The SME created when its promoter was barely in his thirties is now one of the most important in its sector of activity. Its promoter remains confident in the future despite the economic difficulties.

20 years ago, when he was barely over thirty, Jean Roger Awudu created an establishment called Awudu Industry. The young company is immediately registered among the suppliers of the State of Cameroon from which it wins some contracts. “The first job I did was with the University of Yaounde 2 in Soa, precisely at the Faculty of Technology. Once the market is done, I will spend more than a year before being paid,” recalls Jean Roger Awudu.

The young entrepreneur then claims to have been tempted to give up, but will very quickly erase this idea from his head. He will arm himself with more courage, determination to succeed and will review his organization. He will then solicit and obtain from this first customer to be a Supplier and Service Provider in the future in order to broaden the scope of his company's intervention. “Today, I am satisfied with the level of preference”, flatters Jean Roger Awudu.

 Six years later, precisely in 2006, Ets Awudu Industry joined the very select club of SME/SMI subcontractors of AES Sonel, now ENEO. In order to be one of the major providers of this juggernaut of the electrical sector, and driven by great ambitions, the company mutated into a Limited Liability Company (Sarl) in 2009, specializing in the electrical engineering sector.

Its expertise in the installation of electricity transmission units formerly in the service of ENEO now benefits SONATREL, which has taken over this part of the electricity service. “With Sonatrel, I am in the cantonnage at the level of the transmission lines. It is a transport station where you have to do interviews, ”explains the CEO of Awudu Industry Sarl.

Varied field of intervention

Awudu Industry Sarl has diversified its offer to be more competitive on the market. With ENEO, the SME provides commercial services, in particular by working in the chain of reading and distributing bills to consumers of electricity. The technical field is not left out. Here the company is regularly called upon for electrical installations in several towns and villages in Cameroon. "It may be the construction of new lines, the repair of lines already outdated, 15,000, 30,000, 90,000 or 225,000 volts of power as is the case with Sonatrel, maintenance of and cantonnage”, specifies its Director.

The SME also has in its portfolio the responsibility of power cuts and reconnections for sensitive customers who do not pay their bills on time. Awudu Industry Sarl also delivers electrical equipment and also does maintenance at dams for the supply of certain parts and generators. Plumbing and painting are now among the activities of the SME.

In recognition of the services rendered to the profession, Jean Roger Awudu was elected National Vice-President of the Association of Water and Electricity Companies of Cameroon (ASEELEC) by his peers.

Up to the challenge

The 20 years of existence of Awudu Industry Sarl have been marked by major achievements. The transport lines of Nyong, Messasi, Emana, Soa, Ngoulemankong and several districts of the city of Yaounde bear his stamp. The subdivision area of ​​the town hall of Ngoumou or the town hall of Bikock have been electrified by Awudu Industry Sarl. The company now claims an annual turnover of around 300 million.

However, the SME finds it difficult to get support from commercial banks, as is the case for all SMEs/SMIs. Even with the Banque des PME/Pmi which, according to him, constitutes the solution proposed by the State, difficulties remain. “Our contracts require us to have permanent workers while we are paid 6 months or even a year after delivering the sites. This creates permanent cash flow tensions for us, salary arrears and the non-payment on time of our obligations to the tax authorities and the CNPS”, denounces Jean Roger Awudu.

He also points an accusing finger at Eneo, his main client, which not only imposes an approval on him, but the respect of several other conditions (health check and staff training, crane inspection, obligation to have adequate equipment) which requires colossal investments amounting to several million CFA francs. “Unfortunately, this does not guarantee you permanent and continuous contracts. The contracts are sometimes tinged with cronyism and favouritism”, deplores the Director of Awudu Industry Sarl.

Member and partner of the BSTP

Awudu Industry Sarl has not yet directly won a contract thanks to the interpersonal skills of the BSTP, but thinks that it has benefited abundantly from the support of the institution. Its Director claims to have already benefited from numerous training courses, business trips abroad which bring good prospects.

Jean Roger Awudu worked alongside the BSTP for the emergence of a subcontracting in Cameroon and this is for the moment, his main expectation from the institution. “Expatriates grab most of the markets here and repatriate the gains. A reasonable percentage must go to the nationals. The government must try to control all this. It must also review the payment policy for the services of subcontractors. Most subcontractors are closing because of non-respected non-payment deadlines,” shouts Jean Roger Awudu.

He advises young people to embrace the path of entrepreneurship and to persevere in the effort. “You have to have the heart and the faith and persevere in the work. The administrative papers are not enough, you can have all the papers up to date and never win any contract, just as you can succeed in obtaining a contract and cannot have the financial resources to carry it out”.

Charles Ngah Nforgang