On July 2, 2025, leadership experts from the United States and the Netherlands descended upon the city of Yaounde Cameroon for a transformative leadership summit hosted by The Fobang Institute for Innovation in Science and Technology (FINISTECH) under the visionary umbrella of Professor Mbacham Wilfred, founder of FINISTECH, in partnership with Lead Missions International, an organization passionately dedicated to revolutionizing leadership mindsets across the globe.
Lead Missions International, which has been operational for nine remarkable years, has successfully trained over 30,000 leaders from 55 nations across all walks of life, creating a powerful legacy of transformation that spans continents and cultures. The summit brought together a distinguished panel of international speakers and leadership practitioners, each offering unique perspectives on influence and transformational leadership that challenged conventional thinking and inspired profound change.
The high-profile delegation featured an exceptional array of thought leaders: Mr. Franky Powell, Chief Programming Officer from the US; Enow Eyong from Amsterdam, former vice-captain of Cameroon’s legendary Indomitable Lions who doubles as Partners Relations Officer at Lead Missions; Joanna Alvine from the United States; Yaah Gladys, Chief Strategy Officer at Lead Missions; Francis Meyof, Chief Finance Officer; and Dr. Madison Ngafeeson, the dynamic founder of Lead Missions International.
Setting the transformative tone for the summit, Dr Madison powerfully emphasised that “we all were born to make a mark, for influence,” establishing the foundational premise that leadership is inherently about creating a positive impact in the world, a truth that would resonate throughout every presentation and discussion that followed.
Mr. Franky Powell delivered the compelling keynote address on “Understanding and growing your influence,” asserting with conviction that everyone possesses influence and that influence fundamentally equals leadership. “As you grow your influence, you grow your ability to affect change in your life and those around you,” Powell explained to the captivated audience, presenting a framework that would revolutionise how attendees viewed their potential for meaningful impact.
Powell masterfully outlined five progressive levels of influence that leaders must navigate to achieve maximum effectiveness. The first level, Position or Title, represents the lowest form of influence, where power derives merely from one’s official designation. While this serves as a necessary starting point for developing influence, Powell cautioned that it’s “the worst place to stay,” emphasizing that true growth requires unwavering teachability and asking probing questions that foster continuous personal development.
The second level, Permission, focuses strategically on relationship-building where people willingly permit you to influence their lives. Powell stressed the critical importance of using influence to serve others genuinely, noting with profound insight that ‘people do not care how much you know, but how much you care for them”, a principle that transforms leadership from mere authority to authentic connection.
The Production level, the third tier, involves strategic problem-solving and achieving tangible results that systematically expand one’s sphere of influence. Here, leaders build unshakeable credibility and begin moving people in ways that genuinely benefit them, requiring dedicated effort and unwavering commitment to make meaningful differences in their assigned positions.
The fourth level, People Development or Reproduction, centres on equipping and building others while consistently seeing the best in them. Powell highlighted that leaders must continue growing themselves relentlessly, describing self-influence as “the hardest person you will ever influence”, a sobering reminder that personal transformation remains the most challenging yet essential aspect of authentic leadership.
The pinnacle, the Person Good level, represents legacy leadership where one lives sacrificially for others, making profound sacrifices that transcend personal interests and create a lasting impact that extends far beyond one’s immediate presence.
Dr. Madison, addressing the powerful theme “The Power of One and the Wisdom to Many,” challenged attendees with profound questions about purpose and sacrifice that struck at the very heart of authentic leadership. Quoting the immortal Martin Luther King Jr., he declared with unwavering conviction, “If a man has not found something he can die for, then he is not fit to be a leader.” Dr. Madison emphasized that true greatness requires divine connection, stating with absolute certainty that “there is nobody that becomes great without Jesus Christ/God Almighty.”
Drawing from the timeless wisdom of Dr. Myles Monroe, Dr. Madison warned against life’s greatest tragedy: “not death but life without a purpose,” encouraging leaders to “die empty” by fully utilizing their God-given potential. He painted a vivid picture of pinnacle leadership, where “their absence speaks more than their presence,” reminding attendees that they are “the captain and pilot of your destiny.” These words challenged every person present to take complete ownership of their leadership journey and legacy.
Enow Eyong, former Indomitable Lions lead player, equally voiced that greatness begins with knowing who you are, your roots, and your purpose. Dreams are not just possible, they’re valid.
The summit concluded with an engaging roundtable dialogue on Influential Leadership, where Mr. Powell reinforced that “leadership is influential input,” emphasizing that good intentions alone are woefully insufficient for effective leadership. This interactive session offered attendees practical application opportunities to translate powerful theories into actionable strategies for immediate implementation.
With the inspiring presence of staff and students, the event underscored FINISTECH’s unwavering commitment to developing transformational leaders who can create lasting positive change in their communities and beyond. Its international scope and practical approach to leadership development which culminated in the summit, provided attendees with immediately actionable insights and proven strategies for elevating their influence and maximizing their impact.
As the global leadership landscape continues to evolve rapidly, initiatives like the Leadership Summit at FINISTECH serve as crucial platforms for cross-cultural learning and the cultivation of leaders equipped to address contemporary challenges with wisdom, integrity, and unwavering purpose. The convergence of international expertise with local vision creates a powerful catalyst for transformation that extends far beyond the boundaries of a single event, promising to shape the next generation of leaders who will drive positive change across Africa and the world.
