Better Breed Cameroon’s Youth of the Month for August 2026 celebrates a duo, Eng. Chumuno Richard Foweh and Eng. Fongoh Funwi Divine, two young Cameroonian engineers using mechanical engineering, innovation and machine fabrication to develop practical solutions to challenges in their communities.
What if the problems young people see every day could become the starting point for innovation? For Eng. Chumuno Richard Foweh and Eng. Fongoh Funwi Divine, that question has become a way of working. Together, under the name “Metal Lords”, the two young engineers are designing and fabricating machines aimed at making work easier, improving productivity and demonstrating the potential of local engineering and manufacturing in Cameroon.Their journey shows what can happen when technical education meets creativity, collaboration and a determination to solve problems locally.
From Mechanical Engineering Students to Young Innovators
Both Richard and Divine studied Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) at the National Higher Polytechnic Institute of the University of Bamenda (NAHPI). Their training provided them with the technical foundation to understand mechanical systems, design solutions and work with machines. Today, they are applying those skills through their work in machine design and fabrication. As the Metal Lords, they work on their own innovations while also helping engineering students transform academic designs into functional projects.
Their work has included a mobile elevator system, adjustable height wheelchair, plantain fiber extraction machine, wall plastering machine and mobile plastic shredder, among other machines. These projects reflect their belief that engineering should not remain within the classroom. It should be used to address real challenges and create solutions that can benefit communities.
Using Engineering to Solve Problems in Cameroon
For the Metal Lords, innovation begins with observation. They look at the challenges people experience around them and consider how their knowledge of mechanical engineering and machine fabrication can be used to reduce stress, improve efficiency and increase productivity. This problem-solving approach has led them to explore innovations in areas such as agriculture, construction, mobility and waste management. Their work also extends to supporting other young engineers. Students have approached them with designs for academic projects, and the Metal Lords help assess, improve and fabricate these concepts.
In this way, their work contributes not only to machine development but also to the growth of practical engineering skills among young people in Cameroon.
The Mobile Elevator: Turning an Engineering Concept Into Reality
One of the projects that demonstrates their approach to innovation is their mobile elevator system. The project initially came to the Metal Lords as a student’s end-of-year engineering project. The duo analysed the design, assessed its feasibility and worked on transforming the concept into a functional machine.The resulting mobile elevator has a maximum height of five metres and a loading capacity of up to 500 kilograms. The project illustrates an important part of their work which is helping transform engineering ideas from drawings and concepts into practical solutions.
The Challenges Behind Local Innovation
Building machines in Cameroon comes with challenges. For the Metal Lords, limited finances and access to resources have been among the major obstacles in their innovation journey. There have also been moments when a project appeared too difficult to accomplish. Instead of allowing these challenges to stop them, they have chosen to experiment, learn and keep working. Their experience has taught them that a project that initially looks impossible can become achievable when it is approached with determination, patience and continuous effort.
They continue to work with the resources available to them while pursuing a future with better equipment, stronger financial support and greater manufacturing capacity.
Changing How We See African Innovation
Beyond machine fabrication, the Metal Lords are challenging a mindset they believe holds back African innovation: the belief that sophisticated products and technologies can only be created elsewhere. They want young Africans to recognize that they can also design, build and manufacture solutions locally.Their work represents a call for greater confidence in African creativity and technical ability. For them, local innovation is not only about reducing dependence on imported products. It is also about creating opportunities, developing technical skills and contributing to local economic growth.
Their Message to Young Innovators: Start!
The Metal Lords encourage young people with ideas not to wait until they have everything they need before beginning. Their message is simple:Start. Even a small attempt can make an idea visible. Once people can see what an innovator is trying to achieve, they may be able to offer knowledge, encouragement, partnerships or other forms of support. They also encourage young innovators to learn from the work of others. Seeing what other young people are creating can provide motivation and demonstrate that creativity and innovation are possible even when resources are limited.
A Vision for Local Manufacturing in Cameroon
The Metal Lords have a bigger ambition: to become major manufacturers of locally made machines in Cameroon and beyond. Their vision is rooted in the belief that Cameroon has the potential to develop its own manufacturing capacity rather than relying heavily on imported machinery and products. They also see local manufacturing as a pathway to job creation, particularly for young people who need opportunities to apply their technical skills. Their long-term goal is therefore not simply to build more machines. It is to contribute to a culture where young Cameroonians see themselves as inventors, engineers, manufacturers and problem-solvers.
Why Better Breed Cameroon Celebrates the Metal Lords
At Better Breed Cameroon, we believe that young people should be recognized not only for what they have achieved, but also for the possibilities their work represents. Eng. Chumuno Richard Foweh and Eng. Fongoh Funwi Divine, the Metal Lords, demonstrate how young Cameroonians can use education, creativity and collaboration to develop practical solutions to everyday challenges. Their journey is a reminder that youth innovation in Cameroon is already happening, in workshops, classrooms and communities where young people are choosing to build instead of simply wait for solutions from elsewhere. As they continue developing their skills and expanding their work, the Metal Lords are pursuing a vision that goes beyond individual machines: a Cameroon where more young people have the confidence and capacity to design, manufacture and build solutions locally.
Their message to young innovators captures their philosophy:
“Now is the right time to start. You are the only one that can do it better. That’s why the idea and passion came to you, so don’t give up.”
About Better Breed Cameroon
Better Breed Cameroon (BBCam) is a youth-focused organization committed to empowering young people through opportunities that develop creativity, leadership, skills and community impact.
Through initiatives such as its Youth of the Month spotlight, BBCam celebrates young Cameroonians whose work demonstrates excellence and inspires others to recognize and develop their own potential.