The Northwest Province (Nord-Ouest) is the third most populated province in Cameroon. It has two major cities: Bamenda and Kumbo. Seven large tribes dominate the province: The Nso,Wimbum tribe, Meta, Kom, Esimbi, Oku and Menda Nkwe people. The Northwest has no major industry, and the land is largely mountainous with only one relatively flat area, the Ndop Plain, where rice is grown. Other foods planted include Irish potatoes in the Bui division and beans from most of the province. Maize, beans, Irish potatoes, plantains and yams are the main food staples for the region. A lot of groundnuts is produced in the NW most of which comes from Esimbi.

This province was previously made up of six divisions: Mezam, Bui, Momo, Donga-Mantung,Menchum and Fundong. Rencently two have been added: Ngo-Ketunjia, carved out of Mezam, and Boyo, carved out of Donga-Matung.

There are a variety of languages spoken in the province. The main languages are Bafmen, Oku, Lamso, Bamenta, Pingin, Balikumbat, and Nkom.

The Northwest is the stronghold for the main opposition party of Cameroon, the Social Democratic Front (SDF). Many Northwesteners feel totally marginalised from the Government in Yaoundé and are doing everything within their reach to secede from the French-speaking portion of the country.

Many of Cameroon's attractions are located in the Northwest Province. The second highest mountain in West Africa is in Oku, and there are a lot of rare birds, such as the distinctive red crested Bannerman's turaco, that are unique to this region. It also has many crater lakes and beautiful montane rainforest which hosts rare and endemic plants and animals. There is the Menchum Falls, which estimates say can supply enough electricity for the whole of West Africa. There is also Lake Nyos, in Wum.