Professor Mbacham Wilfred brings over 30 years of distinguished experience in scientific research and academic leadership as President of FINISTECH University. His groundbreaking research focuses on pharmacogenomics, the molecular epidemiology of drug resistance in infectious diseases, and the critical intersection between communicable and non-communicable diseases. As Executive Director of the Multilateral Initiative on Malaria and principal investigator for the MARCAD consortium, Professor Mbacham has championed scientific advancement throughout West and Central Africa. His innovative “Pro-P.A.S.T.E.U.R.” educational philosophy has transformed tertiary education by professionalizing planning actions in science and technology. A Fellow of the Cameroon and African Academies of Sciences with over 150 publications, Professor Mbacham has secured significant international funding for research and capacity building, including EU-funded projects that have trained dozens of African and European researchers. His exceptional contributions were recognized with the 2017 World Academy of Science Prize for popularising and promoting science and technology in sub-Saharan Africa.
Studied Law and Interpretation. Was a journalist and Animator at Cameroon Radio and Television and Served as Translator/Interpreter at the National Assemblies of Cameroon. Served as an interpreter in the War Crimes Tribunal Arusha and continues in the same function at the ICC, the Hague.
Empowerment and Transformation for All (NewSETA). He is a co-founder and the immediate former Chair of the African Movement for Democracy (AMD). Ateki was a Hurford Fellow at the World Movement for Democracy, Washington DC in 2016, and a Draper Hills Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, USA, in 2019. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Youth Movement for Democracy and was one of 11 African youths to debate President Emmanuel Macron at the New Africa-France Summit in Montpelier, in October, 2021
Holder of a Post Graduate Diploma in Library Sciences from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and a Bachelor of Library Science from University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Executive Director of EISERVI – Education Information Services International. Member of International Advisory Board of Book Aid International and Previously lnformation Services Manager at the British Council Cameroon. Actively engaged in the development of Library and information services across the primary to the tertiary academic sectors of Cameroon.
Rev Dr Ngome Elias attended the University of Dschang and the Cameroon Faculty of Evangelical Theology (FACTEC), where he obtained a degree in Agricultural Engineering (AE), a Master of Divinity (MDiv), a Master of Theology (MTH), and a PhD in theology and intercultural studies. He currently serves as the resident coordinator of the English Division of FACTEC and as the Cameroon Centre Region coordinator of Telio University Minnesota, T-Net Training of Pastors. His expertise lies in using agriculture as a tool for evangelism.
He earned his medical degrees in Nigeria, Kenya, and the UK. He runs the Nasah & Partners Practice at Dipple Medical Centre in Wickford, Essex, UK. He is a general practitioner specializing in providing services related to diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures, and treatment of diseases, disorders, or injuries.
Studied Performing and Visual Arts, Theatre Arts and Theatre for Communication, Education and Development. Served as Technical Adviser Ministry of Culture. Consultant for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sensitisation UNAIDS, Sierra Leone and Theatre for Education Consultant, UNESCO Cameroon. Lecturer for Performing Arts at the Universities of Yaoundé I and Buea.
He holds an MSc and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Yaoundé I and currently works for Labyrinth Global Health Inc. as the Africa Regional Director & Senior Laboratory Technical Director. He is an expert in laboratory development, supervision and strengthening as well as in the implementation of Public Health research. He teaches and supervises students on One health and emergent pandemics at the University of Yaoundé I, as an Honorary Researcher for the University of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.
Experienced English language educator, with experience as a TESOL teacher at Technical High School and as a Regional Pedagogic Inspector for Bilingualism. I have also, served as a Full Bright Fellow with the American Embassy and as a National Pedagogic Inspector for Bilingualism. Additionally, I am the author of English language textbooks and a coordinator at the Centre for Language Acquisition and Pedagogy (CLAPED).
Dr Ken Obenson is a pathologist in New Brunswick, Canada. He graduated in medicine from the University of Lagos (1987) and is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Cytopathology and Forensic Pathology. He is also certified in Perinatal Pathology (France). The Horizon Health Network currently employs Dr. Obenson and serves as Chief Forensic Pathologist for the province of New Brunswick in Eastern Canada
Holds a PhD in Applied Economics and Food Security from Newcastle University. He has previously worked in the Centre for Rural Economy, at Newcastle University and in the Action Against Stunting Hub at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He part of the Perivoli Africa Research Centre and the Africa Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), at the University of Bristol, where he is actively engaged in research to advance the development of transformative care systems and economies for Africa.
Manka Gwei works at Citibank, she has risen along the ranks to Sub-Saharan Africa Franchise Governance Office; She served as Vice President; CFO – Cameroon, West and Central Africa Sub Cluster, Citibank Cameroon for 13 years; Business Finance Partner at Standard Chartered Bank; Senior Internal Auditor at All first Financial Inc. She is also teens teacher and is author of Christian books on teenage parenting.
A DVM from Nigeria, he is an Expert in Molecular Medical Microbiology with over 20 years of experience in animal disease surveillance and zoonosis. He acted as a visiting Postgraduate lecturer at the Biotechnology Center and also at the Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Y’dé 1. He is now an expert consultant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, and a Steering Committee for Africa One Health Network member. Holds the position of Director General at LANAVET