AWS Instructor Banjika Ngo Announces Second Book In Foundation First Series

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

For many people entering the cloud computing industry, networking can feel like one of the most difficult parts of the journey. Cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud offer increasingly simplified interfaces, but beneath those dashboards remain the same networking principles that have powered enterprise computing for decades.

That experience is at the center of “Networking Fundamentals for Cloud Learners,” an upcoming book by Banjika Ngo (Mfòómé Bá’tí Europe), an AWS instructor and founder of WirfonCloud Academy, an African cloud and IT education platform serving learners across Africa and the diaspora.

Mfòómé says the book grew out of more than 15 years of professional experience in enterprise systems, infrastructure and cloud computing. His career began with traditional networking certifications, including the Cisco Certified Network Associate and Cisco Certified Network Professional qualifications, years before cloud computing became a mainstream career path.

“Years before I ever touched AWS, I sat for the CCNA. Then the CCNP,” Mfòómé said. “This was before ‘cloud’ was a career path anyone talked about. Networking was just the job — the thing that had to work before anything else could.” That background, he said, shaped his approach to teaching networking to people who are learning cloud technology today.

Mfòómé worked as a Linux administrator at Verizon GmbH in Germany before moving into enterprise cloud and infrastructure roles at IBM and Kyndryl. He said the examples in his new book are drawn from those professional experiences rather than being based solely on theoretical material.

At the heart of the book is a straightforward argument: Cloud computing depends on networking. “Every single cloud service you will ever build or manage — on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, anywhere — sits on top of a network,” Mfòómé said. “Not ‘some services.’ All of them.”

Despite that dependence, Mfòómé believes networking is often given limited attention in cloud training. Students may learn how to create a virtual private cloud, configure a security group or deploy a server, but may not fully understand what is happening beneath the graphical interface.

He said that can create a particularly difficult problem for learners who have progressed beyond the beginner stage but still have unanswered questions about networking.

“Students memorise which console button provisions a VPC, pass a quiz, and still cannot explain why their own Security Group blocked their own traffic,” he said. “Not because networking is hard — because nobody explained what is actually happening underneath the dashboard.”

Mfòómé describes this knowledge gap as one of the reasons he decided to write the book. The project follows “Fundamentals of Linux for Cloud Learners,” the first book in his Foundation First series. He considers Linux an essential foundation for cloud computing because cloud servers rely heavily on operating-system concepts and administration skills.

“Networking is the floor underneath that floor — the thing that makes ‘cloud’ mean anything at all,” Mfòómé said. The new book is designed to connect familiar everyday experiences with technical concepts before moving learners into practical exercises. For example, an IP address is introduced through an analogy to a personal mobile phone number.

A router is compared with a post office that reads an envelope to determine where it should go without opening the letter. Network address translation, or NAT, is explained through the example of a hotel managing guests coming in and going out.

The concepts are then connected to Linux commands and, eventually, AWS services. Mfòómé said this approach is intended to help learners understand that cloud networking is not a completely separate discipline. “A subnet in a cloud VPC is not a ‘cloud version’ of a subnet,” he said. “It is the same idea, in a different building.”

The book contains 12 chapters and 11 hands-on labs. A central question runs through the material: What actually happens when a user types “google.com” into a browser?

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By the final chapter, Mfòómé said, learners should be able to follow that process from the initial request through networking concepts and security mechanisms to the TLS certificate used to establish a secure connection.

The book is also designed for readers without previous networking or IT experience. Mfòómé points to the experience of Boris Mougoue, who began learning without a prior IT background and later became an application manager, as an example of the type of learner the material is intended to support. His story, along with those of six other learners, is featured on the WirfonCloud YouTube channel.

“Networking Fundamentals for Cloud Learners” is the second book in the Foundation First series. It is planned to be followed by “Python for Cloud Automation,” continuing the learning sequence Mfòómé describes as Linux, networking and Python.

