Prospects for Youth and Women’s Employment in the Mining Sector and Opportunities for Cameroonian SMEs/SMIs

The Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development(ai), Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry, chaired an exchange forum on Thursday at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé, bringing together young people, women’s associations, and key stakeholders from the mining, petroleum, and industrial sectors.

The meeting comes shortly after the Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya, reaffirmed his commitment to youth and women’s empowerment as a central pillar of his new seven-year mandate and announced a special plan to promote youth employment. A major pillar of this plan is the development of businesses in high-potential sectors including digital technology, mining, agriculture, and services.

Leading this initiative, the MINMIDT established a discussion framework to foster exchanges between youth from all ten regions, women’s associations, and key stakeholders in the mining sector.

To date, Cameroon’s mining sector is driving 15 active projects across short, medium, and long-term timelines. These projects currently employ over 1,000 Cameroonians and are projected to create nearly 7,500 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs in 2026. The growth is expected to benefit a wide range of industries, including catering, supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), transport and logistics, on-site mineral handling, equipment maintenance, security services, human resource management, and industrial mining waste management, among others.

The industrial sector linked to mining is expected to generate 3,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs, providing valuable opportunities for local SMEs and SMIs. Meanwhile, the petroleum processing sector aims to recruit 2,500 young Cameroonians.

Officials highlighted that a range of related professions, including heavy-duty equipment operators, mining labourers, occupational health specialists, nurses, and emergency responders, will be increasingly in demand, ensuring that youth and women capture a greater share of the value generated by the booming mining industry.

A key moment of the ceremony was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Government and Delta Resources Cameroon PLC, committing to establish a mining school in the South Region to train young Cameroonians for emerging sector opportunities.

The event was attended by the Director General of SONAMINES, the Secretary General of MINMIDT, senior officials, and company executives.