By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, PAV – Dr Pippie Hugues, a policy analyst with the Nkafu Policy Institute, has been officially recognised and installed as a notable of the Bokwaongo-Membea community. The honour, conferred by the traditional authority, HRM Chief Albert Njie Mbonde on January 3, is in recognition of his years of dedication to community service, grassroots development, and humanitarian outreach in Bokwaongo-Membea and its environs.
Dr Hugues, who works with the Nkafu Policy Institute, a leading think tank within the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation, has, over the years, combined professional policy research with practical community engagement. Speaking to Pan African Visions shortly after his installation, he described the recognition as both humbling and motivating, noting that it places a greater responsibility on his shoulders to continue serving his people.
“This recognition is coming as a result of my dedication to community work and my service to the community,” she said. “I have engaged in a plethora of activities, even back-to-school for young people within the Bokwaongo-Membea community. I want to reassure the people that this honour will only push me to do more to foster development within the community.”
One of Dr Hugues’ flagship initiatives is a back-to-school programme targeted at children from underprivileged families in the Bokwaongo-Membea community. The initiative, now in its fifth edition, began modestly in 2020 with support for just 50 children. Over the years, it has grown steadily, reaching about 500 children by 2025 through the donation of school materials and educational support.
Beyond education, Dr Hugues has also been actively involved in philanthropic gestures aimed at supporting widows, orphans, and other vulnerable groups. During festive periods such as Christmas, he and his team distribute food items and gifts to the less privileged, an effort that has earned him widespread admiration within the community.
“These and many other actions are some of the things the chief (HRM Albert Njie Mbonde) took into consideration in recognising me as a notable,” he explained. “It is not about titles, but about impact and service.”
Dr Hugues pledged his full support to the traditional leadership of Bokwaongo-Membea, particularly the chief, whom he described as dynamic and development-oriented. “I am ready to accompany the chief in his vision to make Bokwaongo-Membea great again,” he said, adding that collaboration between traditional authorities, elites, and the wider community is key to sustainable development.
Beyond his community engagements, Dr Hugues plays a noteworthy role at the Nkafu Policy Institute, where he serves as a policy analyst in the Division of Governance and Democracy. The institute is widely regarded as one of the leading think tanks in Central Africa, known for its research-driven approach to public policy.
In his professional capacity, Dr Hugues is involved in research advocacy, policy analysis, and the drafting of policy briefs aimed at influencing governance and democratic reforms. “We identify policy problems and come out with well-informed, practical recommendations that can change the dynamics of the state and Africa as a whole,” he explained. His work focuses on translating research into actionable ideas that policymakers and stakeholders can adopt.
When asked whether the community should expect even bigger humanitarian initiatives in the coming years, Dr Hugues was optimistic. He revealed that plans are already underway to expand the scope of the back-to-school programme in 2026. “Each year we keep moving to higher heights,” she said. “The way we did it in 2025 is not how we started in 2020, and 2026 is going to be bigger.”
“In 2020, we started with 50 children, but in 2025, we impacted 500 children. So, by 2026, we are looking towards extending the number to at least 1,000, if God gives us the means.”