The cover for the networking book has been completed, but the book had not yet been released at the time of writing. Mfòómé said it will eventually be paired with the Networking Fundamentals course offered through WirfonCloud Academy, following the model used for the Linux course and its accompanying book.

The project reflects Mfòómé’s broader effort to build cloud and IT education resources aimed at learners who may not have access to traditional technology training pathways.

To Mfòómé, the objective is not simply to help students pass certification exams. It is to give them enough understanding to diagnose problems and explain what is happening when cloud infrastructure does not behave as expected.

“If that sounds like where you’re starting from, you’re exactly who this book is for,” he said.

While the networking book is still forthcoming, “Fundamentals of Linux for Cloud Learners” is already available on Amazon, with PDF copies also available directly from Mfòómé. Learners interested in following the release of the new book can do so through WirfonCloud Academy and its educational channels.

The upcoming publication represents another step in Ngo’s Foundation First approach: building cloud skills from the underlying technologies upward, rather than beginning with the cloud dashboard and leaving the infrastructure beneath it unexplained.

Congo Basin In Focus: COMIFAC, Landscape Alliance & Journalists Discuss State Of Forests

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The Central African Forests Commission (COMIFAC), the Landscape Alliance, and journalists held discussions on the state of the Congo Basin Forest following the presentation of the publication, “The State of the Congo Basin Forest in 2025: The Implementation of International Conventions on the Environment and Forest.”

**Participants posed for a family picture** (Photo: COMIFAC)

The discussions took place on Monday, September 21, in Yaoundé. The publication was presented to the media ahead of its official launch and the conference of parliamentarians on science, environmental governance, and climate financing in Central Africa.

The Landscape Alliance serves as the shared operating name for the joint partnership between the Centre for International Forestry Research and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry, collectively known as CIFOR-ICRAF.

During the media briefing, various presentations underscored the immense value of the Congo Basin, which spans approximately 200 million hectares of tropical rainforest. This vast expanse according to scientists stands as one of the planet’s last great green lungs. It harbors exceptional biodiversity, plays a vital role in regulating the global climate, and serves as an essential source of livelihoods for tens of millions of people.

“Its preservation is therefore not merely a regional responsibility but a matter of global interest,” expert said adding that incorporating scientific findings into forest management is fundamental to improving governance. The discussions also emphasized that while it is crucial for Central African countries to mobilize internal resources to finance climate change-related issues, it is equally important to carry out adaptation measures that are more favorable to the local population.

Dr. Richard Eba’A Atyi, the lead author of the publication, described it as a document containing all the indicators that allow for tracking forest trends, including surface area, biodiversity, economics, and the benefits derived by states and communities.

He explained that the publication should be mastered by all journalists because while it deals with science, journalists must take the message forward to give more visibility to the community and help people understand exactly what is contained in that publication.

Dr. Abdon Awono indicated that, “We are presenting the findings of this publication to journalists, focusing particularly on recommendations to improve the implementation of these conventions. We urge countries in the sub-region to mobilize resources to fund climate change adaptation for the benefit of local populations. We are organizing a regional conference with the Network of Parliamentarians for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa. We need to see how scientific findings can contribute to shaping public policy; decisions must be well-informed.”

He added, “We need to improve governance and come together to work collaboratively. The states of Central Africa are doing a lot of efforts, but a lot is still to be done to make sure that we manage our resources, value them, and respect the engagement taken at international conventions.”

The publication itself was produced by a consortium comprising CIRAD, FRM Ingénierie, UCLouvain, CIFOR-ICRAF, and the Observatory for the Forests of Central Africa, known as OFAC, with funding from the European Union.

It analyzes the implementation of international conventions regarding the environment and forests. The work received contributions from over 60 researchers, coordinators, and consultants. Commissioned by the 11 member countries, the publication aims to drive actions that will position the Congo Basin effectively within the context of global affairs.

