By Walter Wilson Nana & *Asue Asue Esaka
The Local Government Training Centre, popularly known in the French acronym as CEFAM, in Buea, is crucial in the decentralisation process of Cameroon.
This is the kernel of a speech made by Rene Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Territorial Administration & Decentralisation, MINATD, while chairing the graduation ceremony of 145 graduates from CEFAM, recently, in Buea.
Sadi said the local councils across Cameroon must be part of the decentralisation process that the country has engaged herself into and so, the graduates from CEFAM must chip in, in the ongoing procedure. He advised the management of CEFAM to admit and train ready Cameroonians, with the best quality training modules, who are warm about taking the country’s decentralisation practice to another level.
Sadi congratulates a male graduate
According to the MINATD boss, the decentralisation course is a complex issue, as seen in other countries but that of Cameroon is on a good footing. “We’ve to bring public services closer to the people and make the living conditions of Cameroonians better. Therefore, CEFAM is here to give that training. Let our council officials take this opportunity and build the capacity of their staff,” Sadi mentioned.
He invited the Mayors, Government Delegates of councils across Cameroon to effectively, put into use, the graduates from CEFAM, while reminding the graduates to bolster their councils and communities with the newfound knowledge in CEFAM. “Let the interest of your communities be at the fore of your activities. The government has taken note of the worries raised by your spokesperson, especially your statutes in MINATD. The expected answers will be given,” Sadi promised the graduates.
He said he is interested to know the difficulties faced by CEFAM so that government can take the necessary measures and make the training only better.
Mathieu Hagbe, CEFAM’s Director said the outgoing trainees, who came in 2010, via a competitive entrance examination, have received the necessary training, accompanied with the new modules that CEFAM have acquired. Some of the new training modules he enumerated are; Legal Context of Decentralisation, Human Resource Management, Council Finance, Taxation & Accounting, Local Economic Development, Communication and ICT for Local Development.
Mathieu Hagbe, CEFAM Director, offers a prize to a graduate
Hagbe reiterated their wish to stay on the decentralisation course, but he enjoined MINATD not to relent in strengthening the financial and material resources of his institution. “There are many Cameroonians to be trained, so the necessary resources must be available,” he said.
The outgoing Trainees Union President, Richard Esapa expressed gratitude to the management of CEFAM for the quality of training they received, while praying that the evolution continues.
Esapa promised that the three batches on the go will live up to expectations and be profitable to their councils and communities. He will be corroborated by the best all round trainee, Nicoline Mutangha Tamo from the Santa Council, Northwest Region. “Now, my Mayor and the Secretary General will no longer be overloaded with work as before. I will be a relief to them and employ all the skills I have acquired in CEFAM. Let other Mayors train their staff. They will be a blessing to them and take local development forward,” she advised.
Southwest Governor, Okalia Bilai (L) offers a prize to a graduate
The Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Nkele Ngoh, subscribed to the aforementioned view on the necessity to recycle the council staff. “We’ve to develop the human resources, which are essential for the growth of our councils. Without capacity building, our councils can’t be focussed. CEFAM is the place and it is a privilege to be there,” he said.
Earlier, the Mayor of Buea Municipality, Charles Mbella Moki said the decentralisation progression in Cameroon should be expedited, following the updated training being offered at CEFAM.
He told the graduates to reshape their councils and communities as they move out of CEFAM to the field.
The 145 graduates included the first batch of Cycle I Management of Technical & Social Services, the sixth batch of Cycle I General Administration, Finance & Treasury Management and the eighteenth batch of Cycle II of CEFAM Trainees.
CEFAM is a public establishment created by Presidential Decree No. 77/494 of December 7 1977. The centre has three training cycles; I, II and III. The course duration lasts two academic years for Cycle I & II and three months for Cycle III.
*( Journalism & Media Student On Internship, National Polytechnic, Bambui)
