Consul General Clark-Omeru hosts Nigeria Community

…urges them to be law abiding citizens in host country

The Consul-General of Nigeria to Douala, the Republic of Cameroon, Ambassador (HRM) Queen Efe A. Clark-Omeru has hosted the Nigerian community in the Littoral Region for the second time to show appreciation for relentless services rendering to Nigeria nationals residing in the region of the host country.

It could be recalled that the executive of the Nigerian community paid courtesy visit to the Consulate General in May 2022 to express their maximum appreciation to the Mission who has been helpful in resolving pressing issues with the host country.

According to her speech, the CG welcomed the Nigerian Community executives led by the President, Honourable B.I.C Okwujiaku and provided details of the Consulate progress with the host country over pending issues concerning Nigerian residents in the region.

« It is my pleasure to welcome you to this event of New Year visit/wishes to me and the Consulate, » the statement reads.

« Since my arrival in June 2021, and with the presentation of my Exequatur which I assured you that the Consulate would not rest its oars by ensuring  that the issue of molestation  will be a thing of past in the history country. The Consulate has met several times with the officials of the immigration of the host country with particular reference to resident permit, exit Visa and the matter was resolved amicably as the immigration rights accorded to members of Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC)

region is also accorded to Nigeria due to the already subsisting bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries. »
The Nigeria CG also highlighted the issues of non-issuance of Resident permits which is a great challenge to Nigerian residents in the Littoral region as it is contrary to it immigration law.

« The issue of non-issuance of Resident Permit has attracted my attention, on that basis, I directed my officers on 10th February 2023, accompanied by the president and some executive members of the Nigerian community to meet with new Commissioner  EMI-immigration Madame Gertrude Bikok and the matter was also resolved due to the subsisting bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Consul General was excited to proudly commend the Nigeria community over their successful business activities which were satisfied by the host authorities. But urges her compatriots to be more tolerance of each other and remain law abiding to the host country.

In responding to the CG’s speech, the President of the Nigeria Community, Honourable B.I.C Okwujiaku heaps praise on the first female Consul General in Douala for her breath of peace among Nigerians in the region.

« Last year, we came to say thank you for the ones you have done. We have come again to further demonstrate our joy for your constant support, caring and motherly advise and solidarity  to us as your fellow compatriots in Cameroon, » he said.

« History will record it that as the first female Consul General in Douala. Nigerians have benefited from your good leadership and skills of work, » he added.

Also appreciating the CG is Eminent philanthropist, HRH Eze Thomas .J. Onyengubo, Eze Gburugburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon, who also urged the Nigerian community members to remain united and be law abiding to the host country.

From the 18th to the 21st August 2022, the Pastoral Centre St Joseph of Kribi (Cameroon) hosted the 10th edition of what has become an annual ‘rendez-vous’ of capacity building of young Cameroonian Leaders and Entrepreneurs selected on the basis of their civic engagement, professional achievement and patriotic spirit.
 
Through this Academy, the Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Foundation (PLF) by Go Ahead Africa Ltd has been contributing to the empowerment of hundreds of young people in the fields of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Management.
 
Held in partnership with some of the most influential stakeholders in the Cameroonian economic ecosystem (Go Ahead Africa Ltd, Groupe SABC, the Port Authority of Kribi (PAK), BGFIBank Cameroon, Balafon Media and Vox Africa); and despite unforeseen circumstances, this 10th edition succeeded to gather forty-six participants (23 boys and 23 girls) aged between 18 and 35 years old under the theme « Challenges and opportunities of youth in a VUCA environment (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) ».
 
For the Founder of the PLF, Roland KWEMAIN, these young Leaders are true ambassadors of the emergence and prosperity of Cameroon. « Our goal is to train a world class of Young Cameroonian Leaders/Entrepreneurs who are masters of their destiny and resolutely at the service of the emergence of our country and even of our continent, Africa » he said.