**Participants in session** (Photo: Mainimo Etienne)

Launch Of Competition For Journalists

Beyond presenting the report, the press briefing served as an important opportunity to support journalism and public engagement. The organizers launched a competition for journalists focused on producing reports and other media content based on the data, issues, and themes addressed in the State of the Congo Basin Forests 2025 report.

Participation procedures, categories, and selection criteria were presented, with journalists given one month to submit articles. The competition seeks to turn scientific findings into accessible stories that inform the public and raise awareness of the report’s challenges and solutions. The grand prize winner will attend a conference on the Congo Basin Forest.

Organizers noted that entries can take different formats, and journalists may work individually or in groups. This recognizes the complexity of forest governance and climate issues and supports a shared newsroom culture of research-led reporting.

Four awards will be presented: Print/Digital Press, Radio/Podcast, Television, and the State of the Forests 2025 Grand Prize (open to all categories). The jury will give particular consideration to the meaningful use of the report’s data, journalistic rigor, storytelling and presentation quality, original approach, and ability to make forestry issues accessible to the general public.

Maëllys Ngo Mboui Emerges As Miss Cameroon 2026 Amid Focus On Cybercrime

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Maëllys Ngo Mboui has brought a new dimension to the Miss Cameroon crown, becoming the first contestant representing the Cameroonian diaspora in France to win the national title in a pageant increasingly seeking to connect beauty, civic engagement and contemporary social issues.

The 20-year-old Franco-Cameroonian from Bamenda was crowned Miss Cameroon 2026 on September 19 in Yaoundé, emerging from a field of 27 contestants at the 19th edition of the competition. The ceremony was presided over by First Lady Chantal Biya and attended by several dignitaries.

**Chantal Biya decorating Maëllys Ngo Mboui after claiming 2026 title** (Photo: Unity Palace)

Ngo Mboui competed as Miss Diaspora France while also representing Cameroon’s Northwest Region, giving her victory significance beyond the traditional pageant circuit. Organizers and supporters have described the result as recognition of the contribution of Cameroonians living abroad and a new chapter for the competition’s engagement with the diaspora.

Her background also sets her apart. Before taking the national crown, Ngo Mboui was crowned Miss Cameroon Diaspora France in March. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Management and Mathematics and Computer Science and has been involved in initiatives aimed at encouraging young women to pursue science and technology.

Among her projects is “Cameroonian Girls in STEM,” while in January she participated in a hackathon organized with Amazon Web Services in Bamenda. Her academic and technology-related activities now add another dimension to her responsibilities as Miss Cameroon.

The 2026 edition was held under the theme “Fighting Cybercrime,” placing a major social issue at the heart of the pageant. The choice gives Ngo Mboui’s technology background particular relevance as she begins a year in which she is expected to represent Cameroon at national and international events and support social and charitable initiatives.

**Chantal Biya and winner alongside runners up posed for a family picture** (Picture: Unity Palace)

At 1.88 metres tall and bilingual in French and English, Ngo Mboui is also expected to use her public profile to engage with young people and promote causes linked to her areas of interest. Her mandate comes at a time when cybercrime has become an increasingly prominent concern in Cameroon, making the pageant’s theme more closely tied to public awareness than in previous editions.

She succeeds Audrey Moutongo Black, who assumed the title after Josiane Harangada Golonga was dethroned by the Cameroon International Marketing and Communication Agency (COMICA) on February 25, 2026. COMICA cited repeated breaches of contractual obligations, including unexcused absences, disrespectful remarks and the unilateral cessation of activities associated with the title.

Ngo Mboui’s coronation therefore begins a new chapter for the competition, placing a young woman with a diaspora identity and a strong academic and technology profile at the centre of Cameroon’s national beauty platform.

Cooking Gas Shortage Hits Yaoundé, Douala Amid Escalating Economic Hardship

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

An acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas has plunged households across Yaounde and Douala into deep frustration, forcing city dwellers to spend hours roaming city streets in search of domestic cooking cylinders as everyday living costs continue to climb.

