Sunday 5 November 2017

Professional Development Conference:



CAM3A contemplates better dev’t priorities for Cameroon

By Njodzefe Nestor in B’da
CAM3A contemplates better dev’t priorities for Cameroon
The Cameroon Australia Alumni Association, CAM3A, have brainstormed on ways to better accompany the Cameroon government in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
            This was during a 2 day Continuous Professional Development conference organized by CAM3A with the support of the Australia Awards on the theme “Unpacking the Sustainable Development Goals and streamlining Alumni Work Plans on Return to contribute to achieve Cameroon's development priorities”
            The conference which took place in Limbe, South West region from 22-23rdSeptember 2017 had as goal to enhance collaboration amongst members of the alumni for effective contribution to the national achievement of the SDGs.
            Thirty three alumni working in different thematic areas including mining, health, agriculture, environment, public policy amongst others actively took part in the workshop that culminated in new opportunities for collaboration amongst alumni for contribution towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals.
            In his keynote address, the Australia Awards Alumni Ambassador for Cameroon, Ngang Eric thanked the Australia Government for continuous engagement with Cameroonians during and post awards and fellowships and the recognition given to the Cameroon Australia Alumni Association (CAM3A) as key to promoting people to people relation between Cameroonian and Australian academia and industry.
            During the conference, 11work plans in return successfully implemented with tangible outputs and outcomes were presented, stimulating other alumni who had challenges with their plans to develop new interest to take the plans forward.
            A key highlight of this exercise was the Award of prize donated by the Australia Honorary Consular  to Cameron the best Work Plan on Return presented at the conference which was won by Mr Georges Tenny Ngu after peer evaluation for his significant work achievement with Poultry Farmers in the Buea Municipality.
            There was also the identification of 10 impactful projects that shall contribute to achievement of the National SDGs priorities for Cameroon amongst others.

            This conference saw the participation of Australia Awards Honorary Consular represented by Dr Yombo Daniel, the Coordinating Authority of the Australia Awards at the Ministry of Higher Education, Litumbe Theresia, representatives of the key sector ministries, representatives of decentralized local authorities, representatives from academia and other professional groups and speakers with experience in building alumni relationships and active in the National Platform and Collaborative Working Group on the SDGs in Cameroon.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the conference, the 1st deputy Mayor of Limbe Council, Henry Motomby, Limbe praised the Cameroon Australia Alumni Association for their “marvelous work”.
            He suggested that to ensure the sustainability of CAM3A’s work in the region and beyond they should establish “Cameroon Australia Clubs in Schools in the Limbe Municipality to continue to promote people-to-people between Cameroon and Australia relationships at all levels”
            According to statistics presented by the Australian High Commissioner to Cameroon resident at Abuja, His Excellency Jon Richardson during the opening of the Australian Honorary Consulate in 2015, close to 200 Cameroonians had benefitted from the Australia’s cutting edge education system in diverse fields since the 1970s.
            The Presdient of CAM3A Mr Rodrigue Fotie lele indicated that although these experts have been making significant contributions to the development of Cameroon, they have worked in isolation without any coordination amongst them. The CAM3A Continuous Professional Development was the first forum to stimulate reflections on coordination and synergy building amongst alumni.


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