By Hope Nda
After 11 fulfilling years abroad, Elsie Nfor, the award-winning CEO of Mabss Skincare, staged a grand homecoming to Cameroon, an event attended by dozens at GRA Bota, Limbe, on December 20.
The homecoming event served as both a tribute to her supporters and a springboard for her ambition to build Mabss into a leading pan-African brand.
Elsie Nfor’s entrepreneurial journey began from a personal struggle with acne. After battling it for over 15 years and finding only temporary solutions with existing products, she was inspired to create a customised skincare line.
This vision materialised into Mabss Skincare, a spa-grade brand that formulates products tailored to an individual’s specific skin concern, tone, and local environment.
“We produce individually for your skin, specific skin concern, your skin tone and the environment where you are based,” she said.
“For example, if you are dark-skinned, if you are light-skinned, we cannot use the same product. And some people come to me with acne and others come with sunburn so we tailor your recipe towards the various concerns that you have on your skin.”
This unique approach to skincare has driven the brand’s early success, attracting customers across Africa, including in Abuja, Nigeria, Abuja, where Nfor has made special trips to attend to customers.
Her dedication to creating effective solutions for African skin has earned Mabss significant recognition, including honours from the Pan African Beauty and Health Awards and a National Entrepreneur Award for contributing to the local economy in Cameroon.
Aside from business, Elsie Nfor’s philanthropic efforts in Cameroon’s Northwest region have also been acknowledged with a community leadership award.
The vibrant homecoming event in Limbe was attended by family, including her over 100-year-old grandfather, as well as well-wishers and members of her Wimbum community. It was graced by several Cameroonian artists, including the legendary Makossa singer Petit Pays, Tzy Panchak, Shey Kontum Yov and Awilo.
Elsie Nfor noted that this connection with her home is central to her expansion strategy.
“Home is where your heart is, and no matter what, home is where I will be respected perfectly,” she stated.
“My main thing is giving back to where my origin comes from. Yes, I want the people of Cameroon, the people of Africa to be proud of their own because we have, like Nivea, is not owned by us. So, I want Mabss skincare to be, tomorrow, a big company that can engulf everybody and we are going to be very proud of it as well,” she added.
With a strong existing customer base in Cameroon, Elsie Nfor aims to use the momentum of her return to systematically grow Mabss into a continental powerhouse, and create a globally respected brand owned and cherished within Africa.
Elsie Nfor (center) flanked by parents and grandparents on both sides
