The cosmopolitan community of Mankon witnessed what many described as a historic turning point on November 26 and 27, 2025, as the Manplanet Two-Day Seminar brought together traditional authorities, local experts, farmers and families under the theme “Empowering Families Through Poultry, Piggery and Fishery Farming.”
The event, held at Nkah Nikwi Hall in Ngomgham, focused on strengthening food security, boosting employment and reviving community resilience through hands-on agribusiness training. More than 500 participants filled the hall over the two days, marking what organizers say may be the beginning of a new chapter for the Mankon community.
At the heart of the seminar was Prince Muma Angwafo III, CEO of Manplanet and a senior custodian of Mankon fondom, who used the platform to situate the initiative within a long history of community stewardship.
He invoked the legacy of his father and earlier leaders who dedicated their lives to defending Mankon’s land and fighting hunger. “That button of looking for food that will feed the people of Mankon has always been the last part of the work the Lord gave them,” he said, referring to the dynasty’s duty to ensure food sufficiency. Rising to his role as Muma Angwafo III, he explained, required him to put aside his personal ambitions to focus entirely on community welfare.
Prince Muma described the seminar as arriving at a symbolic moment, aligning with the reign of the new Fon, His Royal Highness Angwafo IV. He said the training represented a fresh momentum for development, an opportunity to prepare the community for “the battle of the future.”
For the past 13 years, Manplanet has operated a wide range of development activities in Mankon, including cassava and maize cultivation, potato farms, poultry, piggery, fish farming, traditional food promotion, fashion events and an annual football unity tournament. All these activities, he emphasized, were designed to keep the cosmopolitan town dynamic and resilient, especially in the face of hunger and unemployment.
During the seminar, participants were taught new and cost-saving techniques in poultry, fish and pig production, including the “battery system,” which enables higher yields in smaller spaces. According to Prince Muma, these innovations will allow farmers to produce more competitively and sustainably.
“Participants left very satisfied,” he said. “We taught highly skilled techniques that will reduce production costs and help families support themselves, especially during these challenging times.” He likened the significance of the event to a biblical rebirth, calling it “a new child born in Mankon” and urging participants to spread the message that the community is entering a new era of self-sufficiency, opportunity and unity.
Representing the Fon of Mankon, Ncha Chi Stephen reinforced this message, describing the seminar as a deliberate effort to empower families and rebuild community confidence through practical skills. He explained that the training followed a clear structure of personal, group and community development, led by experts who were selected to strengthen local capacities. “Knowledge without implementation is useless,” he told participants, relaying Fon’s instruction that they must put their newly acquired skills into practice.
Drawing from scripture and proverbs, he reminded the community that God commanded mankind to be fruitful and productive, and that teaching someone how to fish ensures a lifetime of sustenance. For him, the training’s impact should not stop in Mankon but extend to neighbouring communities, driven by unity, perseverance and hard work.
“Without love, you can never succeed,” he said. “The road is long and difficult, but a struggling man will always succeed in the end.”
Among the many attendees was Bih Shella, a farmer from Mile 7, who offered a deeply personal reflection on the seminar’s impact. She described the two days as transformative, providing “mind-blowing” techniques in poultry farming and reinforcing her commitment not only to apply the knowledge but also to share it freely with her neighbours. “I have freely gotten it, and so I intend to make sure I spread it as well,” she said, praising the facilitators for their expertise and commending Prince Muma for his vision.
The seminar, she added, has reshaped her outlook and equipped her with tools that will benefit both her household and her wider community.
The Manplanet project, based in Bamenda but deeply rooted in Mankon identity, has evolved into a broad community-development model. It promotes food security through small-scale agribusiness, creates employment opportunities for youths and families, and reinforces cultural identity through traditional cuisine, festivals, fashion events and sports. During the seminar, participants were also promised reduced prices for animal feed and farming inputs to help them implement what they learned immediately.
The event concluded with the distribution of attestations, which Prince Muma described as more than certificates, they symbolized the responsibility each participant now carries to spread the knowledge and drive change. Comparing their mission to the early days of Christianity, he said the participants were now “carrying the message of a new era in Mankon.”
For two days, the Nkah Nikwi Hall became a space of learning, solidarity and renewed purpose. From traditional leaders to young farmers, husbands, wives and entire families, the gathering reflected a community committed to charting a new future. If the aspirations of Manplanet and its leaders come to fruition, the 2025 Two-Day Seminar will be remembered not merely as a workshop but as the launch of a long-term movement toward self-reliance, prosperity and cultural regeneration in Mankon.
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