The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) received this Friday, January 24, 2025, at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Palace, the New Year’s greetings of all the staff of his ministerial department as well as the actors of the EPIA sub-sector.

A ceremony punctuated by moments of solidarity, conviviality, assessment, and optimism for the years to come. 

In his opening speech, the Inspector General of MINEPIA, speaking in place of the Secretary General, of late memory, took stock of the past year with a focus on the four main programs included in the MINEPIA roadmap: 053 the program for the development of animal production and industries; 055 the program for improving livestock health coverage and combating zoonoses; 057 the program for the development of fisheries production and 059 the program for governance and institutional support. An opportunity to highlight past achievements and activities in perspective for 2025.

 The Minister, for his part, saluted, with a voice full of emotion, the memory of his Secretary General El hadj JAJI Manu GIDADO who died on January 4, 2024, a minute of silence was therefore observed for this purpose. Dr. TAIGA then sent his best wishes to all the staff of his ministerial department as well as to all the audience. He noted to congratulate him, the importance of the involvement and collaboration between all the actors for the achievement of the objectives: “the assessment of the activities carried out in 2024 drawn up by the Inspector General allows us to judge without hesitation this past year, as full of achievements having involved the full and complete participation of all the staff under the effective coordination of the various managers, this is the opportunity for me to congratulate you all and to encourage you to do more”, he declared. Achievements that demonstrate the willingness of the government of the republic to work tirelessly for the development of the sector: the inauguration of the YOUPWE fish market; the organization of the very first Interprofessional Aquaculture Fair in Cameroon (SIAC). The results are palpable, underlines Dr. TAIGA:  “today, let us note it with congratulations that Cameroon no longer imports chicken cuts, pork, or even beef, which was formerly imported in large quantities. I immediately call on investors to be more mobilized and make sacrifices so that fish imports will also eventually be nothing more than a distant memory .”

The ceremony continued with artistic performances, which brought a special color to the event. From dance groups to artists to comedians, everything was there to experience a joyful and festive atmosphere.

The traditional handshake with the Minister opened with a bouquet of flowers offered by the Inspector General of MINEPIA, who expressed on behalf of all the staff, his best wishes for the new year, a gesture symbolizing affection and respect. The staff and guests were invited in turn to shake hands with Dr. TAIGA, each time with brief moments of exchange reflecting the closeness of the Minister with his guests. This moment of sharing and exchange therefore made it possible to start the year 2025 on a positive note. The year 2025 is therefore declared ‘ ‘the year of the full implementation of the import substitution of milk and fish ”.