Miranda Oben:''The Returnees Project has recorded success connecting the returning diaspora to the right source of information''

Miranda OBEN was born in Cameroon, and moved to Germany after completing her High School Education in pursuit of higher education. In Germany, she attended and graduated as an Engineer with Honours from the Gerhard-Mercator Universität in NRW, Germany.

Today, she works as an IT Engineer for a software company with oversight on 18 countries and a top tier clientele. When she is not at her office, she is either hosting an event or being a mother and wife at home. 

 She is also the Founder, President and CEO of The Returnees Project Inc. – a network platform for the African diaspora and their member countries. And the Initiator of Our Kids and Their Future – a youth conference for migrant kids Germany. 

On the 9th of december 2017 and on the framework of the Returnees Project, Miranda Oben and her great team will host the second edition of the International Diaspora Networking Conference and Gala in Bonanjo Douala, where she will put her expertise in service of others.

You are highly solicited and an internationally revered Moderator; where does this passion come from as we know that you are also an Engineer, when and why did you start following that path?

Miranda OBEN : Those who know Miranda will attest to her thirst for excellence. Her quest for excellence is a value bestowed to her by her parents who pursued every opportunity to make sure she and her siblings got the best quality of life they could afford. 

Growing up in a multilingual and multicultural environment, she quickly got acquainted to diversity and as such became versed with language adaptations and cultural intelligence.  

Today, Miranda is very proficient in 5 languages and has a great sense of empathy. She has earned the unequivocal role of a distinguished moderator and host of events staged by and for large and high profiled personalities all across Europe and Africa. 

 This is what has led her on. The positive energy her audiences give off have further empowered and energized her to not only serve as a host but a leader and a giver. And like everything noble, you become addicted to wanting to do good - to do great things and make others better; because we can only become great together. She has kindly agreed to tell us more about herself and her projects in the following interview. 

 For how long have you been living outside Cameroon and why did you travel out of the country?

 Miranda OBEN : I left Cameroon soon after high school to Germany in pursuit of higher education - which at the time, was the right thing to do. 

  And after having been so long abroad, what do you still like in Cameroon, and why this love is still alive?

 Miranda OBEN : Every tree depends on its roots for food, growth and stamina. Home is our ROOTS. Our outcomes in life are relative to our connection to our roots. So home comes as a necessity for the definition of and attainment of success! Home gave me the positioning that I have to be able to serve and do the things I do. It is thanks to the environment that made me and conferred my abilities to adapt in several scenarios while excelling. 

So going back home is a way to feed my source of being. And then engaging many others to see it as the way for self-empowerment and sustainability - this is a way of us all - ensuring that our collective efforts yield a holistic goal. 

Can you tell us what The Returnees Project is all about and why you started this adventure?

Miranda OBEN : The Returnees Project Platform is Africa’s premier networking arena linking its Diaspora to their respective countries with a sole purpose of promoting the exchange of mutual and valuable resources. The organization is registered with branches in the UK, Germany, Cameroon, USA and other parts of the world. 

 We have a mission to become an integral platform for the seamless integration of the continent’s Diaspora and its home-based citizens and affiliations; and sharing our success stories in documentaries for others to emulate. 

 In so doing, we have created a platform for members at home and in the diaspora to share thoughts, ideas and resources for their common good. 

A 20th of may in Berlin with Samuel Eto'o and The Ambassador of Cameroon in Germany

Why do you feel that it is important for the Cameroonian diaspora to come back and invest in Cameroon?

 Miranda OBEN : It is said that you can be the best carpenter in the world, but you will always need the house owner to show you where the roof is leaking.

 And this is why it is imperative and extremely important for the diaspora to be involved in the development of their own communities. No one knows our issues better than us - and we are the ones with access to the solution and also passionate about implementing it. 

 Most importantly, now is the time for us to bring back the learned skills to improve our communities. It is OUR time.

Does the Returnees Project as a platform accompany, in any way, the Cameroonians in the diaspora wishing to come back in Cameroon or in Africa in general?

Miranda OBEN : Oh yes. That is where we have recorded amazing success, connecting the returning diaspora to the right source of information or structure which already exists on our platform.

  We get contacted by those seeking to return home and we align them with respective industries and groups they will need to bridge the gap and facilitate the reintegration home.

Do you benefit from some support from the Cameroonian government or from any other organization, local or international?

 Miranda OBEN : Not yet. Our goal for now is to focus on getting it right without other interventions. We believe that once successful, getting other parties involved will be seamless. 

 Nevertheless, the involvement of the private and public sector is so valuable for our success. So we are taking the necessary steps to establish a platform that will serve the wider population and guarantee its due successes. 

From your experience, may be from what you know of the Cameroonian or African returnees you are or have been in contact with since the beginning of the project, what are the most important things Cameroonian abroad have to consider in order to have a successful return in our country?

Miranda OBEN : Now THAT is a great question! The diaspora according to the surveys we have carried out focusses more on 1. Having a good job before they would return home, 2. Health – they worry about getting a good medical doctor or health insurance and 3. Education – we gather the situation of (boarding) schools has deteriorated so the parents worry about finding the right school for their kids to have great education in and learn good morals. 4. Corruption – the diaspora worries about having to battle with or succumb to corruption and bribery. Those are our top 4 points of the survey followed by things like infrastructure as 5^th place on the list.

Do you think that all the conditions are there in Cameroon or in Africa for them to come back?

Miranda OBEN : No place is ideal – “conditions” are all in the mind. Ask yourself where are you today, where do you want to be tomorrow and then find like-minded people. Build synergies and work together to achieve what you believe in – for I strongly believe together we can handle a lot of things better. So although yes, the “conditions” as you say might not be the same in Africa as they are in the West, infrastructure, health, etc. yet there is a peace of mind and a sense of belonging when one is home. Working hard together knowing always that "none of us is as strong as all of us". So our annual event brings together the visionaries who have pledged to be the change we all want to see!

If you were a member of the government of Cameroon, what would you suggest to do to encourage, motivate the Cameroonian in the diaspora to do more and invest in our country?

Miranda OBEN : I would invite them to a dialogue. By them I mean those who are already doing something - carrying out projects back home and then focus on empowering them. 

This will give a better picture as to what each one is capable of doing and how we could all work together to bud the nation we so much love.

Finally, you seem to be a very busy person, in front of a movement you really believe in, with a growing number of followers. What does your agenda for the next months, years look like, and where do you want to be in five years in terms of your projects?

Miranda OBEN : "Growth just like learning has no limit", says my husband. Within 5 years, we look forward to celebrating our son's 10th birthday! I'll also grow in wisdom in all I do and of course, the Returnees Project will have become the one-stop-hub for both the diaspora and home citizens to be able to share ideas and realize several results from their inputs. I have a vision for Cameroon and Africa! A wise man once said to me, “Each one of us is born with greatness, society then gives us the tools to exercise that greatness in us.” I, Miranda, truly believe in believing in yourself because no one else will understand you like you do! Think and aspire with confidence! Success and failure lies in us – our outcomes are those we dream of more often. So, dream of success and live with success!

Links of interest:

Private website: www.mirandaoben.com

Project website: www.thereturnees54.com

Videos and more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/Miranda OBEN - THE BRIDGE