Anyi Asonganyi: The women who have made it are no different from you in any way, we all can win.

Who is Anyi Asonganyi?

Born on May 11th, 1988 into a beautiful family which hails from Fontem Sub-Division in the South West region of Cameroon, Anyi Asonganyi was raised in ESSOS to be a unique version of passion, success and drive to things people say are difficult to be done. I am the CEO and creative director of OZI INTERNATIONAL; a fashion, beauty and lifestyle company located in Deido - Douala, Cameroon.

In 2007, armed with a set of skills and a makeup kit, I set out to change the beauty industry in Cameroon and thus Ozi International was born. 

I was a young woman with a dream and i have dedicated the past 10 years of my life in building my business block by block. Today, Ozi International has as many as 8 employees and is the creative force behind some of the most glamorous looks in dozens of editorials, weddings, music videos, movies, fashion shows, etc.

I am not contented with just running a successful business, i am equally passionate about inspiring other young girls to be the best they can be. This is evident from the several young women i have taken under my wing as employer, mentor and friend.

It is worth mentioning that the artistic hand behind my brand image and great pictures is my younger brother, Nji Asonganyi, owner of Nji Asonganyi Studios... OZI INTERNATIONAL would not be the brand it is today without him

 I have three supportive siblings. We were raised in Essos - Yaounde by my strong mother and my father who left us in 2016.

What fuels Anyi Asonganyi?

My support system keeps me going. I'm humbled to say that my journey has inspired a good number of young Cameroonian women to believe in themselves. These women look up to me for daily inspiration and the thought of that constantly  wakes me up from slumber. I dare not let them down, so i have to work.

I also have a brain that is constantly ticking and coming up with one new idea after the next. So even if i wanted to get lazy, my creativity would not let me.

Who is your role model?

 I was raised by a brave woman with a sound business mind. Growing up, I watched my mother globe-trot for business and i wanted to be an international business woman like her. My mother inspired my choices.

There is rich list of successful and powerful women around the world that i look up to and follow up closely for inspiration.

Where do you see yourself five years from today?

 Five years is a short time from now but that is time enough to ensure that OZI INTERNATIONAL becomes a global household name. I see myself being one of the ultimate solution providers on the international fashion and beauty scenes.

What are the challenges of the African woman today?

In my opinion, the ultimate challenge faced by the African woman is self esteem. Society has tagged Africans (blacks) a minor race, as if that is not enough, you happen to be a woman- the minor gender. This double tag makes it difficult for most African women to exploit their full potentials due to lack of self confidence.

In some parts of Africa, women have equal rights as men, meanwhile in other parts, there still exists an outstanding difference which leaves the women uneducated and voiceless. It is difficult to excell under such an atmosphere.

How do you relax yourself?

Yes, i do get very tensed every now and then. My remedy is good company. I have a very jovial staff but sometimes i do need time away from them. My family and my friends are always there for me. They know how to pull the stress away from my shoulders with the right dosage of distraction. Basically; live, love, laugh.

I also read a lot. Books have away of taking my mind to another planet. It works like a charm.

What is your ICE Vision?

My ICE vision is to create job opportunities for as many young women as i possibly can in one lifetime. I currently have a hand full of young women working for OZI INTERNATIONAL and i will only keep adding them as we grow.

Any plans for the AU? 

 Let us see what the future holds. No plan is too big for a go-getter like myself.

What are some of those practices girls do that get you off?

Although hate is a strong word, i think it fits well in this context. I hate the fact that gils and women today opt for the easy way out. Nowadays, it is considered almost normal for a woman to receive money in exchange for her precious dignity against all odds. As demeaning as that sounds, it is today's reality.

What are your first steps to right wrongs, should you be named Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family in Cameroon?

 As the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family, i would take education of the girl child as a crusade. I think that is the root of this cloud of inferiority complex that covers African women. Be it formal or informal education, every woman under my belt of authority would have to learn something that would empower them enough to make a positive difference in their lives and on their families.

What is your greatest influence?

My greatest influence is God. I am a spiritual person. I pray and meditate over every decision and action. The moves i make are basically spirit inspired.

What is your ICE Vision?

My ICE inspiration to employ as many women as i can comes from the women around me. I have lived and worked with many women in 29 years. I know the challenges we as women face, especially financial challenges and i also know the compromises some women have to make on their dignity in order to meet up with their basic needs. Creating job opportunities would literally save many women's lives which would be of great honour to my person.

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Snapchat: anyiasonganyi 

Any Advise to the African Woman?

