Ajume Wingo, Cameroonian professor of political philosophy at the University of Colorado, received the 2024 Thomas Jefferson University Prize which rewards students or professors who “ advance ideals » of the 3rd American president, drafter of the Declaration of Independence of the United States and in particular that all “men are created equal”.
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Heir to Queen Mother Ngonnso, founder of the Nso royal lineage of the Bui department, Ajume Wingo grew up in the intimacy of power, a concept to which he devotes a large part of his work.
“ I’ve written about the peril of leader-centered systems, when people think that both problems and solutions are tied to individuals. We Africans are constantly looking for the perfect leader. It will not happenassures the newly awarded professor. When we only focus on the leader, we miss the real issue. We must focus on developing citizenship […]. “What have I done for my country?” and not “What has my country done for me?” Centering everything around the leader is dangerous for Africa. »
“ Justice must not only be done…it must be seen to be done »
Trained in Yaoundé, then in the United States from the 1990s, Ajume Wingo has never severed his connection with his native land, Kumbo, also called Banso, which has been bereaved several times for seven years. He pleads for a peaceful resolution of the crisis in the English-speaking regions. For him, we must recognize the merits of the great national dialogue of 2019.
“ Steps have been taken to resolve the issues. But justice must not only be done…it must be seen to be doneunderlines the academic. However, the government does not say enough about what it is doing. I even thought about proposing that there be some kind of Minister of Peace appointed by the president to tell people how problems are handled. »
Professor Ajume Wingo co-founded the NGO Pathfinders for Peace and continues to believe in the ability of Cameroonians to solve their problems together.