SMEs ministry fosters entrepreneurship culture at Yaounde confab.

This was the focus of a two-day International Conference on the Dissemination of Entrepreneurial Culture in Cameroon.

It was organised by MINPMEESA in Yaounde.

The event which took place at the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC, ran from October 22 to 23.

It unfolded under the theme “Entrepreneurial culture in Cameroon: Finding ways to make it more dynamic”.

The aim of the conference was to find solutions to better sow the seeds of an entrepreneurial culture in the minds of students at universities, business schools and elsewhere. 

The official opening ceremony on October 22, was presided over by MINPMEESA boss, Achille Bassilekin III.

According to the Ministry, the objective of the conference was to lay the foundation for a strategic reorientation of the dissemination of an entrepreneurial culture. 

It was also to take stock of the current state of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, identify new directions for the emergence of entrepreneurial education, and define ways of integrating the concepts of entrepreneurial culture, education and training in Cameroon.

In the various speeches during the opening ceremony, one fact emerged- that students have a great aptitude for entrepreneurship.

Minister Achille Bassilekin III in his keynote address highlighted the necessity to act on the structuring of an entrepreneurial culture in the country and its dissemination in all segments of society, so as to meet the challenges in terms of business creation or facilitating reconversion to entrepreneurship.

On his part, the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo in his special address which focused on the theme of the proceedings, outlined the history of the dissemination of entrepreneurship in Cameroon, and the context of its implementation.

He reiterated the government's university enterprise policy that requires universities to be key players in the creation of businesses that can have a positive impact on society through the creation of new jobs.

Speaking earlier, MINPMEESA's special guest and internationally recognised opinion leader in the field of entrepreneurship education, Gary Schoeniger spoke to participants about the spirit of entrepreneurship during the inaugural lecture.

For two days, round tables and workshops were held to seek solutions designed to facilitate the dissemination of an entrepreneurial culture in Cameroon.

The conference ended with the signing of an agreement between MINPMEESA and the University of Yaounde II, Soa.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3273 of Monday October 28, 2024