9. To the African woman, believe in yourself! As Mo Abudu would say, "if you can think it, you can do it". Forget the world and start, it just takes you to start. The women who have made it are no different from you in any way, we all can win.

Bibiana MBUH TAKU:Challenges are my greatest motivators.

Who is Bibiana Mbuh Taku? 

Bibiana MBUH TAKU is an entrepreneur,  born and raised at Njentse – Lebialem Division. She is a graduate of Management & Finance from the Ecole Superieure de Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC ) Douala  and Treasury Inspector from  Ecole Nationale d'Administration et de la Magistrature (ENAM), Yaoundé.

After having worked for over 20 years in the American Life Insurance, Pecten Cameroon Company, Plan International – Cameroon and the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance, respectively, I founded Diversity Management & Consulting ltd (DMC ltd) in 2009 with some shareholders.   

In partnership with some very renowned Development partners like IFC (World Bank) we have created lasting impact through delivery of capacity building, business advisory & management services  to the private sector in Cameroon and many countries in Africa. Currently we are focusing on e learning and onsite capacity building platform, DMC  capacity building academy, which will deliver capacity building and advisory solutions nationally and internationally.

Bibiana MBUH TAKU is also a serial social entrepreneur who has successfully transformed some of the most painful experiences of her life into opportunities to console, encourage and uplift others. I have founded the Gabriel BEBONBECHEM Foundation for Epilepsy & Mental Well-being in memory of my Son Gabriel who lived and died of epilepsy & its complications. I am also the co-founder of the Helen ATABONG ASABA Foundation for the empowerment of the Woman & the girl child, in memory of my mum who was and advocate of women empowerment.

Finally, Bibiana MBUH TAKU is a farmer aspiring to get into transformation & marketing of Agricultural products. She is a mother of 4 biological children, many natural children and grandchildren.

What drives Bibiana MBUH TAKU?

The zeal to impact lives and be a role model to youths and women, especially those from humble backgrounds like mine. Challenges are my greatest motivators.

What is your greatest influence? 

I am not a quitter and I know how to own my mistakes and use them as stepping stones.

WHAT IS YOUR ICE (INSPIRE, CELEBRATE & INSPIRE WOMEN) INSPIRATION?

Wherever I have the opportunity to meet women achievers' I connect and acknowledge. I have been blessed with numerous opportunities that come with my job and a capacity developer and a social entrepreneur. I am blessed to be able to connect with women of all generations. The diversity of my activities appears to attract other women to wards my work. I guess, I do inspire them like others have told me.

Who is your role model? 

My mother remains my role mother. She was very committed to her vision; she was a feminist and an advocate of the principle of giving every child a chance and even second and third chances. She was never a quitter! I am not a quitter.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years? 

I see myself as the CEO of an international food processing conglomerate, a reference business advisory & service delivery in Africa. I also want to see myself as the Founder of an International reference center for research in epilepsy & rehabilitation.

What are the challenges of the African Woman? 

An African women needs to empower herself rather than waiting to be empowered. If she waits to be empowered then she will never be. An example is access to land. She needs to buy and own land rather than hoping to inherit. If she has the opportunity to inherit land then she should keep it out of hers and her husband's joint property.

How do you unwind tension from work? 

I watch Nigeria movies, when possible. They give me a chance to see young talented women who have taken success by the storm! I have watched the industry grow and I see these young women blossom and become producers and even diversify into other businesses.

I also take spiritual retreats. These nourish me and keep me close to my source of energy and life, GOD the almighty.

What is your ICE VISION?

I have had the privilege to travel to every region in Africa where I have met with terrific women entrepreneurs and some of them have never been to school. We have gained much admiration in each other and my vision is to participate in the creation of a network of such women throughout Africa. I believe that such a network can transform Africa and drive our continent towards its emergence.

Any Plans for the AU?

If I have an opportunity to join any of the advisory bodies to support the empowerment of the woman and the youths, I would seize it!

Should you be named Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family, what wrongs will you right immediately during the first six months of your leadership? 

The woman will have to stop feeding on "pity" and "crumps" from the men's decision-making tables. As primary stake holders in the development and the well being of the children and even that of their husband, they should co-own family land with their husbands (for those that are married). Laws need to be sponsored by this ministry to this effect.

One thing you hate in girls and women today you will like to see adjusted? 

I can hardly stand women showing off their bodies through what they term "revealing" outfits. It gives the impression that they want to be acknowledged by their looks and not their real worth which is their immense and under-valued contribution towards the development of society is. 

