Exclusive Interview with Dr Emile Parfait SIMB: “Success Is Built Through Courage, Vision, and Patience”

Founder — SMB Afrique Éditions
Pioneer of Blockchain in Central Africa
Honorary Doctorate in Blockchain Technology, Web 3 & Cryptocurrencies — Dunster Business School, Zug, Switzerland
Global Excellence Summit — New Delhi, India | May 2026
2026 · Moscow, Russia

INTRODUCTION

In a phone interview conducted from Moscow, Russia, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr Emile Parfait SIMB, a name increasingly associated with blockchain discussions, digital finance, and entrepreneurship in Central Africa.

From sorting palm nuts as a teenager to leading businesses across fintech, agriculture, and real estate, his journey has attracted both admiration and criticism. During our conversation, Dr SIMB spoke openly about his early struggles, cryptocurrency success, Liyeplimal, blockchain adoption in Africa, and the vision behind his book Tokenising Africa.

FROM POVERTY TO POSSIBILITY

Q: Dr SIMB, your story is often described as extraordinary. What do you remember most about your childhood?

A:
I remember struggle.

I was born in Bomabom, Cameroon, where life was not easy. At thirteen, I sorted palm nuts to pay for school fees and buy books at Makak High School.

Later, at sixteen, I sold doughnuts at Anatole crossroads and Douala Central Market to continue my education. Nobody was going to solve my problems for me, so I learned responsibility very early.

Even after university, life remained difficult. I worked as a part-time teacher for nine years and earned only 50,000 FCFA each month.

THE DECISION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Q: People often mention your cryptocurrency investment in 2016. What made you take that risk?

A:
I believed technology was changing the financial world.

In December 2016, I invested my last 200,000 FCFA into four cryptocurrencies that very few people trusted.

At that time, many people thought crypto was dangerous or meaningless. But I saw opportunity.

Six months later, my investment reportedly reached 29 million FCFA. One year later, it crossed one billion FCFA.

But honestly, I never viewed it as luck. I saw it as preparation meeting opportunity.

BUILDING SOMETHING BIGGER

Q: After your financial success, why didn’t you simply stop there?

A:
Because money alone changes nothing.

I wanted to create systems that could generate opportunities for other people. That mindset eventually led to SIMB Group, which now operates across multiple sectors including fintech, agro-industry, and real estate.

I believe success becomes meaningful only when it creates impact.

THE IDEA BEHIND LIYEPLIMAL

Q: Liyeplimal remains one of your most discussed initiatives. How would you explain its purpose?

A:
Liyeplimal was designed as more than a financial platform.

The objective was to help ordinary people participate in economic opportunities using digital systems and financial education.

I have always believed in one principle: nobody should succeed alone.

Of course, every system faces challenges. Crypto markets are volatile, but difficult moments should not erase long-term vision.

BLOCKCHAIN, LIMOCOIN, AND LONG-TERM THINKING

Q: Do you still believe blockchain and assets like LIMOCOIN have a strong future?

A:
Absolutely.

People focus too much on short-term price movements and forget long-term value.

Technology evolves with patience. Blockchain is not just speculation—it has practical uses in payments, agriculture, contracts, and transparency.

LIMOCOIN is part of a broader ecosystem connected to real activity.

THE VISION OF SIMBCITY

Q: You introduced SIMBCITY as a smart city project. What inspired this vision?

A:
Africa needs modern systems built for the future.

SIMBCITY is designed as a smart city in Kribi spanning 35 hectares, where digital infrastructure and urban development can work together.

Innovation should not remain theoretical—it should exist in real communities.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SIMB AIRLINES?

Q: Many people still ask about SIMB Airlines. What is the situation today?

A:
The airline industry is incredibly demanding.

We completed licensing procedures and initial operations, but commercial aviation requires enormous preparation and investment.

COVID also changed global aviation dramatically.

For now, the project remains under strategic review rather than full expansion.

AFRICA’S DIGITAL FUTURE

Q: Some people say blockchain adoption in Africa will take decades. Do you agree?

A:
No.

People once doubted mobile money, and now Africa leads globally in digital payments.

Blockchain can solve important challenges—from agriculture and land systems to financial access.

Africans are practical people. If technology works, people will adopt it.

DEALING WITH PUBLIC CRITICISM

Q: You face criticism regularly online. Does it bother you?

A:
Not really.

Public attention comes with visibility. Some people criticize because attention creates audience.

Ironically, many international institutions discovered my work through online discussions.

So I prefer focusing on building rather than arguing.

TOKENISING AFRICA AND A NEW ECONOMIC MODEL

Q: Your book Tokenising Africa presents a different economic idea. What is its core message?

A:
Africa produces enormous agricultural wealth, but farmers receive too little value.

Tokenisation creates a way to digitally represent agricultural assets such as cocoa farms, coffee plantations, and palm oil production.

The goal is to improve transparency, funding, and economic participation for farmers.

This is not only about technology—it is about fairness.

A FINAL MESSAGE

Q: What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs who feel limited by their circumstances?

A:
Do not allow your beginnings to define your future.

I sold doughnuts. I sorted palm nuts. I worked for years with very little income.

Success requires patience, courage, and belief in possibilities others cannot yet see.

ABOUT SMB AFRIQUE ÉDITIONS

SMB AFRIQUE ÉDITIONS is dedicated to entrepreneurship, blockchain innovation, and Africa’s future through research-driven publishing and transformative ideas.

Founder: Dr Emile Parfait SIMB
Collection: Horizon 2040 Collection
Official Website:
https://smbafrique-edition.com

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