**Empty domestic cooking gas cylinders in Yaounde**

For days, citizens in Cameroon’s major urban centers have faced a severe supply breakdown that shows little sign of easing. According to city dwellers, finding gas has become an exhausting ordeal, with low inventories feeding a surging black market where vendors sell remaining cylinders at high prices.

“Buying gas now is like searching for a needle in a haystack,” said a local trader, who carried an empty cylinder balanced on her head as she searched from block to block. “Since morning, I have been running back and forth to buy gas, but I haven’t found any. It’s really disturbing, especially at a time when we are already experiencing a high cost of living.”

The distribution breakdown has forced city dwellers to travel far beyond their usual neighborhoods in hopes of finding fuel, often returning empty-handed.

“I have been searching for cooking gas since last week with no luck,” another resident told reporters while riding a motorcycle between retail points. “The specific brand I use seems to be completely out of stock. I have checked everywhere to no avail.”

Even consumers who manage to locate supply must compromise on brand preferences and pay inflated rates. Standard 12.5-kilogram cylinders, typically regulated at FCFA 6,500, are commanding far higher prices on the street.

“I couldn’t find my usual brand after searching for days, so I decided to exchange my bottle for a different one and paid FCFA 8,000 CFA francs,” said Mildred smiling after securing a bottle. “I only managed to get it because I knew the seller, and it was their last bottle.”

With cooking gas out of reach, a growing number of families have turned to charcoal as a primary alternative. However, the sudden spike in demand, however, is rapidly driving up charcoal prices across local markets, compounding financial stress for low-income households.

“For some time now, I have been cooking with charcoal because I haven’t been able to buy gas,” said Magdalen, a shopper on her way to market. “The price of charcoal is gradually going up because so many people are turning to it while waiting for the gas supply to stabilize.”

“Ever since this morning, many people have been coming here to buy charcoal, and I must say business has been really strong,” the charcoal seller said. “I’ve been experiencing good sales not just today, but for the past few days as well, because demand has been high.”

In Douala, long queues of city dwellers holding empty cylinders have lined storefronts along major thoroughfares, prompting community leaders and citizens to call on government authorities to step in, restore supply chains, and enforce price controls before the crisis deepens.

AFRODAD, SADCOPAC Partner To Enhance Parliamentary Oversight & Advance Debt Justice

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and the Southern Africa Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) have formalized a partnership to strengthen parliamentary oversight, promote responsible debt management, and advance effective public financial governance across the region.

The recently signed agreement aims to equip regional legislatures with the knowledge, capacity, and tools needed to scrutinize public borrowing, enforce accountability, and drive sustainable development outcomes.

As AFRODAD marks 30 years of advocating for debt justice, officials say the collaboration signals a shift from advocacy to stronger institutional action in support of the Common African Position on Debt.

“This partnership with SADCOPAC marks an important milestone in AFRODAD’s 30-year journey of advancing debt justice and accountability across Africa,” said Janet Zhou, executive director of AFRODAD. “By strengthening parliamentary oversight, we are moving from principles on paper to stronger oversight in practice, while advancing the Common African Position on Debt and strengthening Africa’s capacity to shape a fairer global debt architecture.”

Under the accord, both entities will focus on joint advocacy, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. Key initiatives include urging member states to adopt the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management and the Model Public Audit Act, alongside implementing the African Borrowing Charter to enhance oversight of public loans, guarantees, and overall expenditure.

Additionally, the organizations plan to train public accounts committees to better evaluate debt management decisions while unifying regional efforts behind debt accountability.

Supporters of the initiative emphasize that robust parliamentary oversight remains crucial for ensuring transparency in government borrowing and guaranteeing that public resources are used responsibly.

