Politics
Alex Nguepi: “Cameroon needs builders not tribalists”
In a powerful op-ed, entrepreneur Alex Nguepi challenges Cameroon’s reliance on tribal divisions to mask economic failures. He argues that those who invest in homes, factories and businesses owe no explanations to those who choose to remain on the sidelines.
Economic success shouldn’t be a tribal issue
In a bold op-ed, Cameroonian entrepreneur Alex Nguepi dismantles the dangerous narrative that associates economic achievement with tribal identity. He emphasizes that those who invest in real estate, factories and businesses across Cameroon – including members of the Bamileke community in cities like Douala and Yaoundé – are simply exercising their right as citizens, not engaging in ethnic favoritism.
“The Bamileke community doesn’t need to justify owning property or businesses in any region of Cameroon,” Nguepi states. “Cameroon belongs to all Cameroonians, not to any single tribe or group. Cities like Douala and Yaoundé were built through the collective effort, taxes and labor of millions across the nation – not by one ethnic group alone.”
He highlights a cultural divide: while some Cameroonians focus on consuming and spending, others invest in savings, commerce and long-term development. “While some seek excuses for their lack of progress,” he says, “others work diligently to secure a better future for their children.”
The next generation of Western Cameroonians isn’t content with inheriting family homes – they dream of building their own houses, launching businesses and creating jobs wherever opportunities arise. This drive for self-reliance and entrepreneurship is not a tribal plot; it’s the foundation of national progress.
Nguepi warns against the cynical tactic of stoking tribal divisions when economic conditions deteriorate. “When unemployment rises, poverty spreads and national prospects dim, those in power often resort to the oldest trick in the book: pitting communities against each other to distract from failed policies.”
“Cameroon doesn’t need tribalists – it needs builders. It needs citizens who invest, create businesses, generate employment and contribute to national wealth. A nation thrives through the efforts of entrepreneurs, farmers, industrialists and workers – not through hate speech or divisive rhetoric.”
The message is clear: let every Cameroonian build, invest and create wealth. The future belongs to those who construct, not to those who sow division.
Alex Nguepi