Cameroon: Garoua Textile Centre Takes Early Steps To Empower Young Women

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The Training Centre's Impact on Local Economy and Skills Development":"Gaaraadji Training Centre has been instrumental in creating employment opportunities for young women in Garoua. The centre has trained 10 young people, including 20-year-old Solantine Maifrigi and 18-year-old Nafisatou, who now have the skills to work in the textile industry. The centre's founder, Sonia Hayatou, a chemist with a passion for sewing, has been instrumental in establishing the centre and hopes to expand its operations within five years. The centre uses locally sourced cotton thread and has installed machinery to turn thread into fabric, providing a new source of income for the community. The centre's success has been recognized by the Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicrafts, MINPMEESA, which has selected Gaaraadji to showcase the country's crafts at the 2026 Cameroon International Handicrafts Fair. The centre's work has also been showcased at the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, demonstrating the potential of local textile production in Cameroon.","

Challenges and Opportunities in Local Textile Processing":"Despite Cameroon's significant cotton production, only about 5% of the country's cotton is processed domestically. The absence of CICAM's operations in Garoua and delays in establishing the proposed CAMTEX industrial platform have created room for smaller initiatives such as Gaaraadji. The centre's success has raised hopes for the development of Cameroon's local textile industry. However, the centre still operates on a modest scale and faces challenges such as limited production capacity and the need to increase production to meet growing demand. The centre's founder, Sonia Hayatou, believes that with continued support and innovation, Gaaraadji could eventually respond to larger orders, including those for uniforms.","

The Role of Government and Support from MINPMEESA":"The centre has received recognition and support from the Garoua II Council and MINPMEESA. The council has encouraged the centre to persevere, innovate, establish itself in national and international markets, and adapt to the changing landscape, including ICT, standards, quality requirements, intellectual property protection, and business formalisation. MINPMEESA has provided technical and financial support through its decentralised services, which has helped the centre to grow and expand its operations. The centre's success has also been recognized by the World Trade Organization's 14th Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, which has showcased the potential of local textile production in Cameroon."}