The Okwelians announced on December 22, 2025, the appointment of Olivia Nloga as coordinator of the preparatory committee for The Okwelians Summit 2027, scheduled for March 17–19, 2027. In its statement, the organization said it aims to “consolidate the foundations of a more ambitious summit” and position it as “a reference event on the international stage,” intended to “strengthen Cameroon’s influence.”
Beyond standard language on ambition and international reach, the appointment reflects a deeper strategic choice. The Okwelians appears focused on making its institutional credibility visible, measurable, and defensible, rather than relying primarily on promotional narratives.
In an environment where forums are multiplying and often converging in format, competitive advantage increasingly depends on delivery rather than announcements. This includes method, editorial coherence, traceable data, public outputs, and follow-up over time. Credibility becomes a condition of relevance rather than an added benefit.
Founded in 2020 to promote “a culture of social innovation in support of Cameroon’s sustainable transformation,” The Okwelians is seeking to move beyond one-off visibility. With a community it says includes more than 3,200 Cameroonians across four continents, the challenge is no longer only to convene, but to demonstrate the ability to sustain a recurring platform.
This is the core role of a preparatory committee: defining direction, setting methods, structuring partnerships, fixing timelines, and organizing content production. The underlying objective is to build the framework before the showcase and turn an event into a platform.
The choice of Olivia Nloga shapes the reading of the announcement. The Okwelians highlights more than 15 years of experience in political communication, crisis management, and international influence strategy. These areas point to a shift in how African summits are positioned, not only as spaces for debate, but also as arenas of reputation, access, and negotiation.
The statement refers to her background in the communications industry, including roles at Ogilvy and Meta, as well as the creation of 503 & Associates, a firm described as advising governments on international positioning. According to information reviewed by Investir au Cameroun, her career also includes work with the French Parliament between 2013 and 2016 and advisory assignments linked to Gabon’s presidency during Ali Bongo’s tenure.
Such a profile aligns with the operational demands of a summit seeking international standing: managing narratives, holding together diverse coalitions, protecting reputational capital, and anticipating points of friction. These are moments where events often falter, whether due to controversy, sensitive speakers, contested partnerships, or unmet commitments.
The Okwelians also anchors its strategy in the precedent of its first summit, held in Yaoundé from March 19 to 21, 2025. The organization says the event brought together more than 300 participants from over 20 countries, spanning public institutions, the private sector, civil society, and development partners.
Beyond attendance figures, The Okwelians emphasizes post-event outputs, notably a framework document known as the Green Book, which sets out recommendations to “update and accelerate the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2020–2030.” In a crowded event landscape, credibility increasingly depends less on what happens during the summit than on what follows, including published outputs, accessible documentation, and measurable follow-up.
The organization says the preparatory phase aims to “consolidate the foundations of a more ambitious summit.” In practice, this implies governance choices: how themes are selected, how speakers are chosen, how partners influence content, how conflicts of interest are managed, and how decisions are documented. These elements determine whether a summit produces lasting intellectual value or remains a short-lived showcase.
By appointing a specialist in public affairs and crisis management early in the process, The Okwelians is prioritizing anticipation and structure. The stated ambition is to shift the Summit 2027 from visibility to solidity, building credibility through governance, outputs, metrics, and follow-up rather than declarations alone.
Ludovic Amara
