Interview with HRH Victorine Bokengo, a German-based Cameroonian on how she is contributing to the sustainable development of Africa.
Meet Victorine (Vicky) Bokengo: Co-Founder, CEO, Chief Operations Officer, and Chief Purpose Officer of ADAM & BOKENGO Enterprises Ltd.
In this interview, discover Vicky’s background, vision, priorities, and ambitions.
Who is HRH Victorine Bokengo?
Victorine (Vicky) Bokengo is a person in whom two continents meet and live in dynamic and perfect harmony. For some of her business partners, she is like a renaissance bridge connecting many worlds. Born and raised in Douala, Cameroon, Vicky has spent decades studying and working in France and Germany, gaining experience across sectors such as transport and logistics, events management, renewable energy, telecommunications, and ICT.
After decades of working for multinational corporations, Vicky decided to embark on her entrepreneurial journey to become a seasoned Euro-Africa strategic consultant, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Based in Germany, she helps connect European and African businesses to projects that promote sustainable development in Africa through her consultancy business founded in 2016. Her areas of expertise include international business development, project management and event management, and Corporate Social Responsibility consultancy.
Vicky is driven by her mission to make a global impact, always striving for perfection to achieve excellence. Her work is rooted in her values of authenticity, decency, empathy, honesty, integrity, loyalty, professionalism, and trust. These principles, coupled with her strong work ethic, have earned her a reputation for excellence.
We have noticed that you always mention your mother during conversations. How did she inspire you and shape your life journey to where you are today?
My mother has always been a source of inspiration, showing me the importance of hard work, resilience, and entrepreneurship. Growing up, I witnessed her dedication, and that shaped my passion for business and leadership. Watching her work so hard inspired me to follow a similar path.
My life journey is shaped by a clear sense of direction and purpose. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work internationally, and I was passionate about business. My mother’s work ethic was a huge influence on me— she not only worked in my father’s pharmacy but also ran her own businesses in real estate and transportation. Though she is now retired, she still actively manages her real estate business.
At the age of ten, I began helping my mother in her pharmacy in Kumba, Cameroon, unaware that this experience would lay the foundation for my international career in business. My family’s history, rooted in excellence, achievement, and service, also shaped me.
As a child, I reinvested the pocket money I earned from packaging medications at the pharmacy by selling powdered milk to my classmates. Later, I ventured into fashion, selling handbags to friends and neighbor’s. Till date, I still seek business advice from my mother, who remains a role model for me. Her lessons in hard work, honesty and respect guide my approach to both life and business.
My education and career choices were goal-oriented, always with a focus on achieving my ambitions. The foundation laid by my mother has been instrumental in shaping who I am today.
Why did you embark on this entrepreneurial journey after living for so many years in Europe? What inspired the creation of the company in Cameroon?
I strongly believe that each and every African should take responsibility for the sustainable development growth of our continent. The African continent is filled with tremendous opportunities for everyone who is willing to not only make an impact but also contribute to its positive transformation.
The creation of ADAM & BOKENGO Enterprises Ltd. is the result of an idea and vision I had in 2012 when I came on a vacation in Cameroon. A contact of mine gave me 5 solar lamps to test the market. In less than 30 minutes, I quickly sold them out in my mother’s compound in Kumba. That experience was an eye-opener for me. Deep down, I knew that I just found a solution to an existing problem. Even though I returned to Germany and worked for different companies in various industries, that experience stayed with me. Years later, when I met my business partner Mr. Adam, an engineer, we had a conversation that reignited this vision. I shared with him the experience I had in 2012 and how my sister living in Bonaberi had been without electricity for days and had to travel miles away to charge her mobile phone at my mother’s home in PK8, a neighborhood located at the other side of the city. He was shocked by the frequent power outages in Cameroon. His reaction was immediate—he saw the potential, and together we realized we could provide a solution for the local communities. That’s how ADAM & BOKENGO Enterprises Ltd. was created, driven by the need to bring solutions to real challenges by combining German expertise and local know-how.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced doing business in Africa and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges I’ve faced doing business in both Africa and Europe has been related to the mind-set and cultural differences. which initially poses a significant challenge for many.
One example is when I once travelled to West Africa with my European business partners for a meeting, to everyone’s surprise all the local partners arrived on time. This caught my business partners off guard, as they expected that “Africans are always late” kind of attitude. However, I knew from experience that managing expectations was key. I had scheduled the meeting an hour earlier than the actual time, understanding the cultural dynamics, and this ensured that everyone was punctual and the meeting could begin on time.
I’ve learned not to view these differences as challenges but simply as varying approaches to work. I overcame them by being laser focused and staying clear on my WHY – my purpose and vision. This focus helped me remain resilient and adaptive.
How do you plan to expand your business in the next five years? Can you share any upcoming projects or initiatives?
We have ambitious plans for ADAM & BOKENGO Enterprises Ltd. beyond the renewable energy sector. We’re looking to expand into property development, both commercial and residential real estate, with a focus on affordable housing. We also aim to enter the waste management sector, as we recognize the importance of environmental sustainability.
In the next few years, we plan to establish German-led Renewable Energy Industrial Zones (GREIZ) across Africa. These projects align with our mission of providing energy, homes, and sustainable solutions to improve people’s lives.
How do you engage with local communities in your projects?
We are currently exploring a collaboration with a few municipalities in Cameroon and we recently received an inquiry from a municipality to help electrify their community with solar street lighting. By collaborating with local governments, we aim to have a lasting impact on the communities we serve.
How do you stay motivated to keep going?
My passion for the sustainable development of Africa as well as my commitment to making a meaningful impact, keep me going every day. As I used to say: “My vision for Africa is bigger than my wallet”. For me, it’s simple—if your vision isn’t bigger than yourself, it’s easy to give up when faced with challenges. Knowing your WHY keeps you motivated. The WHY behind your business, project or anything you do, is crucial, as it drives you forward.
To Conclude
We firmly believe that Africa holds immense potential, with its wealth of natural resources and the drive of its younger generation. Our mission is to create sustainable opportunities that empower local communities and foster growth, not only in Cameroon but across the continent. By staying true to our vision and never losing sight of our “WHY,” we aim to contribute meaningfully to the development of Africa, inspiring others to build a future where success is not defined by where you come from but by the impact you make. Through ADAM & BOKENGO Enterprises Ltd., our goal is to continue building bridges between Europe and Africa in terms of capacity building, technology and knowledge transfer by creating lasting change and nurturing a new generation of leaders and innovators who will propel Africa into a future of prosperity and sustainability.
We envision an Africa where the younger generation won’t feel compelled to look elsewhere for opportunities.
Interview Conducted By: Rashel Eduader
