to make sure that “any company to settle in our country and to explore and exploit our natural resources, before doing so, it is mandatory to build vocational training to train Cameroonians who are going to work in the industry which will be place”. 

This, the minister emphasised, will help Cameroonians to work for these companies or become entrepreneurs. The member of government also underscored the need for further collaboration with the NHPC. 

Enter NHPC Managing Director 

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of NHPC, Vincent Leroux, said the company has a strong social responsibility to the communities concerned with the projects they are carrying out. 

Leroux explained that the workshops will boost employment and development of the students, who will benefit from the required skills to become future entrepreneurs and contribute to the emergence of the country. 

“Students will be more equipped and ready to work. They will be solicited by mechanics, or will have to open their own garage. In Ntui, we offered them sewing machines but we promise to supply them with modern sewing machines in future. And in Mbandjock, students will be able to sell their produce and make money while in school,” Leroux said. 

The NHPC Managing Director seized the occasion to reaffirm the commitment of the institution to the socio-economic development of the local population and the country. Leroux said there are other projects in the pipeline. 

“We are going to be around for 35 years. So, we have the will to do a lot more and do it well,” Leroux promised. 

Beneficiaries express joy, ask for more 

Reacting to the donations, the Director of the RA/HECs of Obala, Aba Jean Francois, admitted that the new workshop will improve the quality of the training and students will probably be equipped to meet up with the exigencies of the job market. 

“We had to go to other schools to hold our practical sessions who had better tools and equipment. When I arrived here, we had only 11 students. This is because the population did not know exactly what skills we were transmitting here. Since our arrival, my team and I have taken the trouble to sensitize the population on the merits of vocational training,” he said.  

Like Oliver Twist, Aba asked for more. He said the student population has grown from 11 students to 126, with the 35 enrolled in the mechanic field. He has pleaded with authorities to invest in the other fields.  

“But we want the hierarchy to help us in other sectors. Here is the carpentry workshop we have built, yet we do not have any equipment. The state has invested enormously, but we have no equipment. We have no fences. So, there is a lot of insecurity here. We are really concerned about the safety of these materials,” he said. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3180 of Friday July 26, 2024