Inaugurated on May 12, 1982, after seven years of construction, the Yaounde Conference Centre stands out as one of fruits of strategic cooperation between Cameroon and the People Republic of China.
Inaugurated on May 12, 1982, after seven years of construction, the Yaounde Conference Centre stands out as one of fruits of strategic cooperation between Cameroon and the People Republic of China.Built atop Nkol-Nyada, one of the many hills overlooking the capital city of Yaoundé, the Yaoundé Conference Center is host to major National and International events.
*Inauguration and Significance*
The building was officially designated as the Palais des Congrès – Yaoundé Conference Centre by a Presidential decree on December 6, 1982; one month after Paul Biya assumed the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon.
On October 31, 2002, it was established as a public administrative institution under the technical supervision of the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the financial oversight of the Ministry of Finance.
Facilities and Design
The Yaoundé Conference Centre is divided into three pavilions that feature:
– A large inaugural hall with 1,500 seats
– A tripartite hall with 400 seats
– Two halls with 100 seats each
– Several smaller halls with 50 seats
– Two large halls of nearly 2,000 m² each
– A hall-balcony and two lobbies
The edifice designed as a multi-purpose conference center accommodates a variety of political, economic, and cultural activities.
It was constructed on a surface area spanning 18 hectares, it includes 27,000 m² of green space, 7,169 m² of rooms, and 10 meeting rooms with capacities ranging from 50 to 2,000 seats. It also has high-standing lounge of 150 m².
The building, that symbolises strategic partnership between Cameroon and China on the heights of Nkol-Nyada, offers an unparalleled panoramic view of Yaoundé, the city of seven hills. Visitors can also access a 1,500-seat open-air amphitheater, ideal for film screenings or private concerts, and utilize the esplanades located at the North, South, West, and East corners.
Venue Historic Meetings
Several pages of Cameroon’s history have been written within the walls of the Yaounde Conference Centre. In the early 1990s, the “Tripartite Room” was the venue where the nation’s leaders met to lay the foundations for democratic governance, marking the return to multipartyism and the enactment of freedom laws. More recently, it hosted the work of the Great National Dialogue.
Renovations and Future
Inaugurated by Amadou Ahidjo, Cameroon’s first President, the Palais des Congrès has undergone renovations to enhance its capabilities. Renovation works went on for about two years from August 2015 to 2017.
Besides being a center of meetings and governance, the Yaoundé Conference Centre is also as a historical landmark, symbolizing the collaborative spirit between Cameroon and China.
Che Tembuck
