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Thursday, May 23, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Meet A PNB Ambassador: Gerald Sunjo Layu. Co-Owner & CEO Autograph Hotel
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| Gerald Sunjo Layu |
My name is Gerald Sunjo Layu.
I’m a Banso man and a “Bamenda boy”. I attended
nursery school up the Hill at Veterinary Junction, in what is now the actual
veterinary building if memory serves. Then I did a round of primary schools
over six years: first CS Bayele, then St John’s Foncha Street, then PS Atuakom;
a change of scenery that would overwhelm any pilgrim. I attended college at
Sacred Heart Mankon, then high School at GBHS Bamenda - two head-spinning years
in which I spent just as much time attending booms in Bambili, Mbengwi and an
assortment of other venues (along with ill-advised forays into Bali) as I did
within the four walls of a class. I read law afterwards at Birmingham
University in the UK and spent a further six years in Europe after my degree
putting off an inevitable return until I caught the business bug and rode a
wave of optimism home.
My most enduring and nostalgic memories have Bamenda
as a backdrop though: crossing “two bridge” from Bayele and having close shaves
and near misses all the way home; collecting even-tempered dogs in the
“quartier” with my mates while at St John’s and going hunting for squirrel and
cutting grass around the hills of what is now GTHS Bamenda and beyond; Coupe
Top at Ntamulung; Chinese and Indian films at Rota. That was my Bamenda.
Over the years of the life of the nation, the people
of the North West have demonstrated a resilience and a single minded
determination to succeed in less than perfect circumstances. There is a
disciplined approach to life and living which is in our DNA. Our parents insisted
we become professionals: doctors, lawyers, engineers etc and invested
forcefully in that ideal. No football, music or other frivolity. At least not
back then. Whatever the demerits of this approach it is mighty hard to make an
argument against it as I think it has served our generation well. The PNB
ambassadors I see on this blog are testament to that.
Our parents educated us and built homes on modest
incomes. Njangis and the Credit union scene are lasting tributes to a rare
fiscal discipline. In addition to tireless toil, North-westerners take every
aspect of tradition seriously: our elders, our dialects, and all those routine
cultural rituals and observances that punctuate daily life. These things define
us. They are who we are.
I live in Douala and co-own and run a boutique hotel
in Limbe with my brother called Autograph. A good many PNB readers are our
loyal guests. At least I hope so. As tough an economy as ours is I remain
convinced of the possibilities and opportunities in an emerging Bamenda and in Cameroon.
Our generation has the opportunity to shape and contribute to the
entrepreneurial landscape of the future. In concrete terms it means being bold,
taking risks and above all fostering a collaboratory spirit among us.
Bamenda has been good to me. A “New Bamenda” I suspect
will be even better for us and future generations. I commend the ethos and
timing behind the Project New Bamenda initiative. Bamenda, I feel, is taking
confident, visible strides into the future at the moment. One can feel the momentum
building; one can see the progress being made. I believe in partnerships.
Partnerships of ideas; partnerships in effort; a collective approach in service
of a grander vision for our town and region; a pooling of financial and human
resources with generous doses of creativity and innovation. Previous
generations provided the platform and we have the opportunity to make use of
the skills and tools at our disposal to creating a vibrant business
environment.
One Last One
My favourite place in Bamenda is the Station hills.
Not so much from the top down - as much as the town coming into view upon
arrival gives me pleasure - but looking at them from the bottom up. It’s always
given me a feeling of security; like we are walled in. A sort of “Fortress
Bamenda”.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Meet a PNB Ambassador: Francis Kilaghan Bonghan, Founder and CEO of Novelty Tax & Accounting and Franco Records
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| Francis Kilaghan Bonghan |
My
name is Francis Kilaghan Bonghan (aka Franco Bonghan).
I
attended primary school at Government Primary School Up-Station and St John at Foncha
Street Nkwen the latter on to St Augustine College Nso and CHS Bambui and then
CCAST Bambili.
What particularly interests me in Bamenda is the untapped human and material
resources of the region. The grasslands and rich folklore provide a huge
opportunity for tourism and cultural dynamism.
I
am currently based in Houston Texas and I am the founder and CEO of Novelty Tax& Accounting, a tax Consulting and Litigation firm in Houston Texas for 8
years. I am also the CEO and founder of Franco Records, a Record label based
in Houston Texas with a singular mission of representing the unnoticed voices
in Africa.
Academically,
I have earned two Masters: in Accounting and Financial and Strategic Management
from Keller Graduate School of Management in Houston Texas.
I
like the hospitality of the people and the hardworking parents who never cease
to give the best for their children. Education here is of prime importance.
We are strategically positioned to do that. In the next five years, I will like to propel the new generation of artists by giving the necessary tools to compete in the international market place.
I
will network with projects like PNB and any other stake holders as long as it
is for the development of the North West Region.
Presently,
I am working on setting up a state-of-the-art recording studio and provide the
right personnel in Bamenda to help give access to world class recording to any
talented individual, market musical products, develop and produce, all the
while making it possible for them to compete in the international market place.
In
business, I wish to establish a venture capitalist firm in Bamenda.
This,
I believe, will help in my little way in promoting our talented young boys and
girls from Bamenda.