By leveraging their combined expertise and networks, AFRODAD and SADCOPAC intend to bolster legislative institutions across Southern Africa, contributing to a broader continental push for Africa to actively shape global debt governance rules rather than merely adhering to them.

About AFRODAD

The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) is an African civil society organisation advancing debt justice, responsible borrowing, sustainable development, and accountable public financial governance across the continent.

About SADCOPAC

The Southern Africa Development Community Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (SADCOPAC) is a regional platform bringing together public accounts committees to strengthen parliamentary oversight, accountability, and public financial management.

MINESEC Kicks Off Online Classes For 2026–2027 School Year

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Online classes for the 2026–2027 school year organized by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Distance Learning of the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC) have begun. According to a press release issued by the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, the online classes started on Monday, September 14.

The Minister explained that the initiative is intended to ensure parity in teaching coverage for all secondary school students across the country and to help learners stay adequately prepared for their academic progression, despite any interruptions.

“These lessons cover core subjects for both the General and Technical Education streams. Learners are therefore encouraged to make full use of this educational opportunity and to participate regularly and diligently in the online lessons made available by the Ministry,” the Minister stated in the press release.

Prof. Nalova Lyonga also called on parents, guardians, teachers, and school administrators to provide the necessary support and to contribute actively to the effective implementation of this national initiative.

To access the lessons through a web browser, students are advised to visit https://distance-learning.minesec.gov.cm or https://minesec.schoolfaqs.net. For those using a smartphone or tablet, they can download the official app from the Google Play Store by searching for “MINESEC DLC,” install it on their device, and follow the “Live” lessons.

IsDB Group Reaffirms Strategic Commitment To Cameroon

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) has promised to deliver a more holistic, programmatic package of financial support to Cameroon as part of a new strategy designed to boost the country’s economic growth, human capital, and infrastructure over the next three years.

**Officials during the opening ceremony of the the IsDB Group Day in Cameroon** (Photo; Mainimo Etienne)

The commitment was made in Yaoundé during the opening ceremony of the first IsDB Group Day in Cameroon, chaired by Prime Minister, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute on behalf of President Paul Biya. Vice-President of the IsDB Group, Dr. Rami Ahmad, as well as Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, Governor of the IsDB Group for Cameroon also attended.

The high-level gathering brought together more than 500 senior government officials, private sector leaders, financial institutions, and international development partners to explore new avenues for investment and advance private-sector-led growth across the region.

Opening the event, Prime Minister Dion Ngute highlighted the deep historical relationship between the nation and the multilateral institution, noting that the bank’s active portfolio of interventions in Cameroon currently stands at nearly FCFA 2,000 billion.

He stated that these investments have provided crucial funding for primary drivers of social and economic development, particularly in agriculture, energy, transport infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

**Dr. Rami Ahmad, Vice-President of the IsDB Group speaking during a press conference after the opening ceremony** *(Photo; Mainimo Etienne)*

“For the first time, Cameroon and the IsDB will jointly develop a specific strategy document to define, in a coordinated manner, the priorities that will guide their partnership over the next three years,” Prime Minister Dion Ngute said, referring to the upcoming 2027–2029 Country Engagement Framework.

He added that the Cameroonian government is determined to ensure the new framework remains ambitious, inclusive, and sharply focused on measurable results. According to the Prime Minister, the strategy will emphasize local industrialization, raw material processing, food security, job creation for young people, and the economic empowerment of women.

The gathering also witness a formal exchange of new financing agreements and letters of intent worth 137 million euros between the IsDB Group, the Cameroonian government, and local private sector financial partners. Since establishing its presence in the country, the IsDB Group has approved a cumulative total of 4.2 billion dollars in funding for the Central African nation.

Dr Rami Ahmad stressed that the event went beyond ceremony to serve as an operational review of shared goals. He reaffirmed the bank’s determination to support member states despite an increasingly difficult global landscape marked by economic volatility, climate change, food insecurity, and persistent geopolitical tensions.