Any advise for the African Woman?

We need to synergize and turn our challenges into opportunities. We have the duty to transform our continent from exporters of raw products to exporters of processed foods, beauty products, clothing, arts work .We need to own and grow our wealth. It is our duty to drop the "alms baskets" and replace them with cooperatives and commercial banks.

A Message from the brain of Target Peace on the International Day of Peace

Do not miss your purpose for life today as you step out confidently knowing GOD your Heavenly Father stepped out before you. And as you serve the world, let the virtue of peace cloud You from your countenance, words, thoughts and act. 

Be mindful that you are excellent leaders and examples are stronger information and education vectors. 

 https://www.facebook.com/Targetpeace-967314920024677/

Ask GOD guidance not to do wrong, not to be angry even if the majority pushes you to the walls, smile at what you cannot change but be the right peg in the right hole for the right result to glorify Your Father in Heavenly places. 

Talk to someone you haven't talked to for long to break the ice and cold, mold an intimacy with GOD by spending time with HIM at a time and hour you will choose, pray for Cameroon and the world, learn and cultivate the habit of saying nice things of Cameroon, your children and yourselves. 

With all the love and peace I possess, I urge you to be a blessing to at least one life today, make it an assignment to wear smiles on the faces of those you meet today, light Up the hearts of all you meet and in all you do, act love for love is peace. 

A very HAPPY IDP as together we walk the path of respect, for the Safety and Dignity of all. 

Kaheli FEH TAH: Women do not limit yourselves

Who is Kaheli FEH TAH?

With a Dual MBA from Delaware State University DSU, Kaheli Feh Tah Erica is a third child in a family of 6, Mother of 2 and grand mother of 1 whose coaching and leadership prowess cuts across the continent via numerous platforms.  Serving as the General Manager of TOPROC FINANCE PLC. for close to a decade, her banking skills has added value in terms of finance and productivity to the Micro Finance Institution. Interested in the education of the girl child whose self esteem is usually killed by traditional and cultural barriers, she founded SHALOM BIZ COLLEGE which she runs as a project that seeks to restore lost value for community development. 

What drives Kaheli FEH TAH?

Three values: Faith. Generosity. Excellence drive me every second of my life.

 Faith: I have too much faith in the almighty. At the point where  most people break down, its my faith that fuels me. Excellence: I believe in anything i set my mind to do. Am a perfectionist and do not leave any job unfinished and when I am falling short my faith moves the mountains in front of me. 

Generosity: I find satisfaction in giving esp when the moment comes for appreciation, when the person has this big smile on his/her face and says that thank u from the heart it fells so good. There is nothing i compare to this moments in my life when I am able to put a genuine smile on someone's face and see them walk away 

Who is your role model? 

 My mother. My mother. My mother. Sometimes, I wonder what would have become without her. She is my role model in everything being a widow at the tender age of 31 with 6 children and without help from relatives since she was labeled  the murderer of her husband, she single highhandedly educated all her six children to at least a Bachelor's  Degree with God's help. 

 My mom taught me how to stand up tall on what i believe  in and say no to what i think is wrong in front n not behind a person. With her entrepreneurial spirit she taught me how to be financially stable without the help of people and u know what financial freedom means. You are contented  with what you have, such that you do not depend on others and get to beg to be humiliated and insulted. You get to keep a stethoscope which is lacked by most African women whereby the men find us short of and intend use it as a medium for manipulation and control of our person.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

In the next 5 years, I see myself  in control of Shalom Biz College ( my school ) in 7 Regions of Cameroon and impacting  knowledge especially  technology for free to the girl child to make them educationally strong and financially independent giving them room for their voices to be head without favour or bias by gender

What are the challenges of the African Woman?

Herself. She puts limitations on her person esp in the home training she is giving from birth. Her place is in the kitchen n she envision herself in her kitchen to cook n feed her family.  We should be able to give opportunities to our girls that will broaden their minds on the opportunities out of the kitchen make them know they can dream to be anything. They can have cars , balls for presents and not just a baby dolls and kitchen utensils. Thereby making them dream of owning one someday

How do you relax yourself?

I listen to good Music and I watch movies with powerful messages.

Any plans for the AU?

 If given the opportunity, I will like to change first the panel and category of people who form this union. This is simply Because the mindset of the panel denotes the outcome. Believe me Gender Representation will be equal such that if there are 50 representatives, then its 25 men and 25 women.

Any advice for the African Woman?

