Musa Shey Nfor, Mayor of Nkambe
The mayor of Nkambe Council, Musa Shey Nfor, has outlined a development agenda focused on youth employment, women’s inclusion, renewable energy and local value addition, as the 2026 public investment budget for the North West Region was officially launched Tuesday, 13th January 2026 at the MINEPAT Hall under the theme; “The Budget of Socio-Economic Impact.”
Chaired by North West Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique, the launch was attended by administrative authorities, municipal authorities, development partners and civil society representatives.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony, Musa Shey Nfor said Nkambe Council’s development strategy has deliberately prioritized vulnerable groups, including youths, women and persons with disabilities.
“Our interventions are people-centered,” he said. “Youth employment, job creation, and social investments in health and education remain at the core of our development policy.”
Launch of the 2026 Public Investment Budget
The Mayor said the council is beginning to reap the benefits of infrastructure investments made over the past five years, particularly in road construction. According to him, improved road access has stimulated economic activity and encouraged the creation of village markets to help farmers, especially women and young people, sell their produce locally.
Beyond infrastructure, the mayor highlighted efforts to address farmer-grazer conflicts, a recurring challenge in the area. He cited the introduction of water-friendly pasture grass, which supports livestock feeding during the dry season and reduces seasonal transhumance.
“This innovation keeps breeders within their communities and significantly reduces conflicts between farmers and grazers,” Musa Shey Nfor said.
He also acknowledged the broader social and economic pressures caused by the ongoing crisis in the North West Region, noting that expanding livelihood opportunities remains essential to reducing social tensions.
Addressing energy challenges, the Mayor said Nkambe’s long-standing exclusion from the national electricity grid for more than 7 years now, has pushed the council to adopt solar energy solutions. He described solar power as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to generators powered by fuel.
“With rising fuel costs and environmental concerns, solar energy has become a viable long-term solution,” he said, adding that development partners increasingly view Nkambe as a potential hub for green energy initiatives.
Nkambe Council’s governance approach has drawn national recognition. Mayor Musa Shey Nfor announced that the council has won the FEICOM Best Practices Award for the second consecutive time in the North West Region. After receiving 15 million CFA francs in 2023, the council is set to invest its latest 20 million CFA francs award won in 2025 into co-financed projects valued at more than 100 million CFA francs, he said.
The council has also been selected, alongside Kumba III Council, for project sponsorship under the Commonwealth Local Governance Programme.
Under the program, Nkambe Council has prioritized the processing of sweet potatoes into flour, a move driven by global wheat supply disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and local transportation challenges. Mayor Musa Shey Nfor said sweet potato flour offers nutritional benefits, including suitability for people with diabetes who do not consume sugar and also helps farmers to curb post-harvest losses.
Building on the initiative, the council is exploring additional agro-processing projects, including mango processing in Misaje, cassava transformation and composite bread production using local crops such as cassava, sweet potato and plantain.
As authorities roll out the 2026 public budget with an emphasis on socio-economic impact, the Mayor said local councils have a critical role to play in translating national policy into practical benefits.
“Despite the constraints we face, innovation and inclusion remain our tools for building a resilient and productive community,” he said.
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