**Vice-President of the IsDB Group, Dr. Rami Ahmad, and Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, Governor of the IsDB Group for Cameroon also penning down a financial agreement during the opening ceremony** *(Photo; Mainimo Etienne)*

“Our focus remains steadfast: eradicating poverty, strengthening human capital, promoting sustainable growth and enhancing resilience,” Dr Ahmad said, emphasizing that the institution operates under the unified principle of “one group, one goal” to foster economic and social progress in line with Islamic finance principles.

Looking ahead, he explained that the IsDB Group is preparing to deliver enhanced support through the 2027–2029 Country Engagement Framework, to be developed at the intersection of Cameroon’s National Development Strategy 2020–2030 (SND30) and the IsDB Group’s newly launched 10-year Strategic Framework.

“This trusted partner of Cameroon, driven by the values of solidarity, the preservation of human dignity, and the promotion of shared prosperity, is poised to play a role commensurate with the quality of its historic ties with Cameroon.” Alamine Ousmane Mey noted that the aim will be to work together to strengthen harmony, peace, stability, prosperity, and the well-being of the population.

**Officials posed for a family picture after the opening ceremony** (Photo: MINEPAT)

Alongside other activities, a series of panel sessions, bilateral meetings, and success-story showcases examined practical ways to expand green infrastructure, strengthen public-private partnerships, and improve credit access for small and medium-sized enterprises across the country.

IsDB Group Day in Cameroon: Islamic Development Bank Seals Major Development, Infrastructure Deals With Cameroon

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

Cameroon and the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) have sealed several financing agreements and letters of intent geared at improving development and Infrastructure in the country. The deals were sealed on September 14 in Yaounde on the sidelines of first edition of the IsDB Group Day in Cameroon. The bank group day in Cameroon was chaired by Prime Minister, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute personal representative of the Head of State.

The signing agreement opened new prospects for agriculture, the private sector and infrastructure development in the country.

Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) and IsDB Group Vice President for Operations, Dr. Rami Ahmad signed a financing agreement worth 41.92 million euros, (about FCFA 27.4 billion), for the Dja Integrated Rural Development Project (PDRI-Dja).

The project aims to strengthen agro-pastoral value chains and promote sustainable crop and livestock production to improve food security and economic growth. It focuses on the production, processing and marketing of plantains, cassava, maize, fish and poultry.

Particular attention will be paid to young farmers and agricultural operators through access to appropriate agricultural resources, technical support and employment opportunities.

The event also produced results for private sector financing, with nearly $100 million, (FCFA 65 billion), allocated to strengthen the banking system’s lending capacity and support businesses and economic actors taking part in the transformation of Cameroon’s economy.

Through its subsidiary, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, the IsDB Group finalized a 20 million euro financing facility with AFG Bank Cameroon to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-enterprises to access finance.

Letters of intent were also signed with Afriland First Bank Cameroon for 50 million euros, Commercial Bank-Cameroon for 10 million euros and CCA Bank Cameroon for 15 million euros.

**Officials pose for a family picture after the opening ceremony**

The IsDB additionally approved 212.35 million euros, (about FCFA 139 billion), for the rehabilitation of the Douala-Bafoussam road. The operation reinforces the IsDB Group’s support for road infrastructure development and improved connectivity between Cameroon’s main economic hubs.

The agreements and commitments, which align with national development priorities, reflect the IsDB Group’s determination to support the structural transformation of Cameroon’s economy, the development of value chains, infrastructure improvements and a stronger private sector role in reaching growth objectives.

Officials said the goal is to build a partnership that is more inclusive, innovative and focused on tangible results for the country.

PADESCE Apprenticeship Programme Rolls Out Second Phase In Douala To Empower 646 Youths

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The Secondary Education and Skills Development Project, better known in French as PADESCE, has rolled out the second phase of its apprenticeship program in Douala.