 Women must not limit themselves because there are unlimited opportunities out there for the taking and naturally we are stronger than the men. Our instincts works 100 times faster than that of the men. We have compassion in our decisions and our reactions to situations are always more considerate giving the fact that we birth them therfore compassion is imperative

POCHI TAMBA NSOH: The African Woman is strong but needs to believe more in herself.

Who is Pochi TAMBA NSOH?
 
That is not an easy question. Friends call me Porsche, like the car but I am Pochi Tamba Nsoh. Passionate about making our society and world a live-able place with origins from Bambalang, a village in Ndop Sub-Division in the Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region of Cameroon, I am a journalist. I have always wished to be a remarkable journalist, so I chip in my little bits daily to add value to lives in my Country. I also write and I am very involved in civil society activities that bring forth the rights and issues of people on the margin of society, such as the less privileged.

What drives Pochi?

  

I love giving and receiving smiles. I am very inquisitive and I enjoy being part of things happening around me. I am fueled by the love for humanity to keep lost values alive?.

What is your greatest influence?

I would not know that for sure. But let me rather share with you two things I do which have given a lot of depth and definition to my life, and for which I am proud. Since 2007, I have been working to keep some vulnerable children from dropping out of school by providing fees and other needs. Today, we can count over 60 of such. I have also been part of varied initiatives to sensitize communities on different social issues like rape, sex education, Family challenges, etc. I have no idea how much these actions have been, but I am definitely proud of myself each time I am able to add one step to this particular civil society advocacy journey. 

Also, in 2007, I started the Network of African Youths for Development (www.nayd.org) . 

It is today one of the greatest online meeting places (with thousands of youths and NGOs across over 40 countries as members) of African youths around the globe who believe in what they are doing and are working hard for a better tomorrow. 

Who are your top three role models? 

My models vary and change as the case may be. I greatly admire people who beat challenges or who are not afraid to go against the waves. I am a huge fan of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who left her people and her continent to go serve the poor in land that had nothing in common with hers, Christian Cardinal Tumi who till date is the simplest and most straightforward person I have ever met and  Whitney Houston whom God blessed with a voice that none has, and an inspiration that is rare to find.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

Still working hard as a journalist, and stealing some time off that passion to go do other things that my heart runs after. More time with communities and much more with family.

What are the challenges faced by African Women?

A decade + ago, African women had reasons to expect change following a much-heralded global conference that set ambitious targets to transform the lives of women across the world. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of that milestone event, the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing, China, in 1995, but like their counterparts elsewhere, African women are taking stock of progress and asking to what extent promised reforms have been implemented. They are also examining why progress has been limited in many countries and are seeking ways to overcome the obstacles.

In Africa specifically, women have made significant strides in the political arena over the past few years. The continental political body, the African Union (AU), took a major step by promoting gender parity in its top decision-making positions. In 2003 five women and five men were elected as AU commissioners. The following year, Ms. Gertrude Mongella was chosen to head the AU’s Pan-African Parliament, where women make up 25 per cent of members.

In Africa specifically, women have made significant strides in the political arena over the past few years. The continental political body, the African Union (AU), took a major step by promoting gender parity in its top decision-making positions. In 2003 five women and five men were elected as AU commissioners. The following year, Ms. Gertrude Mongella was chosen to head the AU’s Pan-African Parliament, where women make up 25 per cent of members.

In Africa specifically, women have made significant strides in the political arena over the past few years. The continental political body, the African Union (AU), took a major step by promoting gender parity in its top decision-making positions. In 2003 five women and five men were elected as AU commissioners. The following year, Ms. Gertrude Mongella was chosen to head the AU’s Pan-African Parliament, where women make up 25 per cent of members.

In Africa specifically, women have made significant strides in the political arena over the past few years. The continental political body, the African Union (AU), took a major step by promoting gender parity in its top decision-making positions. In 2003 five women and five men were elected as AU commissioners. The following year, Ms. Gertrude Mongella was chosen to head the AU’s Pan-African Parliament, where women make up 25 per cent of members.

The African Woman has made a number of signs of improvement in the last 3 decades Amy, but she is neither being heard nor understood, talk less of her being accepted as a different piece of beauty.
It is true some UN Special Advisers on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women  have been making moves to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), a UN protocol, as well as the development of new policies and guidelines and creation of networks of gender experts, but a lot more is needed as the African woman continues to face not only widespread poverty, she also bears heavy labour burdens.

African women continue to face not only widespread poverty, but also heavy labour burdens.

 

What does Pochi do to relax herself?

