The Mayor of Nkambe Council, Musa Shey Nfor, has outlined an ambitious, people-centred development agenda focused on youth empowerment, women’s inclusion, green energy, and local value addition, as the 2026 Public Budget for the North West Region was officially launched on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the MINEPAT Hall, Upstation, Bamenda.
The ceremony, held under the theme “The Budget of Socio-Economic Impact,” was chaired by the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, and brought together administrative authorities, local government officials, development partners, and civil society actors.
A Budget Rooted in People and Inclusion
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Mayor Musa Shey Nfor emphasized that the development trajectory of Nkambe Council over the past years has deliberately prioritized youths, women, and persons with disabilities, through an inclusive governance approach. “Our projects are designed to emulate and improve the living conditions of the population,” the mayor explained. “Youth employment, job creation, and social projects in health and education remain at the heart of our interventions.”
According to him, the council is now entering a harvest phase following heavy investments made over the past five years, particularly in road infrastructure. These roads, he noted, are no longer just pathways but catalysts for economic transformation.
“We are now exploiting the by-products of these roads by creating village markets, so that women and youths can sell their produce locally and sustainably,” he said.
Tackling Farmer–Grazer Conflicts Through Innovation
One of the council’s standout interventions has been its effort to reduce farmer–grazer conflicts, a persistent challenge in the region. The mayor highlighted projects such as the planting of water-friendly grass, which allows livestock feed production even during the dry season.
“This innovation reduces transhumance, keeps breeders on the spot, and significantly minimizes conflicts between farmers and grazers,” Musa Shey Nfor noted.
Beyond agriculture, he acknowledged the broader social and security implications of the ongoing crisis in the North West, stressing that reducing social tension through economic opportunity remains a key priority.
Turning Energy Challenges into Green Opportunities
Addressing the prolonged absence of Nkambe from the national electricity grid, the mayor described the situation as painful but transformative.
“Necessity is the mother of invention,” he said, explaining that the council has embraced solar energy as a cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable alternative to fuel-powered generators.
With rising fuel costs, environmental concerns, and logistical constraints, the Nkambe local development agent noted that solar power has emerged as a viable long-term solution. “Once a solar installation is properly done, it can function for years with minimal maintenance,” he explained, adding that development partners now see Nkambe as a promising hub for green energy investment.
National and International Recognition for Best Practices
Nkambe Council’s innovative governance has not gone unnoticed. Mayor Musa Shey Nfor announced that the council has won the FEICOM Best Practices Award for the second consecutive time in the North West Region.
After winning 15 million FCFA in 2023, the mayor disclosed that the council is set to reinvest its latest 20 million FCFA award into FEICOM-supported projects, leveraging co-financing mechanisms to generate projects worth at least 100 million FCFA.
In addition, the Nkambe Council was selected alongside the Kumba III Council by the Commonwealth Local Governance Programme for project sponsorship in Cameroon.
From Sweet Potatoes to Strategic Value Chains
Under the Commonwealth initiative, Nkambe Council chose the transformation of sweet potatoes into flour, a project driven by global and local realities.
The mayor cited the Russia-Ukraine war, wheat scarcity, and transportation challenges to the hinterlands as key motivations. Sweet potato flour, he explained, is not only nutritious but also suitable for diabetic consumers, while solving post-harvest losses for farmers due to the crop’s perishability.
Building on this success, he explained that the council is now exploring additional agro-processing value chains, including mango transformation in Misaje, cassava processing, and even composite bread production using cassava, sweet potato, and plantain.
A Local Vision Aligned with Regional Priorities
As the 2026 Public Budget emphasizes socio-economic impact, Nkambe Council’s strategy stands as a practical example of how local governance can translate policy into tangible benefits for communities, even amid a crisis.
For Mayor Musa Shey Nfor, the message is clear: challenges, when met with innovation and inclusiveness, can become opportunities for sustainable development.
“We may be facing constraints,” he said, “but we are also building a resilient, productive, and hopeful Nkambe.”
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