Young beekeeper seeks to empower youths to embrace sector.

Beekeeping or bee farming involves the breeding and management of bees, primarily for honey and other hive products such as beeswax, royal jelly, and propolis. Beekeeping is carving out its own space, particularly among smallholder farmers and youth-led agricultural initiatives.

Being a promising sector often overlooked by many, 23-year-old Sindy Njonguo, final year student in the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine in the University of Buea, is determined in building and leaving a lasting legacy from it. 

The young lady, passionate about the sector, wants to challenge the status quo and have more women interested in it.

“In the next five years, I see myself to have educated over 10,000 girls and about 15,000 youths in general, about beekeeping,” she said. 

“This is because my aim is to get women involved in this business and also, I aim to be the top and the most influential bee farmer in Cameron and why not Africa as whole,” she added. 

The young lady has had the opportunity to pitch her beekeeping project and has received appreciation from multinational institutions so far, this to her greatest surprise. 

Sindy Njonguo began her journey into beekeeping after conducting research and discovering the vast potential of the industry in Cameroon. She was particularly struck by the underrepresentation of women in the sector, with women making up less than 10% of the beekeeping workforce.

Determined to bridge this gap, the young woman decided to start her own beekeeping project, leveraging her passion for sustainable practices and innovation. 

“Initially, when I started, it was somehow a little bit tough because it was so difficult for people to buy my idea. But I thank God that along the way, they actually understood my vision and they gave me full support, and it has been really amazing so far,” she told The Guardian Post. 

Though a final year student, Njonguo is gradually positioning herself as an inspiration to others. She called on her fellow youths to “challenge yourself, say to yourself that you can do it and you will do it. Along the way you will realise that you have developed the power of resilience, which will keep you going no matter what comes your way”.

She urged the youth to add passion to whatever they set out to do. She also noted that aspiring beekeepers should undergo proper training to understand bee colony management, seasonal behaviour, and hive maintenance. Njonguo also said they need to invest in specialised equipment such as protective gear, smokers, and modern hives. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3464 of Wednesday June 04, 2025