Ngulle John: Iron hands in welding

The 25-year-old was forced into practicing welding due to life’s challenges. But the venture is now shaping his life.

Ngulle John Ekinde’s journey began in Douala, where he started learning welding at a young age. The 25-year-old welder who is now based in Yaounde is demonstrating a power of perseverance, a mother’s unwavering support and the belief in forging one’s own path. Despite ending his formal education early due to life’s circumstances, Ngulle says he found his calling in the practical world of welding, a trade he is now determined to turn into a thriving business.

It was his mother, a figure he calls a woman of incredible resilience and determination, who steered him towards this trade. “My mother made me learn this trade,” Ngulle says, “I have a mother who does not give up on life. My mother makes me understand no matter how hard life can be, no matter the little we may have, we can succeed in life.” With limited resources, she saw the potential in him and invested in his future, instilling in him a strong work ethic and an unwavering belief in his abilities.

Now residing in Yaoundé, Ngulle is focused on a clear goal: opening his own welding workshop. “I’m done learning the trade,” he explains, “so what I’m doing now is trying to get some money, some funds, to open up my own workshop, and I pray that God helps me on this project of mine.” This entrepreneurial spirit, fueled by his mother’s encouragement, is driving him to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Reflecting on his journey, Ngulle offers words of advice to other young people: “My mother always says, it is well, not because she has a lot, but because she knows that God is with us and all is possible with God.”

He urges them to resist the allure of easy money or the expectation of instant success. “You that is there waiting to get a good job, that you sit in the office on a soft chair that is turning around and very comfortable, is good,” he says, “and you that is out there who thinks getting money the easiest way, the fastest way, is life, but I will tell you today that is not all about life.”

Instead, he encourages young people to seek opportunities for self-employment, starting small and building steadily, trusting in their own abilities and divine guidance. Ngulle emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and ignoring negativity: “We are in this world alone by ourselves. No matter what people say about you, what they think about you, don’t care about them. Don’t look at what they say, don’t look at that appearance, no matter how better that appearance may be, don’t look at it.”

He stresses the importance of remembering one’s origins and focusing on one’s goals. Ngulle’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the unwavering belief in oneself. He demonstrates the fact that success is not determined by formal education or comfortable circumstances, but by hard work, a positive attitude, and the courage to forge your own path, with God as your guide.