Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, a trained surgeon and the Founder of the St. Louis Clinic and University Institute, has presented what he describes as good news for Cameroon under the 3rd Option agenda.
Rooted in pragmatism, the social reformer's vision challenges the country to abandon fear, pretence and half-measures in favour of truth, efficiency and decisive action.
At the heart of Dr. Ngwanyam’s message is the conviction that Cameroon’s problems are solvable if leaders are willing to speak the truth and act in the best interest of the people. Nowhere is this more evident, he says, than in the handling of the Anglophone crisis.
According to him, the failure of the Major National Dialogue stemmed from an absence of honest conversation. Rather than a genuine exchange, the process became a monologue driven by fear, particularly among Anglophones who were expected to propose solutions. In attempting to please authority, he argues, they avoided saying what needed to be said and ultimately failed to deliver peace to the restive regions.
Dr. Nick Ngwanyam maintains that the crisis could be resolved within two months if the country adopts what he considers the most just and workable solution, which, according to him, is a two-state federation comprising West and East Cameroon. He is sharply critical of alternatives such as “Special Status,” which he describes as vague and indefinable, offering symbolism without substance and clarity without impact.
Beyond the political crisis, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam identifies youth unemployment as a national emergency that demands immediate structural change. He argues that Cameroon can no longer afford to import what it consumes daily. By producing locally what the country eats, drinks and wears, he says, billions of CFA francs currently spent abroad could be redirected into the local economy.
In his estimate, as much as 1,000 billion CFA francs annually could flow directly into the hands of Cameroonian youth, creating jobs and stimulating growth. Import substitution, combined with strong investment in science and technology, forms the backbone of his economic strategy and, in his view, is the only credible path toward true emergence by 2035.
Education occupies a central place in the 3rd Option. Dr. Ngwanyam calls for a complete transformation of the education system, taking lessons from China’s development model. He envisions a Cameroon driven by science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with the majority of young people trained in these fields.
Under his proposal, all graduates holding degrees in STEM disciplines would be recruited, retrained where necessary, and deployed strategically to contribute directly to national development projects.
He further insists that educational excellence must be led from the top. In his view, every head teacher and principal, whether in public or private institutions, should hold at least a master’s degree or a PhD, preferably from a STEM background. This, he argues, would eliminate disparities between private and government schools and lay a solid foundation for a technologically advanced nation.
Recognizing that development also depends on practical skills, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam places strong emphasis on vocational and certification-based training. He proposes large-scale certification programmes, particularly for arts graduates, aimed at equipping them with productive skills in agriculture, ICT, construction, the clothing industry and food processing. Through this approach, he believes Cameroon can create between one and two million jobs every year, anchored in productivity rather than administrative expansion.
On governance, the trained and skilled senior surgeon advocates a drastic reduction in the size and cost of the state. He calls for the closure of several institutions he considers redundant and ineffective, as well as the fusion of ministries to reduce their number to about 25 or fewer. He also proposes eliminating positions such as minister delegates and secretaries of state, arguing that a leaner government would be more efficient, less wasteful and more accountable. His vision extends to infrastructure, where he proposes the construction of a new Miselele International Airport.
According to him, this project would reposition Douala Airport as a regional facility and better align Cameroon’s transport infrastructure with its economic ambitions.
Drawing on his background in medicine, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam describes his approach as a form of national surgery precise, courageous and necessary. He insists that Cameroon’s future depends not on managing crises, but on solving them decisively.
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