I sing and listen to music. I also dance. I swim and I take long walks.

What is your ICE vision? 

I guess this is where I tell you that I inspired by anything that breaks a barrier and charts a new way forward. I celebrate such brains and I am of course empowered by that experience.

Any Plans for the African Union? 

It is true that many African women are still denied education and employment, and still have limited opportunities in trade, industry and government, but I have no plans yet for the AU.

We are all aware that despite achievements and progress made, African women face major challenges and obstacles,” says Dr. Farkhonda Hassan, chair of the UN Economic Commission for Africa’s Committee on Women and Development. For example, she says, the primary development policies in many countries, known as poverty reduction strategies, still do not take into account differences in income and power between men and women, hampering efforts to finance programmes that reduce inequality. In addition, she says, the majority of African women are still denied education and employment, and have limited opportunities in trade, industry and government.

African women have also successfully promoted agreements that advance their rights. By the end of last year, 51 of the 53 AU member countries had ratified CEDAW, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and often described as the international bill of rights for women. And in 2003 activists succeeded in persuading their heads of state to adopt a protocol on the rights of women. They are now lobbying states to take the final step and ratify the protocol to make it enforceable

Any advice for the African Woman?

Everybody seems to know better than an African woman, but ladies, do not let that bother you. It is because few come close enough to ever know that if they had your life, they will need ten pairs of hands to keep it  together. You are already strong, so no need saying you should be. Just believe more in yourself, and in something bigger than you. Also celebrate yourself, because each woman is a wonder of nature. And never stop celebrating all your little successes because one by one, they take you there.

MammyAfrika opens up on her unique and creative abilities that inspire the African woman to stand up, do things and create the difference.

Who is  MammyAfrika?

 Silvia BIH Asongwe AKA MammyAfrika, so passionate about creative pieces that make the man, giving an identity to the African woman, is a passion-driven young female entrepreneur who produces​ Eco-friendly accessories and Craft items for trendy, suburban lovers of creative pieces of art and beauty.

She is a single mother with roots in Mankon ntinkag, somewhere in the grass fields of the North West Region of Cameroon. As an "ex-geekess" (feminine for geek) who worked as Cisco Network/Systems Engineer in Uganda, where she juggled work along side handcraft work, she says it is easy to judge fashion and style as an unnecessary extension of our social needs, but fashion is not a figment of a bored, rich housewife's imagination, It’s about something else that comes from within you.

Growing up as a kid, MammyAfrika was exposed to parents who made lots of items and food products at home. In her early childhood, she had no idea what bread bought from a store tasted like because her dad baked everything the family needed. And as fashion is the subject of so many memorable passionate sartorial things  - from designers to models and actresses - MammyAfrika developed the habit of musing on her favourite. Naturally, being surrounded by such creative people automatically stirred up her desire to use her hands. This was expressed in her obsession in rearranging the living room over and over again, making and pasting Wall decorations, drawing, cutting out shapes from cardboards etc.

MammyAffrika's Love for Craft made her see Style (like Bill Blass) as primarily a matter of instinct. Everyone can be fashionable she admits, for fashion does not mean you try to be someone else. You can be fashionable regardless of age, shape, or profession. MammyAfrika holds strongly to the inspiration to be fashionable without spending beyond your budget. This gives her customers a deep sense of satisfaction who in their usual quest to have new and unique crafted designs,  make themselves.


 Motivated by a sister who loved doing necklaces, MammyAfrika decided to create something new, different and unique which will be loved by everyone.

As Lord Chesterfield said, When a person is in fashion, all they do is rght, MammyAfrika's fashionable pieces take everyone into consideration. Men like Women, yuppie, boys, girls and babies find beautiful unisex accessories( principally necklace sets) decorated clothes, shoes, purses and cozy Craft items for interior home decoration, crochet woven dining set chairs, side stools, tables and beautiful articles designed for office space. All African styled .

Being a small business owner in​ Cameroon has been very challenging for MammyAfrika who finds the environment difficult to break, given the lack of facilities and tools needed to speed up production. Another challenge she faces daily is the mindset of different people toward the consumption of home-made products. The limited consumption of local products hinders the producers and slows down purchase. MammyAfrika also thinks there's also a huge lack of a good understanding of our roots, and the need to embrace our culture​ to promote the Craft men and women who make  these items. MammyAfrika therefore looks forward to becoming a future household brand which will provide a Cameroonian-African identity we can all be proud of.

