Cameroonian influencer Steve Fah has voiced his discontent with the new name of the public electricity company, SOCADEL, formerly Eneo. In a Facebook post on May 5, 2026, he described the name choice as "heavy, administrative, without vision," arguing that it does not align with Cameroon's ambitions to shine internationally.
Fah emphasized that a company's name is a crucial element of its image and strategy. In his view, SOCADEL is more reminiscent of the 1980s and a lack of ambition to conquer the African and global markets. He suggested a more "futuristic and emotional" name like VOLTIS, capable of projecting an image of power and modernity.
The influencer cited companies like Engie and EDF in France as examples of those that have built a strong image and exported their model internationally. He also mentioned Tradex, a Cameroonian company that has successfully established itself in Chad and the Central African Republic thanks to the quality of its services and a polished image.
Steve Fah insisted on the importance of not neglecting details, such as the name, logo, and graphic charter, as they contribute to a company's success. He lamented the lack of a clear and modern vision, believing that it could compromise efforts to provide electricity to Cameroonians and ensure reliable service.
On May 4, 2026, a presidential decree transformed Eneo into Société Camerounaise d'Electricité (SOCADEL), a public company. The Cameroonian State now holds all the shares, after buying back the shares held by the British fund Actis. SOCADEL's share capital is set at 43.9 billion FCFA.
