The women of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA) marched down the esplanade of Boulevard du 20 mai with great skill, vivacity and dynamism, to the applause of the First Lady, Chantal Biya, and the Minister for the Promotion of Women and the Family, Marie Thérèse Abena Ondoua. Dressed in their special outfits and holding a tricolour flag, the valiant ladies of MINEPIA sent a strong message to the nation, through placards representing the various animal species put forward to encourage the promotion of import-substitution so much advocated by the Head of State.

After their magnificent parade, the festivities for the 39th edition of International Women’s Day came to a close on the esplanade of the MINEPIA hall, under the theme “Investing in Women: Accelerating the Pace”. The event was chaired by the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, who also took the opportunity to encourage her to continue promoting the import-substitution policy.

During this celebration, the president of the organising committee NGO ONGLA Annie Claire thanked the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr TAIGA, for all the attention he had paid to them during the week of preparations for the celebration of International Women’s Day. During this week, they chose to make the most of the opportunity to visit livestock sites such as Ntui, Mfou and Odza, to learn more about beekeeping, fish farming and poultry farming techniques. In addition to these visits, donations were also distributed to orphanages, and exhibitions selling import-substitution products such as milk, fish (catfish, tilapia), eggs and livestock infrastructure were displayed on the esplanade of the National Museum.

Another important aspect of this celebration was the awards presented by Minister Dr TAÏGA to the women who stood out in 2023 for their work, achievements and dynamism, in particular the MINEPIA 2024 Golden Agent for Central Services, Mrs ZOUA née BAIDA Sadjo Christine, and the MINEPIA 2024 Golden Agent for the Centre Regional Delegation, Mrs MBEUBA née NDOLEU TCHOUA Judith Gaelle.

The festivities continued with a succession of musical performances, question-and-answer sessions (match of the untouchables) and the celebration of victory in the MINEPIA/MINSANTE match, which ended 4-2 in favour of the valiant ladies of MINEPIA, on Wednesday 06 March 2024 at the Presidential Guard training camp in the Mvog-Bétsi district.