**Chapter One

Origins of a Public Servant**

Leadership rarely begins in the spotlight. It begins in the quiet places where responsibility meets conviction, where a young person discovers that their voice can move people and their actions can shape communities. For Dr. Ntuba Akwo Thompson, the origins of a public servant were forged long before he ever advised mayors in the United States. They were born in the lecture halls, student assemblies, hospital wards, and political battlegrounds of West Africa—spaces that demanded courage, empathy, and a deep understanding of human need.

A Student Leader With a National Voice

As a university student in Nigeria, Dr. Ntuba stepped naturally into leadership. He became the Cameroonian community president within the National Union of Cameroon Students (NUCS), a role that required diplomacy, advocacy, and the ability to unify diverse voices. His leadership was not symbolic; it was impactful. The national body of NUCS recognized his contributions with an award for exemplary service—an early affirmation that he possessed the rare combination of integrity, influence, and commitment that defines true public servants.

In Ilorin, he was not simply a student leader; he was a bridge-builder. He represented Cameroonian students with dignity, strengthened the NUCS Ilorin chapter, and contributed meaningfully to the national organization. These experiences planted the seeds of a leadership philosophy grounded in service, accountability, and community empowerment.

A Physician Formed in the Realities of Human Need

After completing his house officer training at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital—a World Health Organization collaborating center—Dr. Ntuba returned to Cameroon as a medical doctor. But his time in Nigeria had already shaped him in profound ways.

Rotating through multiple departments, he encountered the raw realities of community health. In the antenatal and postnatal clinics, he saw the hopes and vulnerabilities of mothers. In the labor and delivery wards, he witnessed life’s most fragile moments. These experiences taught him that leadership is not abstract; it is rooted in the lived experiences of people who depend on systems to work, services to function, and leaders to care.

This grounding in public health would later become a defining pillar of his work in governance.

Leadership in Cameroon: From Medicine to Public Life

Returning home, Dr. Ntuba stepped into broader leadership roles. His community recognized his capacity, and he was elected section president of the ruling party in his constituency. His leadership was not confined to party structures; it extended into civic life.

When the city council of Kumba—then undivided—needed a strong, credible team to contest municipal elections, Dr. Ntuba was chosen to head the list. Alongside respected figures such as Agather Nnoko, Sube Stephen, and Dr. Takaw, he campaigned vigorously for a vision of responsive, community-centered city governance.

Though the team did not defeat the opposing SDF slate, the campaign itself became a testament to his influence. His leadership was widely acknowledged, and the strategies he developed would later inform his work with the Conference of Section Presidents—a platform he helped shape. Through this work, one of his own mentees, Mt. Mboand Stephen, rose to become the national youth chairman of the ruling party.

A Regional Voice in Public Health and Governance

Dr. Ntuba’s leadership expanded further when he became the national chairman for health within the South West Elite Association (SWELA). In this role, he collaborated with mayors, parliamentarians, divisional officers, senior divisional officers, governors, and national ministry officials. His work blended medicine, governance, and community development—an early preview of the cross-sector leadership he would later bring to American cities.

Crossing Continents: Bringing African Wisdom to American City Halls

When Dr. Ntuba arrived in the United States, he did not come as a newcomer to leadership. He came as a seasoned public servant with decades of experience in community health, political organizing, and governance.

He carried this wealth of knowledge into his work with local government leaders across multiple American cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, San Antonio, Houston, and New Orleans. In each city, he observed, advised, and engaged with municipal leaders, applying lessons from African governance systems to the complexities of American local government.

His cross-continental journey shaped a unique leadership philosophy:

that cities thrive when leaders understand people, honor community voices, and stand firm in moments of consequence.

The Making of a Global Public Servant

From student government halls in Ilorin to political campaigns in Kumba, from hospital wards to American city councils, Dr. Ntuba’s path has been defined by service. His leadership is not theoretical—it is lived, tested, and refined across borders and systems.

These origins form the foundation of his work in Advising Mayors. They explain why he speaks with authority on governance, why he understands the moral weight of leadership, and why his insights resonate with mayors, council heads, and city administrators.

This chapter is not just the story of where he began.

It is the story of how a young student leader became a global advocate for good governance—one who continues to stand firm when it matters most.