“Children-friendly Councils” Initiative : Bikok Council, UNICEF Strike Partnership Deal

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and Bikok Council in the Mefou and Akono Division of Cameroon’s Centre Region on November 8, 2022 struck a partnership deal to promote the rights of children, adolescents and women. The agreement was signed for Bikok Council by the Mayor, Mrs. Ottou Crescence Odette, and for UNICEF by the Resident Representative for Cameroon, Mrs. Nadine Perrault.
The signing took place in Bikok in the presence of Mefou and Akono dignitaries. Including the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof. Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa, mayors, parliamentarians and senators. As well as the Divisional Officer, DO for Bikok, Mrs. Ebell’a Ngambi Vichy Djecky, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Mefou and Akono, Mrs. Zongo nee Nyambone Antoinette Justine, and heads of UN agencies. 

Communication, The Key
“We live in an era of communication. Most parts of our council are located in rural areas, thus the need to communicate. Our council has a population of 22,000 people, a size of 1,200 square kilometres, consists of 57 villages and has 13 health centres. Through the partnership with UNICEF, our people will be assisted socially, educationally, and in terms of communication in order to improve their living conditions,” said the Mayor of Bikok, Mrs. Ottou Crescence Odette.    

Gift Of Community Radio
“Communication is very important, especially as the Coronavirus pandemic is still around. The community radio UNICEF is financing will enable us to pass on messages to the people. We are so grateful to UNICEF for accepting our advocacy to create Bikok Community Radio. We will put everything in place to hasten the process of setting up the radio,” the Mayor promised.

Great Expectations
“We believe children have a special place in society. Through the partnership with UNICEF, we look forward to the refurbishment of classrooms, the offer of assistance to women in detention, the fight against malnutrition, the promotion of birth registration, combating violence against the young girl…. The fight will continue! We will not give up! Bikok Council promises to work hard to promote the rights of children, adolescents and women,” Mayor Ottou Crescence Odette underscored.

Were It Not For The Mayor! 
According to the UNICEF Resident Representative for Cameroon, her agency has been assisting the government in the decentralisation process in domains such as education, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, WASH, monitoring and evaluation, social policy… “The decision by Bikok Council to join the “Children-friendly Councils” Initiative is praiseworthy, thanks to the personal and tireless efforts of the Mayor. By this act, Bikok Council acknowledges the importance of the wellbeing of the child. The Bikok Community Radio UNICEF is financing will go operational in the coming months,” Mrs. Perrault pledged.   

UNICEF To Roll Out All Programmes

“The “Children-friendly Councils” Initiative means all of UNICEF’s programmes will be implemented in Bikok Council area. We will begin by laying emphasis on young children, especially birth registration, education, nutrition, health services, vaccination, breastfeeding… We will also promote child protection because there are many girl-child mothers in the area,” the UNICEF Resident Representative said. 
“Anything that has to do with children’s welfare is of great importance to the government and its partners. Cameroon signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Though challenges remain in tackling birth registration, violence against children, child labour…..,” said the Senior Divisional Officer for Mefou and Akono.

The Future Of Cameroon’s Youth
“The signature of the partnership agreement between Bikok Council and UNICEF has to do with the future of Cameroon’s youth. Mefou and Akono Division is proud to be the first in the country for one of its councils to sign the “Children-friendly Councils” agreement with UNICEF,” Mrs. Zongo nee Nyambone Antoinette Justine underscored. “This is the indication that local governments are beginning to understand the key role they are expected to play in Cameroon’s development. Taking car...