Panelists have been discussing the opportunities that lie within the North West Region and how to harness it for the economic development of the region.
Reflecting under the umbrella of resilience, recovery and rebranding, the panelists delve into what the region has been doing and what it aims to do differently.
Judith Waindim, Questor at the Regional Assembly
At the heart of the participatory development of the region, is the peace and development initiative, PDI. According to Jude Waindim, Questor at the Regional Assembly, the PDI which encompasses the development of communities using the high intensive Labour approach has not only left an indelible mark in all the 34 subdivisions of the region but has empowered thousands of youths who work and get paid. This has not only built communities, it has rekindled the spirit of collective development and rebuilding resilient communities. The PDI which is a flagship program of the North West Regional Assembly has made roads passable in very remote areas of the region.
The youths who constitute the driving force for development are at the center of the PDI. To help them reinvest the proceeds gotten from the PDI, Cho Asafor of the Central Bank of Central African States, BEAC, encouraged the young persons to take up initiatives.
“We must talk about transformation. We must add the value here before sending it elsewhere. This will create more jobs for our population.” Cho Asafor said.
He encouraged the youths of the North West to be daring. Over the last year, the nation has reaped 1100 billion from the exportation of Cocoa while 995 billion has come in from oil. Cho Asafor said the modernisation of the Cocoa sector and its eventual transformation to other products such as chocolate can create a real boost to the economy of the region.
He also called on startups not to be afraid to dare. “80% of startups fail after two years. The 20% that thrive become multinationals.” He said.
Quizzed why this happens, Cho Asafor explained that it is largely due to inexperience and lack of basic accounting principles. To him, many more young people should get into startups and get the right coaching, the right mindset before eventually indulging into business.
To get startups work, there is the need to get the requisite funding and branding.
Vivian Kukah, operations lead at FabAfriq Media Group called on the participants and the media to rebrand the region. “We need to tell the right rhetorics. We need to convey the right messages and how we want to be seen.”
She called on all and sundry to create awareness that despite the strife, we are growing and rebuilding. Information is power.
Vivian Kukah called on the political Elite of the region to get their diaspora back. The economy of the region has been powered for many years by remittances sent by sons and daughters of the region who reside abroad. Kukah thinks if the diaspora can fund development initiatives like in the yesteryears, it will take the North West Region a step further.
She also requested that the region engages in strategic communication to sell its rich fauna and flora and rich cultural identity of the North West man clad in the atoghu and rich meals like khati khati, achu and fufu corn.
Prof Fru Angwafo III, President of the North West Regional Assembly All of this is possible only through the political will and regional leadership. Speaking on this topic, the President of the Regional Assembly was categorical. “In crisis everyone loses. We must communicate that we are all losers and we ruining our economy and fostering decline.” Prof Fru Angwafo said.
He went further to ask key questions as to what will be your contribution to decrease dependence on the outside and increase production?.One thing stood out during the panel discussion and it is the drive to get youths empowered, ensure that key sector areas in the region are developed and financed, make transformation of agricultural produce a reality and rebrand the image of the region by investing in its artisanal and textile industries all this through sustainable startups.
source: Observer237