While in Uganda MammyAfrika had her first crazy hectic experience of a runway event for the contest of Miss Nkumba University. She was asked to dress up the contestants with her accessories. This got her distracted until she chose to starve her distraction with her focus with the projection of her beautiful and unique products. And like Anthony Burgess said: 'Women thrive on novelty and are easy meat for the commerce of fashion', the zest in the beauty of her fashionable and elegant products attracted so much much appreciation and screams from the audience that she got exhausted. She almost reconsidered what she was doing if it involved such hectic schedules.  For a long while as a stay-at-home mother, fashion weeks didn't fit well into her crazy schedules. One of the challenges she faced raising kids as a single mom.

Somehow, the challenge only made her more resilient and equal to the task despite the key low times. It became hard to concentrate on a piece of handwork when many cute little faces pulled her from every direction, demanding attention or making what suddenly seemed like buzzing sounds from a bee hive in her ears.

Since 2014 after a Louis Fame clothing line runway showcase, MammyAfrika has bee part of exhibitions at a movie festival and the FIAFA Fashion event,  exhibitions at bold and beautiful Camer Ladies, with one of  her role models Anrette Ngafor, exhibitions as a Fako Craft member at the  FESTAC  cultural festivals which take place every year in Limbe . She has also been in partial hibernation doing more ground work and determined to soar soon.

What drives MammyAfrika?

 I'm driven by the vastness of my imaginative ability and fueled by passion instilled by what my eyes see when I look at my surroundings and the pattern of nature around me and it's positive impact on mankind. Makes me feel a surge of oneness with it that helps me to also express what's in-built inside of me with ease or naturally.

  

What is your greatest influence? 

My greatest influence is my God consciousness. It's prove that anything we set our minds to is possible. Helps me go in search of why I'm here and what role I'm to play to give back to my community.

Who are your top three role models?

  

Hmm.... Top three???? I  didn't think this was going to be a tough one because I have quite a number of people who support and encourage me to take the path of hardwork, ingenuity, creativity and difference.  

Interesting enough, Father's day just went by and I did a Facebook post for my Father who is my number one role model. My father planted the natural flow of my creative abilities within and this groomed me to become who I am today. 

2. Irene MANGEM is my second role model . She's a lady I Love and respect deeply, who has (and is still impacting ) created much change and impact in my life with her positive attitude and energy.  And I'm not sure if there's a law about role models being people who must be much older than I am. Is there? She simply deposits a heart of Love and compassion for others in my community and nation at large in to me each time I listen to her.  I call her " Sunshine everywhere". I admire how much of a resilient, driven and above all Loving person she is and it sets a pace for me too.

3. Thirdly, as I scanned my list of models I also found an icon who though is of late, made a mark in history.  His creative, determined and passionate ways of doing things, besides the heart of gold he has,  made me strive to work hard to attain excellence. 'Heal the World' and 'Man in the Mirror' are songs  late Michael Jackson moved the globe with.

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

 

 Empowering communities through creative projects. Encouraging and fostering  young talented  entrepreneurs in Cameroon and Africa.

What are the challenges faced by African Women?

I'd say mental bondage. It's a whole lot of aspects all together in these two words​. But it all begins in the mind. The power you give to anything is what will have control over you. In the case of the African woman, she needs to rise up above the challenges the society has programmed and engineered her in to and educate her mind positively to the point where she is an exact reflection (by way of manifestation) of productivity at all levels. No limits!

What do you do to relax?

Exercise, music and nostalgic meditation is relaxing to my mind.

What is your ICE inspiration?

  

I'm inspired by nature so I look forward to contributing to the health of my environment and our planet.  The reason  why  most of my products are Eco friendly from recycled material.  A perfect example of an environment friendly commodity I manufacture and market, is the trending pyramid necklace. 

I celebrate child likeness and my vision is to contribute positively in nurturing the minds of young children .

Lastly, I'm empowered by the simple fact of being a woman and amazed at my make up and it's capabilities, which if well trained, and put in to use, makes me visualize impacting other women who are still struggling with who they really are and how we can together exercise wholeness of body, soul and spirit for the betterment of our society.

Any Plans for the African Union?

 Honestly I never thought about this, but now that I'm thinking about it, I sure won't mind being part of the panel that channels the problems faced by African women in the sector of handcraft, for example, the lack of industrial facilities and how we can lobby for best practice solutions.

Any advice for the African Woman?

  

The African woman must find that place in between the too many responsibilities and challenges she faces daily where she can truly maintain a sound mind and be able to listen to the still small voice within which always speaks the truth about who she is. I call that place, BALANCE.

