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| Francis Wainchom Nkwain II |
It
never seizes to impress me how exciting the reality of the North West Region
is. Its people and geographical attributes are a reality and yes there’s more
that can be done but when you look at what is there already, there’s much to be
excited about.
I
studied at Sacred Heart College, Mankon before doing my A’Levels in St.
Joseph’s College Sasse. I read Law at Brunel University and went to work for
numerous years in the Entertainment, Publishing and institutional Politics
sectors before founding a Public Relations and Communications outfit. I currently operate in London and Yaoundé. My
client list covers a spectrum of individuals and corporations from big business
to professional athletes and artistes, with a single common denominator, their
African identity. I also run www.horizononline.org, a pan-African platform that
supports the promotion of Africa’s success stories, a small contribution to the
wider issue of the repositioning of the African in the modern world.
It
would be unfair to promote generalizations but I do think there are three key
qualities that form the thread that sows the North West Region and its people
together:
Tradition:
a great appreciation for history and culture and a general understanding of the
need to be true to the values that bind its numerous tribes.
Respect:
Be it for each other or the institutions that shaped and continue to shape it,
the North-Westerner is respectful of assigned roles.
Pride:
A combination of the above (Tradition and Respect) inspires Pride in its
daughters and sons, a pride borne of a sense of identity and a sense of
responsibility as custodians of values that precede us.
In
very specific terms, I am keen to see Bamenda play a very important part in the
opening up of Cameroon to the Nigerian market place with the new transportation
links being developed. We are currently developing 2 key strategic partnerships
with 2 Nigerian agro-industrialists to accompany this commitment and thereby
expand on the productivity and economic opportunities available through industrialized
farming.
I
have been a fan of the energy of the people behind Project New Bamenda as
individuals so to see them fusing their efforts into a project like PNB, I am
both excited and optimistic as I think the project both commendable and much
needed to gather and garner a much-needed synergy that could make Bamenda and
the North West pivotal to the emergence of our nation.
I
hope that my children inherit a Bamenda City and a North West Region that is
the envy of the continent. We have the talent, quite simply lack the platforms
that permit the talent to shine and develop further. Young “soldiers” like
Tito, Jovi, February 16, T’neeya,
DebraDebs but to name a few…They are “taking” what is rightfully theirs rather
than waiting to be given a chance. It’s a great spirit!!!
One Last One
As
proud son of Kom, I enjoy abain (fufu corn) , mbas (vegetable) and katti katti
(chicken). I have a particular soft spot for the undulating valleys and hills
of that particularly picturesque corner of the North West. However, overall, I
am what you could term a “Bamenda-Boy” harbouring a very strong bond with a
rather loose concept of identity rooted in a geographical location imbued with
cultural effervescence of a kind unmatched, let alone unsurpassed by any other.
Awesome. Bamenda has always fascinated me. Thus, on one of my rare trips 'up kontri' I wrote a piece titled: I weep for Bamenda. Check it out my blog: www.canutetangwa.com
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