The public health expert and 2024 participant reflected on his participation in the Emerging Leaders Program, while urging the incoming cohort in August to maximise the opportunity.
By Boris Esono Nwenfor
BUEA, Cameroon – With anticipation building for the August 2025 cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program run by the Dens and Lenora Foretia Foundation, a 2024 alumnus, Dickson Ndzi, has shared insights into his experience and issued an enthralling call to the incoming batch to seize the opportunity with both hands.
A public health expert, an active youth leader, and the CEO of Family Health Solutions, Dickson Ndzi, says joining the 2024 edition was “one of the best decisions” of his life.
“I had heard about the program through a past participant who told me how it had impacted her. She encouraged me to apply, and it turned out to be transformational,” he said in an interview with Pan African Visions.
A Phenomenal Experience
Describing his overall experience as “phenomenal”, Dickson emphasised the uniqueness of the Emerging Leaders Program in Cameroon’s civil leadership landscape.
“It’s unlike any other youth program I’ve come across in this country. From the quality of facilitators to the diversity of participants drawn from all ten regions, each of us was doing meaningful work in our communities,” he noted.
One of the most memorable aspects for Dickson was the policy writing session, which he said addressed a major gap in his advocacy toolbox. “We do a lot in our communities, but often we don’t know how to push for sustainable change through policy. The training taught me how to draft and submit policy briefs — a skill I am now applying in my ongoing community work,” he explained.
From Theory to Practice
Since its inception in 2019, over 150 emerging leaders in Cameroon have participated in the Emerging Leaders Program, gaining practical skills to initiate change in their communities.
Dickson is already putting what he learned into action. Currently leading a youth engagement project against drug addiction in Tole, a locality in Buea, he is using football as a tool for advocacy and awareness among boys. “What I learned about community impact and servant leadership is guiding my work. After our sessions, I plan to write an advocacy note to stakeholders. That’s how this training continues to serve me.”
This year’s emerging leaders will be divided into four groups of five, each receiving funding to organise an activity of their choice that promotes economic freedom, peace and security, social entrepreneurship, good governance, human rights, youth engagement in public service or democratic culture in a region of their choice.
These activities provide the Foundation with an opportunity to encourage young leaders to work collaboratively towards a freer, more peaceful, and democratic Cameroon. Each leader will be expected to produce at least a policy brief/op-ed/short article on a chosen topic to be published by the Nkafu Policy Institute.
A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity – Dickson’s Message
To the upcoming batch, Dickson had one core message: Don’t take this opportunity lightly. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The level of expertise, resources, and thought leadership put into this program is unmatched. Make the most of every session, network with fellow participants and facilitators. Build partnerships. You may never have this kind of chance again.”
He also encouraged new participants to become knowledge multipliers. “Even if not everyone can attend the program, those who do should share what they’ve learned in their communities so that others benefit too.”
Dickson believes the Emerging Leaders Program should be “mandatory for all young people” in Cameroon, though he admits not everyone can be selected due to the program’s competitive nature. “It’s an excellent program in every sense – the structure, content, and execution. I will always be grateful for the impact it has had on me.”
The 2025 edition of the Emerging Leaders Program will take up from August 4-6 at Djeuga Palace in Yaounde. Dickson’s story serves as powerful evidence of the Emerging Leaders program’s growing reputation as one of Cameroon’s premier platforms for civic leadership and youth empowerment.
About the Program
The Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation launched the Emerging Leaders Program in 2019 to prepare a new generation of transformational leaders driven by strong moral values and committed to a progressive and democratic Africa. This program identifies highly skilled and motivated Cameroonians under the age of 35 who have demonstrated remarkable leadership and a strong understanding of public policy, along with a dedication to implementing positive change in the country. Each year, twenty (20) highly accomplished individuals are selected to join the Emerging Leaders class.
About the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation
The Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to catalyse Africa’s economic transformation by focusing on social entrepreneurship, science and technology innovation, public health, and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all. The Foundation works in partnership with local governments, policymakers, private enterprises, civil society organisations, and development partners to expand resources available to entrepreneurs, farmers, and small business owners, improving individual livelihoods.