IT IS ALREADY 25 YEARS SINCE MUEMA MEOMBO INITIATED ME INTO BROADCAST JOURNALISM

 

T Snowsel Ano-Ebie·Tuesday, 13 June 2017 

 

 https://www.facebook.com/notes/t-snowsel-ano-ebie/it-is-already-25-years-since-muema-meombo-initiated-me-into-broadcast-journalism/10154572328971932/

 

It is often said that only a mother can say who the true father of her child is. That should be in the everyday world because in the professional milieu, only the child can tell you who his/her true parents are. Once we encounter a finished product, we may not imagine how it germinated, or was nurtured and molded into shape.

In my case, it all began in 1992 when the late Aunty Becky Ndive became the first woman to head a CRTV station. As the new station manager of CRTV South West in Buea, she introduced the "Holiday Workshop" programme, and decided that the first edition should be anchored by two gentlemen; Muema Meombo, popularly known as MM, and Theologien Mafira. In order to advertise the new concept and attract the adherence of listeners the CRTV Buea Chief of Service for Programmes at the time, Jean Pierre Nkuipo organized a programme with other colleagues.

I had just graduated from Government Secondary School Buea in Bokwango where I was not only a pioneer student but had served as the pioneer Social and Information Prefect.

Listening to Jean Pierre Nkuipo discuss the “Holiday Workshop” programme concept with Jean-Marie Nwefo and Theologien Mafira, the idea appealed to me so much that I immediately went to the radio station and offered to be part of the programme.

That's when I met MM for the first time. He asked me what I could do on the programme and without a second thought, I opted to present the news. He advised me to look for other young people and constitute a news team. The first person I got hold of, was a neighbor from Small Soppo Wonganga in the person of Bossiomo Etoga Fabrice of Lycee Bilingue, BGS Molyko. We co-presented the bilingual “Workshop News”. The news content included stories on holiday activities like youth cultural weeks which are usually organized during the summer holidays, holiday classes, and holiday football tournaments. The end of one programme edition meant running around town gathering information for the next newscast.

When other youngmen like Mbameg Marcellus Tezo, Monangai John Monangai, Harry McYemti and Abel Akara Ticha, joined the news team, Muema Meombo permitted me to serve as the main presenter of the “Holiday Workshop” programme. The form five student still awaiting GCE Ordinary level results was given the privilege to co-present a radio programme with veteran CRTV staff Theologien Mafira and at times Jean-Marie Nwefo. That is how for many people, I became known simply as "Uncle Snowsel", but thanks to the confidence and encouragement from Muema Meombo, I became a child of the corporation and grew up to become a CRTV member of staff and official in my own right.

It has already been 25 years and Mola Muema Meombo is now enjoying his retirement in Limbe. But many people do not know this radio monument who started as a teacher and later studied Television Journalism in Egypt.

Born in October 1950, the gentleman who from time to time serves as a resource person in Njomo Kevin's “Grapevine” slot on “Cameroon Calling”, was a pioneer to assist the Limbe City Council communicate on the maiden edition of the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture. Like the late Aunty Becky Ndive, MM is an ASOBEXS, Soppo Baptist ex-student from what is today known as Baptist High School Buea, but which started as the Baptist Teachers Training College before being transformed into the Baptist Boys Secondary School. The fair-complexion gentleman with a baritone voice and an excellent command of the Queen’s English was a pleasant radio host like many journalists of his time. Even as a Service Head for Programmes, he did not take anything for granted. He took time to prepare every segment of his programmes even if it meant spending several hours in the music library to select songs whose lyrics tied with the themes and issues covered.

Everything MM does sounds interesting, be it a newscast, the Newsreel, a music Request Show, a Radio production, or a Television documentary. Some contemporaries with this rare quality of being all-round are Linda Bonglack Binda, Albert Njie Mbonde, and Moki Edwin Kindzeka. You can say these are people with the Midas touch, turning everything they lay their hands on into gold.

That is the kind of person that welcomed me on the radio with open arms, gave me a chance to prove myself, and put me into his own shoes to present a programme when I was still a form five student.

Even as a high school pure science student in GHS Mbengwi where I studied Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, MM still encouraged me to spend my holidays at the radio. He said many people with the Advanced level certificate in science subjects have ended up as journalists.