During four (4) intense days under the expert guidance of Leadership Coach/Trainer
Emile SINGEH and Assistant Coach Perrin KWENKEU, the 2022 batch developed through a tailor-made program:
·       Leadership and Management Skills
·       Entrepreneurial spirit
·       Spirit of Individual Social Responsibility and Active Citizenship
·       Knowledge and Valorisation of the Great Historical Figures of Cameroon
·       Appropriation of the Vision of a prosperous Cameroon
 
During this unique and extraordinary life experience punctuated by short nights (4 hours/day) and intense days of emotions, knowledge acquisition and teambuilding, the participants had the opportunity to meet and learn from their 2 Patrons:
·       Mr Patrice MELOM (GM PAK)
·       Mr Cyrille BOJIKO (Founder and CEO Balafon Media Group)

They also had the great opportunity to interact with some of the Leaders and Managers who drive the economic scene.
Among them we can name Mr Abakal MAHAMAT (General Manager, BGFIBank Cameroon), Dr Elizabeth FON (General Manager, TESHO), Mrs Arielle WAFFO (General Manager, DKT Cameroon), Mr Dagobert TAHA (Design Thinking Expert), Mrs Pulton ARUNA (Consultant, Corporate Trainer in Management Skills, Customer Care, Food Safety, Quality Management, Training Techniques).
 
As key part of the program, the participants worked on reinventing the CLA model during the traditional ‘24 heures Chrono’ where they spend 24 hours in a row without sleeping in a journey to better understand (themselves) and learn how to surpass their self-expectations.

As the Cameroon Leadership Academy heads to new starts for its 10 years’ Convention on December, 10th taking with it an annual event that brought together hundreds of young Leaders and Entrepreneurs; it’s worth reflecting on its legacy and on the impact it made during the past ten (10) years that the event grew to empower 850 youth with the mission of training better Leaders in order to build better communities. 
Emile Désiré SINGEH
President, PLF

Du 18 au 21 août 2022, le Centre Pastoral St Joseph de Kribi (Cameroun) a accueilli la 10ème édition de ce qui est devenu un rendez-vous annuel de renforcement des capacités des jeunes leaders et entrepreneurs camerounais sélectionnés sur la base de leur engagement civique, de leur réussite professionnelle et de leur esprit patriotique. 
Grâce à cette académie, la Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Foundation (PLF), une initiative du cabinet Go Ahead Africa Ltd a contribué à l’autonomisation de centaines de jeunes dans les domaines du Leadership, Entreprenariat et du Management.
Organisée en partenariat avec certains des acteurs les plus influents de l’écosystème économique camerounais (Go Ahead Africa Ltd, Groupe SABC, le Port Autonome de Kribi (PAK), BGFIBank Cameroon, Balafon Media et Vox Africa) ; et malgré des cas de force majeure cette 10ème édition a réussi à rassembler quarante-six participants (23 garçons et 23 filles) âgés de 18 à 35 ans sous le thème « Défis et opportunités de la jeunesse dans un environnement VUCA (Volatile, Incertain, Complexe et Ambigu) ». 
Pour le Fondateur de la PLF, Roland KWEMAIN, ces jeunes Leaders sont de véritables ambassadeurs de l’émergence et de la prospérité du Cameroun.  » Notre objectif est de former une classe mondiale de Jeunes Leaders/Entrepreneurs camerounais maîtres de leur destin et résolument au service de l’émergence de notre pays et même de notre continent, l’Afrique  » a-t-il déclaré.
Pendant quatre (4) jours intenses sous la direction experte du Coach/Formateur en Leadership Emile SINGEH et de l’Assistant-Coach Perrin KWENKEU, la promotion 2022 a développé grâce à un programme taillé sur mesure :
-Des Compétences en leadership et Management
-L’Esprit d’entreprise
-La Responsabilité sociale individuelle et de citoyenneté active
-La Connaissance et valorisation des grandes figures historiques du Cameroun
-L’Appropriation de la Vision d’un Cameroun prospère
 
Au cours de cette expérience de vie unique et extraordinaire ponctuée de courtes nuits (4 heures/jour) et de journées intenses en émotions, en acquisition de connaissances et en Teambuilding, les participants ont eu l’occasion de rencontrer et d’apprendre de leurs 2 Parrains :

·       Mr Patrice MELOM (DG PAK)
·       Mr Cyrille BOJIKO (Promoteur et PDG du Groupe Balafon Media)

