The stagnating Cameroonian economy and the absence of a veritable professional and entrepreneurial environment are increasingly worrisome to many in Cameroon today.

In its quest to make a shift from the current reality, Landmark University College in Buea, Friday, April 25, organised a talk to its students and the public on “Entrepreneurship and Capacity Building.” Cameroonian business magnate, Paul Mbafor, CEO of ESCHOL in Yaounde, in a discourse on Sourcing for Finance for a Project, said a business must be attractive to successfully get funding from a bank or an investor, indicating

that business is time and an opportunity to grab.Mbafor said a successful entrepreneur or business operator must understand the fiscal policy of his or her country and the vision and objectives of a business venture must be clear and achievable. He added that a prospective

entrepreneur must master his subject and product, give it a good packaging, create credible networks and learn how to achieve good results. According to Mbafor, some key elements in the success of any business venture are; a deep sense of discipline, consistency, honesty and continuity of the money that is been generated.Mbafor said a successful entrepreneur must be able to build the right team, learn how to rise after falling and be generous too. On The Notion of a Job, Guidance Counsellor and Business Operator, Thomas Orock, said a job is anything done to earn a living, while calling for a quick shift of mindset from Cameroonian youths and those schooling at the higher level.Orock challenged Cameroonian youths to be independent-minded, saying no Government in the world pays well. “There is no rich civil servant. Anyone you see is a thief or an embezzler. We must encourage private initiatives and promote the private sector economy,” he said.A proponent of professional and technical education, Orock said there is no mean job, noting that professional training is the only solution to the problems in Cameroon. “The Cameroon of today needs more job creators and not job seekers. Therefore, the youths must be solution

providers and not solution seekers,” he added. Sharing her views on Professional Education and Entrepreneurship, Doris Ngum of the Higher Institute of

Management Studies, HIMS, Buea, invited youths to get themselves informed of what is happening in their

communities and the country in general. She enjoined Cameroonian youths to be visionary, entrepreneurial, go for

solutions and be proactive. “The solution is inside you. Look for it,” Ngum advised. She cautioned the youths and graduates not to get into a business venture for the wrong reasons, saying students

must think beyond the black board, must be innovative and creative in their thoughts. Simon Legah, President, Landmark University College, Buea, invited his students and Cameroonian youths to

make an impact with their professional training, remarking that on-the-job-training is vital for human value. “We have to provoke changes and make leaders in the process,” he said. Earlier, the third Deputy Mayor of Buea, Edward Musoke, told the youths not to be fault-finders and go for a mentality shift in Cameroon.Mary Edimo, a graduate from the University of Buea and Clovis Akwa, student at Pan African Institute of Development, West Africa, PAID-WA, Buea, were unanimous that the growth of Cameroon’s economy will only be achieved with entrepreneurial education given pride of place.

By Walter Wilson Nana