By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The United States Ambassador to Cameroon, Christopher J. Lamora, has called on the Mandela Washington Fellows (MWF) to continue making a difference in their communities.
“For the fellows who have already come back, keep doing what you’re doing in terms of passing on the good lessons you learned in the United States to your communities, organizations, friends, and family,” Ambassador Lamora said.
He made this call on May 24 in Yaoundé during a friendly game at the Yaoundé Military Stadium, marking the 10th anniversary of the MWF in Cameroon. The anniversary was celebrated under the theme, “Celebrating a Decade of Transformative Youth Leadership and Sustainable Development in Cameroon.”
The Striking Eagles of the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé faced MWF alumni in an international friendly football match that included youth, former Indomitable Lions players, musicians, and influencers.
Reflecting on the match, which took place under heavy rain and ended in favor of the Striking Eagles, Ambassador Lamora stressed the importance of fun, exercise, and building new friendships while celebrating the MWF.
Regarding the MWF, he stated, “We’ve been very happy for the past 10 years to send several hundred Cameroonians on this fellowship, our premier and flagship program, to the United States for intensive training in leadership, business development, entrepreneurship, and public administration.”
He added, “They return to Cameroon with new or enhanced skills, allowing them to pass those lessons on to their local communities, build their organizations, and grow their businesses. This creates a multiplier effect. Overall, this has been a great week as we celebrate the 10th anniversary.”
Joseph Daliwa Bainamndi, president of the MWF Alumni in Cameroon, described the friendly match as an opportunity to celebrate past successes and look ahead to future improvements.
“I encourage everyone to join us in continuing to impact their communities through small actions so that we can build Cameroon to achieve the objectives of 2035,” Daliwa Bainamndi said.
Former Cameroonian international Emmanuel Maboang Kessack, who participated in the match, praised the MWF Alumni for their initiative. He expressed happiness upon receiving the invitation from the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) to participate.
“I feel good; I’m so happy. When we received the invitation at FECAFOOT, we were so happy. You know when they talk about peace, everybody is concerned,” he said.
Kessack noted that it has been 32 years since he stopped playing football, with his last World Cup appearance for the Cameroon National Team in the United States. He advised young footballers to avoid excessive alcohol and drug use if they want to succeed, emphasizing that football is about unity—a key to Cameroon’s strength during the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
During the weeklong activities commemorating the 10th anniversary of the MWF in Cameroon, several events took place, including roundtable discussions in Garoua, Buea, and Yaoundé. One discussion involved the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey, the U.S. ambassador, and NGOs from the region, focusing on the main challenges facing young people in Cameroon. A gala night capped off the celebration at the Hilton Hotel.