Ils ont également eu l’occasion d’interagir avec certains des leaders et des managers qui animent la scène économique.
Parmi lesquels, nous pouvons citer M. Abakal MAHAMAT (Directeur Général, BGFIBank Cameroun), Dr Elizabeth FON (Directeur Général, TESHO), Mme Arielle WAFFO (Directeur Général, DKT Cameroun), M. Dagobert TAHA (Expert en Design Thinking), Mme Pulton ARUNA (Consultante, formatrice en management, service client, sécurité alimentaire, gestion de la qualité, techniques de formation). 
Durant le traditionnel « 24 heures Chrono » qui est en réalité l’élément clé du programme, les participants ont passé 24 heures d’affilée sans dormir afin de mieux se connaître et apprendre ainsi à dépasser leurs propres attentes. Pour cette édition, le « 24 heures Chrono » était dédié à réinventer le modèle économique de la CLA.
Alors que l’Académie Camerounaise de Leadership s’apprête à prendre un nouveau départ avec la Convention de ses 10 ans le 10 décembre 2022, emportant avec elle un événement annuel qui a rassemblé des centaines de jeunes leaders et entrepreneurs, il convient donc de réfléchir sur son héritage et à l’impact qu’ elle a eu au cours des dix (10) dernières années durant lesquelles l’événement s’est développé et a autonomisé 850 jeunes avec pour principale mission de former de meilleurs leaders afin de construire de meilleures communautés.
Emile Désiré SINGEH
Président, PLF

Pour plus d’informations sur la Fondation et ses activités, contactez :

Etienne Martial MVONDO
Directeur Exécutif, PLF
emartialmvondo@yahoo.com
+237 6 96 79 99 60 / 6 51 51 40 59

Emile Désiré SINGEH
Président, PLF
gea126@yahoo.fr
+237 6 77 82 36 12

The Governor of Cameroon’s Littoral Region, H.E. Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, has assured that foreigners living and doing business in Cameroon have nothing to fear. He went further to allay their worries, encouraging them relax and enjoy their time in the country.

In an exclusive interview with Naija Diaspora Magazine, he noted, “More than ever, the Central African country, famed for its hospitality and friendly atmosphere, is willing to open its doors to genuine and legitimate business prospectors, as this will ultimately translate to a win-win situation for both parties.”

Diboua made a name in governance and administration in Douala, Bonaberi, Nkongsamba, East Region and Yaounde in various capacities before he was appointed the Governor of the Littoral Region. Before his appointment, he was the Governor of the West Region (2010) and Eastern region (2012 – 2015).

While acknowledging that the Littoral Region is home to a large community of foreigners, most of whom are Nigerians, Diboua also commended the presence of foreign-owned companies in the region, particularly Dangote Cement, and the joy it has brought to his fellow citizens.

“By situating his manufactory in Douala, the Dangote Company has helped to maintain the price of cement at a good level in the country.”

According to Diboua, the vibrancy and competition the Nigerian company has brought to the market has forced competitors like Cimencam, CIMAF and others to bow to the rules of market forces and keep prices at a reachable level for average Cameroonians.

“This would not have happened if you were alone in the field,” Diboua added.

Aside from Dangote’s investment, he also commended the impact of other Nigerian businesses like Air Peace and MRS CORLAY, as well as banks like UBA and Access.

“The first General Manager of Dangote Cement in Cameroon was a Nigerian, but today it is a Cameroonian. Sometimes, you see that even a Cameroonian who goes to work in Nigeria also becomes a leader inside the company. So, we cannot say we are really foreigners—no, we are together.

He also acknowledged the contribution of migrant Nigerians in the area of vehicle maintenance.

“The Nigerian community is bringing a lot in terms of peace [FU1] of vehicles and the renowned Camp Yabassi. We have seen how our brothers are coming to help tackle the mechanical problems.

“We also have many Cameroonians traveling to Calabar, to Abuja, and coming back with business opportunities.”

Diboua ascribed the secret of his administrative success to Jesus Christ. He also assured that his administration would use ceremonies such as the National Feast Day to further strengthen ties with Nigerians and other foreigners.

This, he said, would promote a sense of belonging and the confidence to integrate with other Africans despite our border differences. He also noted the seamlessness with which nationalities of both countries interact and mingle across the borders, stating that it is a testimony that delineation is only on paper.

“Even the population are just speaking the same languages; English, Pidgin, this and that; same with the traditions. When you see how the people of Douala call the Sawa people, it’s not different from Bakweri and from Igbo and Calabar people; they are close to the Anglophone Sawa. We can actually see it’s wealth that we share with one another. Living together is a master key to good development between the two nations, and we are proud of it. We can say that it is good.” He reiterated.

The governor further spoke of his close relationship with some Nigerian spiritual leaders, with whom he exchanged prayers every now and then. He said both countries share similarities in many significant spheres, including culture and sporting achievements. 

“I attended a wedding somewhere in the country where the Nigerian community came to ask the hand of a lady from Cameroon in marriage. And when we were just joking, one of the Nigerians said, ‘Ooh, this Cameroon. If we can make Cameroon a part of Nigeria at the level of football grounds to play in!’