**Trainers during the training exercise**

The training sessions, that took place from September 9 and 10, aimed to prepare professionals designated by partner companies to supervise, guide, and support young apprentices during their practical training in the workplace.

This initiative follows the first wave of apprenticeship master training, which took place in Yaoundé from September 3 to 4. The programme forms part of Phase 2 of the implementation of a quality apprenticeship initiative benefiting 646 young people under Window 2 of the Skills Development Facility (SDF) of PADESCE.

Overall, the programme targets 646 young people aged 15 to 30, including 342 in the Douala basin and 304 in the Yaoundé basin. It also supports the capacity building of approximately 244 apprenticeship masters, with 139 in Douala and 105 in Yaoundé.

Phase 2 is the operational stage of the programme. It includes youth recruitment and matching, apprenticeship master training, apprentice orientation and immersion, contractualisation, placement, and the launch of work-based learning. The apprenticeship model combines theoretical training with practical learning in the workplace, under the supervision of MINEFOP. It is based on a tripartite apprenticeship agreement involving the State/PADESCE, the company, and the apprentice.

PADESCE stressed that apprenticeship master training is essential in a dual or work-based learning system, where companies are key environments for acquiring practical skills. For this reason, the apprenticeship master plays a strategic role. As PADESCE stated, “Beyond technical knowledge transfer, he or she guides the apprentice in adapting to the professional environment, monitors progress and contributes to the development of professional attitudes and skills.”

A cross section of a participants with their certificates

According to programme officials, the training is designed to strengthen apprenticeship masters’ capacities in apprenticeship pedagogy, supervision and mentoring techniques, practical skills transfer, monitoring and evaluation tools, the use of the apprenticeship logbook, the apprenticeship master’s code of conduct, regulatory requirements related to apprenticeship contracts, and PADESCE quality requirements.

The training also covers key areas such as understanding the apprenticeship framework, including the institutional and regulatory environment, participants’ responsibilities, and the objectives of the MCDC Window 2 apprenticeship pilot. It addresses adult and youth learning principles, the specificities of work-based learning, and how theoretical and practical training are articulated. Participants are trained in active skills-transfer methods, including demonstration, observation, and guided practice.

In addition, while apprenticeship masters learn how to use the apprenticeship logbook, formative assessment tools, and monitoring mechanisms, the training also promotes a safe working environment. Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), professional conduct, and workplace responsibilities are therefore explicitly addressed.

The programme brings together PADESCE, the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP), partner companies, professional experts, pedagogues, methodologists, and career guidance counsellors. After the apprenticeship master training sessions in Yaoundé and Douala, the programme will proceed to apprentice immersion and orientation, the finalisation and signing of apprenticeship contracts, the official launch and workplace placement, the commencement of work-based learning, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. This will involve supervision visits, regular use of apprenticeship logbooks, and information reporting.

**Participants during the Douala PADESCE Apprenticeship Program**

The implementation of this apprenticeship programme reflects the cooperation between the Government of Cameroon and the World Bank in support of human capital development. With World Bank support, PADESCE was established to improve equitable access to quality secondary education and to promote skills development and vocational training aligned with labour-market needs. Through MCDC, this partnership translates into practical interventions to strengthen skills, improve the link between training and employment, and support the socio-economic integration of beneficiaries.

Through apprenticeship master training, PADESCE is reinforcing quality workplace supervision as a key driver of successful apprenticeships and youth employability, in line with the belief that, “Train those who mentor, to better prepare those who learn.”

2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Cameroon Look To Teenagers As Coach Pagou Rips Up Old Guard

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

David Pagou has named a 26-man Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 (AFCON) qualifiers that amounts to the most decisive generational shift the Indomitable Lions have undertaken in more than a decade.

The new-look side will begin their Group G campaign at home to Comoros on 24 September, before travelling to face the Republic of Congo on 29 September. A friendly against Ivory Coast in Abidjan on October 3 rounds off the international window.

