NWCA’s signature brew becomes a symbol of local pride and economic promise in Bamenda
It has not just been about speeches and strategy characterising the opening day of the North West Economic Forum. During a short break after the first panel session, something else caught the attention and taste buds of attendees: the rich aroma and full-bodied flavour of Kola Coffee, served proudly as an official beverage of the forum.
Produced by the North West Cooperative Association (NWCA) Ltd, Kola Coffee quickly became more than a refreshment. It was a moment of celebration, a sensory reminder of a clear signal of the kind of home-grown excellence the forum aims to elevate.
Many who took their first sip said they enjoyed it loudly. They affirmed it. Some smiled knowingly, others voiced their approval. There was a visible sense that kola coffee was something profoundly local and deeply symbolic. “This tastes like us,” one participant remarked, holding up his cup like a toast to shared heritage and future possibility.
Speaking during the tasting session, the General Manager of NWCA Ltd, Waindim Timothy Ntam, used the opportunity to underscore the economic significance of Kola Coffee across the region. He explained that the coffee is the product of thousands of farming families across the North West region including men and women who have cultivated and harvested under difficult conditions, and who now stand to benefit from every cup poured and every packet sold.
Founded decades ago, NWCA Ltd is one of Cameroon’s most enduring cooperative structures. Through years of economic turbulence and ongoing insecurity, the cooperative has managed to sustain its members by investing in quality production and strategic branding. Kola Coffee, now its flagship product, has grown to represent a community story, packaged and ready for the world.
Director of Marketing ensuring panelists have Kola coffee
The North West Economic Forum, organised by the North West Regional Assembly under the leadership of Professor Fru Angwafor III, is the first of its kind. Designed to push forward a vision of self-reliant, inclusive development, the two-day event brings together a broad coalition of actors including traditional authorities, investors, entrepreneurs, youth leaders, and development partners all focused on moving the region beyond crisis and towards economic revival.
Kola Coffee’s official partnership at the forum is both practical and symbolic. It reflects a growing understanding that the region’s future will be built not only by large-scale projects or foreign capital, but also by lifting and scaling what already exists and what already works. And in this case, what already tastes remarkable.
As delegates return to discussions and negotiations, there is a sense that something is already brewing in the region and it’s more than coffee. With every sip of Kola, the forum’s message becomes a little clearer: the road to recovery may be long, but it begins with what we grow, what we build, and what we believe in together.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom
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