Rose Abunaw
Rose Abunaw Makia, born in Manyu Division of Cameroon, is a pioneering Anglophone politician who became the first woman from the English-speaking regions to serve as Vice President of the National Assembly in 2007.
Birth and early life
Rose Abunaw was born in Manyu Division, South West Region of Cameroon, a constituency that has produced several influential Anglophone leaders. Her upbringing in Manyu exposed her to grassroots realities, which later shaped her political advocacy for women and rural communities.
Political career
She began her career in the National Union for Democracy and ProgresS (UNDP). In 1992, she was elected as a Member of Parliament alongside 23 other women, marking a breakthrough for female representation in Cameroon's legislature. In March 2000, she resigned from the UNDP and joined the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM), under which she was re-elected as MP. In 2007, she made history as the first Anglophone woman Vice President of the National Assembly of Cameroon, a position she held with distinction. She was succeeded by Emilia Monjowa Lifaka.
Recognition and leadership
She served as regional representative of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for Africa, and Technical Adviser in international initiatives, including the World Peace Games, reflecting her influence beyond Cameroon. Abunaw holds advanced degrees in Educational Planning and History and a certificate from the United Nations International Training and Education Center. She has been recognized as a Knight of the National Order of Valor for her service.
Recent activities
In early 2025, Hon. Rose Abunaw continued her advocacy for women's leadership in Cameroon and reportedly shifted her support between women's associations in Manyu.