But the headlines belong not to those called up, but to those left behind. In releasing his selection, Pagou has effectively drawn a line under an era that, for all its individual talent, consistently fell short of collective expectation.

André Onana, whose international future had been the subject of sustained speculation, is again omitted. The goalkeeping duties will instead be shared by Montpellier’s Simon Brady Ngapandouetnbu, Boulogne’s Blondy Rudolph Nna Noukeu, and uncapped Marumo Gallants shot-stopper Emilie Merlin Lako Wendeu.

The departures run far deeper. Former captain Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Nouhou Tolo, Christopher Wooh, Jean Onana and Georges-Kévin Nkoudou have all been passed over. With André-Frank Zambo Anguissa having retired from international duty and Carlos Baleba sidelined through injury, the squad’s previous spine has all but vanished.

For many observers, the exodus is less a shock than a recognition of reality. Cameroon’s so-called golden generation frequently flattered to deceive, failing to translate club acclaim into sustained continental dominance. Coach Pagou, entrusted with charting a new course, has chosen not to prolong the inevitable.

In their place, five uncapped players have been promoted to the senior setup: Servette FC’s Lilian Paul René Njoh, Deportivo La Coruña’s Bil Nsongo, Angers SCO’s Harouna Djibirin, ES Zarzis’s David Roy Nyengue, and Lako Wendeu.

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They join a burgeoning core that includes 19-year-old forward Dorinel Angel Yondjo, who recently joined LOSC Lille’s system, 20-year-old defender Emmanuel Moungam of Landskrona BoIS, Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Michel Kofane, Rennes full-back Mahamadou Nagida, and Reims defender Junior Samuel Kotto.

From all indication, the burden of leadership now falls to Bryan Mbeumo. The Manchester United forward, who has emerged as the side’s attacking lynchpin, is the sole remaining established figure in an otherwise youthful ensemble.

It is a reset born as much of necessity as of design. With so many senior players either unavailable, out of form, or simply no longer part of the long-term vision, Coach Pagou has been left with little choice but to accelerate the integration of the next generation.

The immediate challenge, however, is unforgiving. Group G encounters against Comoros, Congo and Namibia will require points from the outset if Cameroon are to avoid a protracted qualifying struggle and secure their berth at the 2027 tournament.

The first true gauge of this new direction will come in Garoua against Comoros, followed by the trip to Brazzaville to face Congo. The subsequent meeting with Ivory Coast on 3 October will offer a sterner examination, testing whether this fledgling side can compete with the continent’s established powers.

Team list

Goalkeepers: Simon Brady Ngapandouetnbu (Montpellier HSC), Blondy Rudolph Nna Noukeu (US Boulogne), Emilie Merlin Lako Wendeu (Marumo Gallants FC).

Defenders: Darlin Yongwa (Norwich City), Mahamadou Nagida (Stade Rennais), Junior Samuel Kotto (Stade de Reims), Emmanuel Moungong Aton (Landskrona BoIS), Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Stéphane Paul Keller (SK Beveren), Che Malone Fondoh Junior (MC Alger), Kevin Keben (Watford), Duplex Tchamba Bangou (Clube do Remo), Lilian Paul René Njoh (Servette FC), Junior Baptiste Tchamadeu (Stoke City).

Midfielders: Saidou Alioum Moubarak (FK Jablonec), Arthur Avom (FC Lorient), Donfack Ryan Gloire Fosso (Standard Liège), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Mael Monyeb (Espérance Sportive de Tunis), Danny Namaso (AJ Auxerre), Harouna Djibirin (Angers SCO), David Roy Nyengue (Espérance Sportive de Zarzis).

Forwards: Karl Edouard Blaise Etta Eyong (UD Levante), Dorinel Angel Yondjo (LOSC Lille), Nsongo Tonfack Bil Dornol (Deportivo La Coruña), Christian Michel Kofane (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).

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