“And then I said, ‘So Cameroon for you is a sports platform, a sports place to play.’ I also told him that for Cameroonians, Nigeria is a business land. Of course, when you talk of football, the two countries have to respect each other. Both have good players. That is why, in my speech, when I was installing the new Nigerian Consul General, I said our two countries are the only African countries that have won the Olympic Games Men’s Football gold.”

“We have the same physique, the same face, and even eating and clothing habits. If they stop sending Okra, Garri and Egusi, I think there will be a strike in Calabar. We thank God because the head of state, President Paul Biya and President Muhammadu Buhari are making much effort toward cooperation. We have the roads, the bridge of Ekok, and even the roads to Enugu. If we didn’t have the problem of secessionists and Amazonians, we probably would have more good, large roads, facilitating easy movement of people from Enugu to Douala.”

He expressed hope that more peace would be achieved in both countries to give room for more development and regional prosperity.

Notably, he also expressed hopes of improvement between both countries in the area of aviation.

“We don’t have many flights between the two. If we have them, I think that we can gain more in business.”

On Littoral Region, Cameroon, and Successful Hosting of AFCON

Speaking on Cameroon’s successful hosting of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the second time in 50 years, Diboua said:

“We had two or three challenges. The first was to have beautiful stadiums, and the government, along with the head of state, worked so hard to ensure this was achieved.

The second was to fight against Covid-19 and to take measures so that people could go out and come back safely, whilst the third was at the level of insecurity. So, we worked hand-in-hand with the population, the gendarmes, and the policemen, to ensure people were secured everywhere.

“As a team, we won in these three challenges, and I’m glad for it.”

On the diplomatic front, where Governor Diboua has also distinguished himself, earning accolades amongst foreign diplomats, including those from Nigeria, he was quick to say that the success is a collective one.

“We have a Douala branch of the External Ministry here in Douala (the MINREX), and it is working very hard to strengthen the relations and even improve on them. We regularly hold meetings to see which paths to take to strengthen and improve the relations. The other thing is that every time the Nigerian community has a ceremony, they invite us to attend the meetings, assist, and even to share what is very common to us; and what can be more useful for everybody.”

The governor also commended Nigerians in the country for the respect they have shown to their host country by not meddling in its internal affairs and remaining law abiding.

Speaking on internally displaced persons (IDPs), Diboua said the country has its share, as well as refugees from Central Africa, Chad, and so on.

“When I was the East Governor, I saw that those who are based in the East Region are mostly fishermen; they are practicing agriculture. This category of people are not coming to Douala. Those coming to Douala are likely traders and businessmen coming to do business. That is why when we have to help them, the approach is different, and the emergency cases are the ones that leave in the East region of the North. But some of those who are here are teachers, engineers, and so on.

“Notably, this category of people has to integrate into society. Consequently, my government is working with the United Nations branch for refugees to give fleeing refugees a new way of life.”

Placements for these people are usually done carefully because, according to him, “we have to know who is who. We need to know that you are a valuable person in your country. But first, such immigrant has to be registered at the UNHCR.” Diboua said.

Another good thing, according to the governor, is the hospitality of the Douala people, who welcome migrants with open arms. To that effect, there are no camps in Douala. “Such hospitality is also enhancing growth.” He added.

“If there is a football match, you will see that there are many people there. If you go to Youpwe to see how you can buy fish, you will see many people there as well. They are living as brothers and sisters, and have made the place a kind of homeland. They are in peace within us, without any problem, but there is still a need for the international community to help and give sustainable measures to help them. We cannot do it alone.”

Parting Words

H.E. Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua would like everybody to be vigilant, as the world today is made up of tools that can be used for good or otherwise.

With particular reference to technology and the new media, the governor said, “You have to be careful because when information is given, it is better to go and ask the authorities if what you have heard is true or not.”

He also appealed for vigilance amongst citizens and prompt intimation of the authorities when things go wrong, while pledging confidentiality. This would serve as intelligence to help forestall unwholesome incidents.

“When we are living in a quarter and not behaving very well, it is good to come and tell us what is happening. But be sure I won’t stand and say, ‘Okay, Sister Esther told me that you have this and that.’ When we have information as professionals, we know how to handle it. So don’t let situations get worse; give good information in time, and we will react in time and ensure peace in our Littoral region. We cannot live in peace if we are not sharing information.”