Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
The quest for good leadership across the Cameroonian society is a preoccupying issue. This is the motivation of the second edition of the Cameroon Leadership Academy, CLA, which took place at the AES Sonel Human Resource Centre, Ombe, Southwest Region, September 17 – 20 2013.
According to the President of Go Ahead Africa Ltd, Roland Kwemain, initiator of CLA, there is need to build a new breed of young outstanding Cameroonian leaders, who are masters of their destinies and committed to serving their communities and the country.
Roland Kwemain, fielding questions from the press after the launch of CLA 2013
Kwemain told the one hundred participants, aged between 18 – 35 that they must be interested in taking responsibility both professionally and socially. “You must be involved in your respective societies as leaders of associations, business leaders, young people with a vision and projects. The CLA is to make you believe in yourself, instil self confidence and committed towards making Cameroon a great nation. Ours is an empowerment exercise to make the young people change their
Noble Amik, member pioneer batch of Cameroon Leadership Academy, CLA, extolling the virtues.
attitude for good,” he mentioned.
The 2010 Junior Chamber International, JCI, World President said there are values that Cameroon needs to emerge as a nation. These include; social change, the spirit of patriotism and active citizenship, entrepreneurial skills, leadership and management skills, knowledge and appreciation of great historic figures of Cameroon.
Kwemain indicated that leadership is not
Guests and business executives at the opening ceremony of CLA 2013
about those in position of power but leadership is about everybody. He will admit that there is a problem of leadership in Cameroon but every community have the leaders they deserve. “If our political, business leaders are incompetent, then all Cameroonians are incompetent. These are leaders from Cameroon. Leaders come from the grass root. We have a leadership deficit in Cameroon but I think that the concept of leadership in our country must be revisited,” he said.
CLA participants look forward to a brighter future
To him, leadership is about serving people; “You must be involved, doing something for others and community oriented. Everybody is a leader,” he noted.
Jean Paul Tchumbo, Director of Communication, TRADEX Cameroon, a partner to the CLA initiative said good leadership is what is going to make Cameroon and the African continent emerge. He challenged Cameroonian youths to work on their attitude for a
Senator Charles Mbella Moki (1st from left) and other guests at CLA 2013 launch
better society.
The GM of Ecobank Cameroon, Mustapha Fall noted that a major success in leadership is to have a clear vision, which must be shared, adding that a leader must show the good example.
Fall said his banking institution has a focus on imparting leadership skills to persons between the ages of 30 – 40, who constitute the bulk of the staff of Ecobank.
Some of the participants of the CLA 2013
Senator Charles Mbella Moki of Buea told the 50 boys and 50 girls that made up the 2013 CLA that he learnt leadership skills from other people to be where he is today. He will add; “In leadership, you have to inspire people and be in the movement of change, which we need in Cameroon and across Africa.”
He took a commitment to put into use some of his FCFA 15 Million grants as a Senator to the development of youths in his Buea constituency in the Southwest
Happy-looking female participants at the opening ceremony of CLA 2013
Region.
Marianne Tabi Enow a member of the 2013 CLA learnt that there are hidden conflicts within the human body that must be overcome to be a leader. “It has being a forum to learn that a better leader can make a better society,” she said.
Laye Mbunkur said he has taken a decision to be great person and the CLA has given him the tools to fine-tune that. “I want to change and make a significant
A family pic of CLA 2013 participants and guests
impact in my community. These will come via capacity building and the necessary leadership skills, which I have acquired from the CLA,” He noted.
Noble Amik, member, pioneer batch of CLA and CEO of Hope Alive Foundation said he acquired leadership and management skills. “I am a leader, who is leading other leaders now after having had the CLA experience. As young Cameroonians, we must believe in ourselves and make the best out of the gifts given to us by God.” He will reiterate the need for team work, which according to him is primordial for success.
Other issues participants learnt at the CLA included; power and leadership, ethics and values in leadership, our engagement, business opportunities in agriculture, how to motivate your team as a leader and the importance of self motivation.
The Cameroon Leadership Academy, which is free of charge for all participants, is an annual programme with a motif to train and provide a platform for networking and exchange of experiences for a hundred young and active citizens from the ten regions of Cameroon between 18 – 35 years of age.
