To accelerate development in the Wabane Municipality, the Wabane Council has successfully convened a broad-based workshop that brought together key stakeholders to identify, select, and prioritise projects that will shape the council’s developmental roadmap.
The workshop, held on May 19, 2025, at the Wabane Council Chambers, witnessed the participation of traditional rulers, presidents of development associations, regional councillors, committee presidents and secretaries of Wabane Council committees, coordinators of neighbourhood committees, religious authorities, NGOs, and civil society organisations.
In his opening speech, Mayor Nembo Ketu Israel, welcomed participants and expressed his gratitude to all those who have supported the municipality over the years. He emphasised the importance of involving the population in the selection, follow-up, and effective execution of projects, stating that this approach will ensure that projects are more committed, appropriate, and sustainable.
The workshop was designed to update the council’s development plan and identify community needs and project proposals. Participants were divided into committees to deliberate on various sectors, including public works, health, education, and economic development. The workshop was facilitated by Martin Jong and co-facilitated by Calistus Tandong.
Participants praised the initiative, describing it as a ground-breaking approach that brings people together to decide on projects that will impact their communities. “I’m highly impressed with the deliberations because it’s one of its kind in Wabane to see all sons and daughters coming under one canopy,” said Talam Exodus, a participant.
“The highest thing I noticed during the workshop was the frankness and the collaboration. Seeing that people know what problem is happening to one other part and seeing how we can take all problems from other parts to be included in the projects database impresses me a lot.”
Nkemassah Dieudonne, another participant, said the workshop “has permitted the development of a project database and analysis. It is very important that this Workshop came at the right moment and at the right time.”
On her part, Fonkem Brenda, a participant, highlighted the importance of community participation in project development, stating, “My take-home message is that the Wabane municipality has done a good job by bringing people together to decide on the possible projects that they can implement within their communities. And we see that this is a very good approach, which is a bottom-up approach that community members will be able to take charge within the development of their areas. Knowing fully well that if projects are being developed in municipalities, villages, and people are not part and parcel of these projects, normally there will be no sustainability of the projects. So, bringing people in to be part and parcel of the project, making the decision on the kind of projects that they want within their community will make the people to be more engaged and will take care of these projects. I believe this is the first of its kind which has never happened before, and I want to give kudos to the municipality and to the mayor for this initiative.”
Nda Roland, a participant from the public works sector, highlighted the challenges faced by the council in terms of road infrastructure. “Seeing people coming from all the fondoms, chiefdoms, and all neighbourhoods to brainstorm on our projects to update our Council Development Plan (CDP) which has already been done…Projects have been discussed at all levels of the committee. We have deliberated the way forward, and it is left for the council now to implement within the projects discussed. One of the eleven committees was that of the public works sector on roads. And we have pleaded with the authorities to intervene in the case of Wabane because Wabane Council is one of the councils in Cameroon that hasn’t got a kilometre of road classified among its road networks. And it is very difficult to intervene as all roads in Wabane are like communal roads.”
The workshop was also graced by the presence of the Divisional Officer of Wabane, Ayiagnigni Njimah Mama. The Mayor’s initiative has been hailed as a step in the right direction, and stakeholders are optimistic that the outcome of the workshop will lead to meaningful development in the Wabane Municipality.
By Andrew Nsoseka
