By Boris Esono Nwenfor
The Cameroon Economic Policy Institute (CEPI), of the Henri Kouam Foundation brought a refreshing dose of practical business knowledge to the students of Foundation Evening School on May 9, during a community outreach session themed “A Discussion on Entrepreneurship.”
Targeting Form 5 and Upper Sixth students – many of whom juggle jobs during the day and attend school at night – the event offered a candid platform to discuss the practical realities of entrepreneurship and the challenges they face.
The community outreach event was led by Clinton Ngala, Co-Founder of Roots X and Henri Kouam, Executive Director of CEPI. For the sole traders and entrepreneurs in the room, they noted that greater efforts should be made to inform and include the informal sector in policy reforms.
Several young entrepreneurs in the audience, including manufacturers of bow ties and producers of liquid detergents, expressed concerns over inflation and rising production costs. They highlighted that high costs of certification and inputs make it difficult for them to scale or access formal markets like supermarkets.
Another key grievance shared was the current tax regime, which they argued is discouraging business formalization. They noted that the current tax regime seems burdensome to owners as their incomes and dividends from the businesses are both taxes, which reduces the incentive to formalize their businesses.
The entrepreneurs on their part reiterated the need for a more supportive tax regime; better tools and training to ensure they can self-declare and register with Social Security; subsidies for the approval process with the Agency of Quality and Norms (ANOR) and lower internet costs and infrastructure development to reduce food spoilage.
The staff at Foundation evening school thanked CEPI for giving this free training and urged students to remain steadfast in their educational and entrepreneurial quests. This initiative is part of CEPI’s wider commitment to empowering Cameroonian youth with practical skills that bridge the gap between policy and economic opportunity.
