By Walter Wilson Nana
Increasingly, the younger generation in Africa hold the view that the continent is stagnant because of poor leadership. This is the background that motivated the holding of the first Cameroon Leadership Academy that took place recently at the Buea Capitol Hotel.
Roland Kwemain, CEO, Go Ahead Africa
At the opening ceremony, the convenor and chair of the Pan African NGO, Go Ahead Africa, Roland Kwemain, told the fifty participants for the academy and the guests that turned out that the major setback of the African continent, despite its enormous natural and human resources is poor leadership. To him, every human being is a leader and not necessarily those in positions of leadership.
Kwemain, the IT Consultant said Go Ahead Africa is out to instil self confidence and the essence of being united. He mentioned that individuals have to be the change they wish to see in others, while leading with good examples.
The Cameroonian-born and JCI(Junior Chamber International) 2010 World President noted that the Cameroon Leadership Academy has been put in place to inspire leadership and hard work within Cameroonians of the age bracket 18 – 35. “This is the time to make a change of attitude, be creative, show commitment and take action for the emergence of Cameroon,” he said. He will add that the Cameroon Leadership Academy is a capacity building platform for young Cameroonian leaders, to enable them play a vital role in the development and growth of the country.
Guests at the opening of the Cameroon Leadership Academy
For three days, the participants had discussions and workshops on the following topics; The Impact of One, Business Leadership, The Audacity to be Enterprising, Leadership: Ethics & Values, IT: The Future of the Cameroonian Youth and Leadership & Community.
A member of the pioneer group of participants in the aforementioned Academy, Nadine Manka, an Accountant said she is looking forward to be a better leader after graduating from the Cameroon Leadership Academy. “It is also about leading yourself. I should be able to do things differently after my stay here. We have to bring out the leadership qualities in us and this can only be done through trainings like the one we’ve gone through. We’ve to reach the fullness of our lives,” she added.
Done with the maiden edition of the Cameroon Leadership Academy, the Go Ahead Africa CEO revealed that it will be an annual programme for learning and sharing of experiences for fifty young, active citizens drawn from the ten regions of Cameroon. “They have to be from 18 – 35 and will be selected on the bases of their civic engagement, professional achievements and their sense of patriotism,” Kwemain said.
A family picture after the opening ceremony
In their line up of projects earmarked for 2012, Go Ahead Africa will be organising an award for the ten most outstanding young active citizens in Cameroon, in partnership with JCI Cameroon, the ten most remarkable journalists in Cameroon, the first national forum on active citizenship & voluntary services and the first Pan African Leadership Academy slated for Lome, Togo in November 2012.
Go Ahead Africa Ltd is a Pan African NGO composed of young Africans who are eager to contribute to the capacity building of stakeholders and decision makers in the African continent.
Kwemain is the Co-founder and CEO of Go Ahead Africa Ltd.
