Cameroon: Emerging Leaders Program Prepares Next Generation with Essential Skills for Success

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

YAOUNDE, Cameroon – The 2024 edition of the Emerging Leaders Program, organized by the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation was wrapped up with youths drilled on the different aspects of leadership.

The three-day leadership and immersion program ran from August 18 to 20, in Yaounde, Center region, and had as its aim to expose Cameroonian young leaders to global moral stances, diverse policies and public services. This batch of emerging leaders was equipped with skills to create a vision and inspire others to follow, thereby creating unity and purpose which will bring people together and create a better future for Cameroon and the world at large.

Solange Dabou, co-lead of the 2024 Emerging Leaders Programme and Research Associate at the Nkafu Policy Institute said: “We gave them the skills, knowledge and competencies that will help them to drive a positive change within their communities. The programme had different sessions covering several aspects of leadership like public speaking, understanding democratic standards and principles, policy analysis, moral leadership and amongst others.”

Following the end of the training, the cohorts are each expected to develop a community project to be implemented with the support of the Foretia Foundation. Besides being affiliated with the Governance and Democracy Division of the Nkafu Policy Institute, Dabou noted that the trainees will engage in a one-year commitment with the foundation where they will contribute to the vision of the Foretia Foundation which is to catalyse Africa’s economic transformation.

The 2024 cohort represented a diverse group of talented individuals under the age of 35 years who have demonstrated remarkable leadership skills and a strong commitment to driving positive change in Cameroon. Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, these emerging leaders have shown experience in team leadership, a deep understanding of Cameroon’s history and geopolitical complexity, and a proven track record in community engagement. The application process included over 200 applicants from across the ten regions of the country.

Dr Jean Cedric Kouam, one of the facilitators of the 2024 Emerging Leaders Programme said: “It is important to equip the emerging leaders on how to engage in the elaboration of public policies, the stakeholders and adoption.”

“Sometimes we think that public policy concerns only governments but it was important to inform them that they need to consider themselves as stakeholders in the elaboration of public policies and that they have to engage in the drafting of such policies.”

"Even if the government does not want them to participate in the adoption of the public policies, they need to push themselves and to do this, they need to meet the right persons, make their message clear enough, strengthen advocacy with policymakers, have face-to-face meetings, and sustain relations with policymakers,” Dr Jean Cedric Kouam added.

“The program has enhanced my capacity to build peace in my community and help young girls who are inspired to be leaders," Caltime Abdurahaman, a participant from the North West Region, said, adding that "for me, it is a transformative journey which will not only help me but others who look up to me.”

Fadimatou Djaouro Dairou, a youth leader from the North Region, expressed her delight to be amongst the 20 emerging leaders retained for the programme. She said: “It’s a dream that is becoming a reality because I love to be amongst leaders like myself to learn and make my contribution. I have learned a lot through the different presentations on networking, qualities of a good leader, crisis management, peacebuilding, and branding oneself online and offline.”

Graphlain Wobyeb, a computer and mining engineering student at the University of Bamenda, praised the programme. "I have met top-notch people who have taught us how to go about with our activities as a leader. We were taught on how to impact and influence the audience to follow one’s presentation as a public speaker. Participating in this programme has been one of the greatest things I’ve done so far and I thank the organisers.”