President Paul Biya’s announcement of a 50 billion FCFA fund dedicated to youth and female entrepreneurship has ignited fresh debate on the future of Cameroon’s economy, education system, and governance. The initiative, unveiled during the Head of State’s end-of-year address on December 31, 2025, is being widely interpreted as a signal of transition toward a more technocratic and productivity-driven national agenda.
One of the strongest voices shaping public interpretation of the announcement is Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of St. Louis Clinic and University Institute. A trained surgeon and social reformer, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam views the fund not as a political gesture but as a potential catalyst for deep and long-overdue reforms.
Speaking in the aftermath of the presidential address, Dr. Nick said the most striking element of the speech was not merely the size of the fund, but the implied direction of governance. In his view, Cameroon is moving toward a system that prioritizes technocrats and entrepreneurs with the capacity to solve real problems. “Our greatest issue has always been governance,” he said, adding that financial resources must be guided by competence and accountability to produce meaningful results.
According to the proprietor of St Louis Clinic and University Institute, the 50 billion CFA francs should not and will not be distributed as gifts. Instead, he expects the funds to be deployed as interest-free loans,usubject tostrict banking criteria, ensuring repayment and continuity. Such an approach, he argues, would transform the allocation into a revolving fund capable of supporting multiple generations of entrepreneurs rather than a one-time expenditure.
He further explained that the intended beneficiaries are not inexperienced applicants, but youths and women who have already demonstrated skills and initiative. Particular emphasis, he said, will be placed on graduates of private higher education institutions who have launched projects, built farms, or started small industries but lack the capital needed to scale up their operations.
For Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, productivity and proven effort must be the entry point. “If you are producing nothing, you are not existing,” he remarked, underscoring his belief that economic relevance must be measured by output rather than credentials alone.
Dr. Nick also pointed to sectors such as agriculture, science, technology, and waste management as priority areas. He encouraged young people to organize themselves into companies capable of turning environmental challenges into profitable ventures, describing waste management as one of the fastest ways to create jobs while improving living conditions in both cities and rural communities.
Beyond financing, the highly acclaimed and trained surgeon, insists that the success of the initiative depends on a radical overhaul of Cameroon’s education system. He predicts that beginning in 2026, reforms will affect every level of education, from primary schools to universities, vocational training centers, and health training institutions.
According to him, entrepreneurship will no longer be optional but embedded as a mindset across the system.
He has been particularly critical of the current emphasis on certificates without corresponding productivity. In his assessment, many institutions are producing graduates without practical skills or marketable outputs, a situation he believes is unsustainable. Going forward, he says, institutions, especially private higher education institutes, will be evaluated based on tangible products and innovations placed on the market, not on the number of diplomas issued.
Drawing comparisons with China, Dr. Nick clarified that Cameroon’s path should not involve imitation for its own sake. Rather, he advocates adopting proven strategies such as state support for productive institutions, access to modern equipment, tax incentives, and duty-free imports for industries that add value. He emphasized that future subventions to educational institutions are likely to come in the form of laboratories, factories, and industrial tools rather than direct cash transfers.
Dr. Nick acknowledged concerns raised by some observers who argue that the problem lies less in training and more in limited access to capital, particularly due to the conservative nature of banks and microfinance institutions. While he agrees that financing has been a major obstacle, he maintains that production must remain the ultimate benchmark. “Well-being will be measured by productivity,” he said, noting that unemployment persists largely because of the absence of industries and functional value chains.
As Cameroon looks toward its 2035 emergence vision, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam describes the 50 billion CFA francs fund as an impetus rather than a solution. In his view, it marks the beginning of a new era in which institutions, entrepreneurs, and young people will be judged by what they produce and contribute to national development. Those who fail to adapt to an entrepreneurship-driven and production-focused system, he warns, risk being left behind as reforms take hold.
Comments
Post a Comment