In prelude to the celebration of the 39th International Women's Rights Day and with a view to raise awareness on public policies that seek to empower women economically, the Cameroon National Shippers' Council (CNSC) organised a hybrid awareness-raising seminar themed "Networking for the economic empowerment of women". The seminar took place on Tuesday 05 March 2024 in the Douala Maritime Museum's multi-purpose hall.

The opening ceremony of this cross-enterprise seminar was presided over by CNSC's General Manager, Mr. Auguste Mbappe Penda, who was accompanied by Mrs. Claire Takouchoup, CNSC Director for Shippers' Assistance. The latter reminded participants that this seminar was an opportunity to raise awareness on the concepts, stakes, challenges, measures taken and good practices for the empowerment of women and girls so as to provide support to SMEs and particularly women-led initiatives.

Among other things, it was firstly a means to present the commitments made and measures taken by the Government of Cameroon in terms of gender equality and the empowerment of women and the girl child. Secondly, it presented sectoral projects and programs designed for the empowerment of women, and thirdly, programs and projects of the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF) to the benefit of women in Cameroon.

The panellists included Mrs. Ngobo Annick Tayoukayo, Francophonie Expert at MINREX; Mrs. Ngo Towada Marie, President of Association YUM; Mrs. Kamleu Annie, Promoter of the TERRIFIC COFFEE brand, Mr. Nkoa François, Service Inspector No.1 at MINADER, and Mrs. Oumoul Koulsoum, CNSC Deputy Director for Shippers' Assistance.

It was with great satisfaction that the seminar came to a close, with the women proud to have taken the spotlight.