Omam Esther, Global Peace Champion and Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon, has welcomed the Head of State’s end-of-year address, describing it as a notable recognition of the central role of youth and women in Cameroon’s future development. Speaking from a civil society perspective, she underscored that while the policy direction is encouraging, the real measure of success will lie in transparent, inclusive, and results-driven implementation.
In a press statement Thursday December 1, 2025, analyzing the New Year message, Omam Esther, who also serves as Country Chair of G100 Mentoring & Motivation in Cameroon, highlighted the announcement of a 50 billion CFA franc fund to support youth-led projects as a potentially transformative initiative.
She noted that, if properly managed, the fund could stimulate job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation while contributing to broader social transformation across the country.
However, she cautioned that the effectiveness of the initiative will depend on how it is administered.
According to her, civil society expects governance mechanisms that prevent bureaucracy, favoritism, and exclusion from undermining access to the fund. She stressed the importance of ensuring that women-led enterprises, young innovators, agripreneurs, and community-based initiatives are able to benefit equitably from the opportunity.
Omam Esther also welcomed the government’s renewed commitment to women’s empowerment and increased participation in governance, describing it as a response to long-standing advocacy by civil society organizations. She emphasized that meaningful inclusion must go beyond rhetoric and translate into real representation and decision-making power for women and young people at all levels of leadership.
On education, she praised the intention to pursue reforms but urged a fundamental shift in approach. She argued that Cameroon’s education system must evolve from one that primarily produces certificate holders to one that equips learners with practical skills, entrepreneurial mindsets, and the capacity to solve real-world problems. In her view, such a transformation essential for national competitiveness and sustainable development.
As the country enters 2026, Omam Esther reaffirmed civil society’s commitment to constructive engagement with public authorities, while maintaining its responsibility to promote accountability. She emphasized the need for collaborative implementation of national initiatives, with civil society recognized as a strategic partner in monitoring progress and ensuring that development efforts deliver measurable impact.
She concluded by calling for a vision of progress that includes every Cameroonian. Women and youth, she said, must not only be beneficiaries of national policies but active leaders shaping the nation’s future. Reiterating her belief in inclusive development, Omam Esther affirmed that civil society stands ready to support efforts that strengthen peace, prosperity, and social justice, anchored in dignity, shared responsibility, and the principle that no one should be left behind.
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