Project
New Bamenda is a divine idea that needs the benediction of all sons and
daughters of the region, to rise up and answer this call to a more prosperous
North West region.
I
salute the PNB team for their effort so far. May God bless Project New Bamenda.
One Last One
My
favorite dish from Bamenda is fufu-corn and khati khati. I just love Ndamukong Street.
I
believe in ‘’stand up and stand tall’.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Meet a PNB Ambassador: Linda Arrey, President and CEO of Women In Leadership Development and Empowerment, INC.
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| Linda Arrey |
My
names are Linda Arrey.
The
North West Region particularly interests me for the rich culture and
hospitality.
I
currently reside in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
I
am President and CEO of Women In Leadership Development and Empowerment, INC. (WILDE),
a membership based leadership non-for-profit organization made up of a unique
network of professional women from diversified backgrounds and experiences who
aim at enhancing women’s skills and involvement at all levels of society.
WILDE
was birth from my vision and dedication to the education and empowerment of
women globally, and my inclination to improving individual and community
standards. As a philanthropist, I am constantly seeking innovative ways to give
back to the community through mobilization, direct service, donations, and more.
I
am also the owner of Lindaarrey, INC., a consultation firm specializing in
Public Speaking, Non-Profit Startups, Non-Profit Infrastructure and
Implementation, and Small Businesses. I am an Officer with the United States
Air Force and currently serve as a Health Care Administrator. Some prior
positions and organizations I have held include Administrator for legislators,
Secretary General of the African Women Development Foundation
Inc., and Manager of the Miss Africa USA Pageant.
I
hold a Masters in Health Care Administration / Public Health Administration. I
currently seat on several organization’s boards.
Through
WILDE’s Project2020, we are working on opening vocational training universities
in some African countries including Cameroon. Currently Bamenda is a “city of
interest” under this project. The goal of Project2020 is to :
1)
Increase access to vocational and technical training,
2)
Improve quality of higher education by developing research strategies based on
the country’s developmental priorities, and
3)
Improving the quality of workforce development by equipping the students with
workforce skills ready to add to the country’s developmental goals.
WILDE
universities will also promote home economics education—which is fast
eradicating in today’s schools, and leadership skills which are rarely offered
in most African school systems. These Universities will be attended for free
for all qualifying students who meet the financial assistance requirements and
for a minimal fee for students who do not.
I
also look forward to hosting a WILDE Leadership and Development Conference in
Bamenda in the near future.
I
think Project New Bamenda is a great initiative to improve the standard of
living in the city of Bamenda, while creating better communities and jobs at
the same time. I think PNB will also open a new door for businesses to better
reach out to their targeted audience and more room for networking between
businesses with vested interests.
I
will like to see a Bamenda where more people are not only educated, but also prepared
for a job market that actually offers jobs and career opportunities. My hopes
are also to see more women owning their own business and playing major roles in
the corporate sector.
One
Last One
The
place I’ll like to visit in the Bamenda metro area is the Saddle Hill Ranch and
Resort.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Meet a PNB Ambassador: Rofur Tchifu Mbunkur, Founder and CEO of HR & Systems Ltd
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| Rofur Tchifu Mbunkur |
My Name is Rofur Tchifu Mbunkur.
I am the founder and CEO of HR
& Systems Ltd.
I am from Binka, Donga and Mantung division
of the North West Region. Even though I was born and brought up out of the
Region, Bamenda has always been home to me.
Bamenda is a place to be, a place to
invest and a place to be proud of. With her increasing population, her rich and
diversified culture, her abundant availability of natural and qualified human
resources, I see it becoming a hub for business and entertainment in Cameroon
and why not Africa.
Hr & Systems is a limited liability
company based in Cameroon which I created in 2010 with its head office in
Douala. I have a staff strength of 15 persons, and representative offices in
Buea, Yaoundé and a soon-to-opened Bamenda branch.
We have a diverse client base both home
and abroad to whom we offer our human resources and accounting services and
have developed and implemented different types of systems for companies.
Our latest project which is still going
on is the implementation of an online bus reservation system called dNET where
Cameroonian can book and pay for their bus tickets online. We have already created more than 30 sales outlets in and
around Bamenda.
In addition, we have also launched our
business plan module where we are having a database of over 50 different
business plans from which interested stakeholders may use to invest in Cameroon.
Some of these plans encourage people to invest in Bamenda.
As an entrepreneur, I have as vision to
grow the number of investors in Bamenda by offering a proper business setup
through our project management services, a proper accounting and systems setup,
systems development services and above all a proper human capital through our
human resource services.
By doing the above mentioned there would
be an increase in job opportunities and hence better living for all at home.
Bamenda is an emerging market in
Cameroon, to this effect, I encourage investors to open businesses in Bamenda
or at least own a share in one. If you don not know how to do this, HR & Systems
is there to assist you.
Project New Bamenda is just wonderful
and falls in line with one of my core values which is creativity and
innovation. I must say Kudos to the team and let us keep up the fight. We shall
get there because we are all in the right direction.
One Last One
My favorite food is round the world with
one finger (ACHU) and of course khati khati
Before I end I would like my people to
know "You are never too old to set another
goal or to dream a new dream."
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