That high school experience in Mbengwi was quite an eye-opener for me. This is when I read my first Journalism textbook, the "Handbook for African Journalists" by Callix Udofia. I got a copy from a certain Tassang Wilfred who was training at ENS Bambili to become a French language teacher but was writing critical commentaries and opinion pieces in newspapers like “Cameroon Post”. It was Tassang Wilfred who introduced me to the publisher of “Our People” newspaper Fobeneh Christopher Anu, whom we met at a Full Gospel crusade at the Bamenda stadium. Christopher Anu who had written the only available book on "The Man Ni John Fru Ndi", offered me my first reporting job, to write for “Our People” newspaper from Mbengwi. It was also in high school that I joined the Society of Journalism SOJO, a school club founded by Peter Ngu Tayong in 1986. My SOJO president in 1992 was John Mbah Akuroh while Akoh Charles Atud was editor-in-chief. The following year, I served as the editor-in-chief, with Amboh Tangyie Gordon as the club president.

Later on in 1997 when I was doing my field work for the University of Buea at CRTV Buea, Muema Meombo was the Service Head for Programmes and consequently served as my field supervisor, while Dr. Stella Nana-Fabu was the academic supervisor. MM gave me all the assistance I could get, and with his intervention, I could open all the doors at the station and gather the appropriate data for my academic report.

In 1999, I passed the competitive entrance examination into the Institute for Demographic Training and Research, IFORD Yaoundé, to do a Masters degree in Population Studies. For some reason that year, the successful candidates were required to look for their own funding because the United Nations was no longer providing sponsorship to all the students. In the process of applying to international organizations and Western embassies in Yaoundé, I visited CRTV Mballa Two, and met for the first time with the Director of Information the late Luke Ananga. He listened to my story and informed me that the CRTV will soon recruit broadcast staff for the newly created Mount Cameroon FM in Buea. Mr. Ananga advised that if by then I had not yet secured funding for the IFORD training, I should apply, given my initial interest in the radio. That was inside advice from the director of information but it did not mean much to me even when the recruitment was finally launched. It was only when word came from Buea that MM was looking for me to apply for that Mount Cameroon FM job that I reluctantly traveled back to the South West and dropped in my application on the last day, just to please my friends at Radio Buea that I too had applied.

I was eventually successful in the recruitment that attracted more than one thousand candidates for the written examination at the Police College in Mutengene, and 160 finalists for the audition test at the studios of the PCC Communication Department. The jury led by Daniel Anicet Noah as president and Peter Essoka as vice president, certainly had a herculean task coming up with the final list of 27 successful candidates.

The rest as they say, “is history”. I was trained at the CRTV Television Training Centre in Ekounou Yaoundé, posted to the Programmes Department of CRTV National Station where I worked under the supervision of Kenneth Assobo, was transferred to FM 105 in Douala where I was privileged to bring my own touch to two Programmes, "FM Calling" and "Hi Di Hi", initially presented by Tricia Oben. The late Emmanuel Ayile, and the current Director of Communication at the Port Authority of Douala, Nchechuma Banla encouraged me to participate in the CRTV Littoral programme "This Week in The News" which they anchored. I also served as Service Head for News and Programmes at the FM station in Douala, before being re-assigned to the News Department of the CRTV National Station in Yaoundé in 2011 where I work under a talented professional like Ful Peter, the English language editor-in-chief. In spite of the demanding environment at the Central Newsdesk, Ful Peter gave me the recommendation to study for the MA in Political Journalism at the Yaounde Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC. I also owe my 2015 First Prize in Investigative Journalism sponsored by the British High Commission to Pa Ful and to the entire "Cameroon Calling" team led by Samson Websi.

The story has continued at the management level with the strategic promotion to the CRTV Marketing and Communication Agency CMCA in January 2016 where my official title is Team Leader for Communication and Public Relations, but my latent assignment has been to study the management style of Wongibe Emmanuel -how to turn a limping advertising agency into a “cash cow”.

The CRTV may not be through with me yet but that is my story and that is where I am coming from. Muema Meombo laid the foundation on which others have had to build a bungalow, a monument or an edifice.

I once had a professional debate with a colleague who argued that she could not be wrong because she had been trained by the best. Then I turned around and looked at my own professional teachers: Muema Meombo, Kenneth Assobo, Tricia Oben, Ful Peter, and Wongibe Emmanuel. I do not see them as the best anymore, I see them as the finest. My conclusion? Snowsel Ano-Ebie has been trained by the finest. And to them, I am eternally grateful, as well as to all those colleagues, schoolmates, and apprentice or student journalists with whom I have shared professional space all these years. #

 

YAOUNDE, JUNE 13, 2017.