Empowerment Beyond The Newsroom: MUJAC, iLead Global Offer School Kits To 2,500 Media Children

In a show of solidarity designed to lift up media families and cultivate the next generation of African leaders, the Staff Cooperative of Cameroon Journalists and Media Associates, MUJAC held a landmark school reopening ceremony in Yaoundé on September 11, 2025. It was organized by MUJAC’s Founding President, Zephyrin Koloko.

Training Scholarships

The high-profile event saw the distribution of food items and comprehensive academic kits and specialized international training scholarships valued at $2,500 USD (approximately 2 million FCFA). They were offered to 2,500 children of Cameroonian journalists, reporters, technicians, and press associates. The event marked the sixth consecutive time the flagship educational outreach was being undertaken.

High Government Representation

The grand assembly brought together high-ranking government officials, media executives, civil society representatives, and hundreds of families. Key state institutions were heavily represented, including official delegations sent on behalf of the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, René Emmanuel Sadi. Alongside official representatives from the Ministry of Basic Education, the Ministry of Secondary Education, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, and the Ministry of Public Works.

Sacrifices Of Media Families

Opening the ceremony with an emotional address, MUJAC Founding President Zephyrin Koloko emphasized that journalists and press workers spend their lives in the shadows. Fighting daily to inform, educate, and hold power accountable - often at significant cost to their personal stability and economic comfort.

“You Will Never Be Alone Again”

"To the parents, dear colleagues, media professionals: we know the daily sacrifices you make to inform, educate, and contribute to the emergence of our country, often at the expense of your own comfort. This contribution from MUJAC is our way of telling you: you are not alone.

Dear parents, dear colleagues, you will never be alone again. Behind every journalist, behind every media professional, there is a family. Behind every press associate, there are children with dreams, ambitions, and a future to build," Zephyrin Koloko said.

Not Too Young To Lead

Reflecting on his journey, Koloko addressed critics who previously viewed his young age as a structural barrier when he was first elected to lead the cooperative. He argued forcefully that youth should never be framed as a handicap, but rather as a driving force of innovation, courage, and execution.

Landmark Achievements

Koloko cited MUJAC’s track record of major civic milestones as proof of what organized youth can achieve. These include founding "The Great Night of Workers," a celebrated landmark event honouring Cameroonian labour on International Workers' Day with title deeds and prizes. As well as the landmark "Awards of the Future."

Presidential Recognition

During one notable edition of the awards, the cooperative was entrusted by the Head of State, His Excellency President Paul Biya, with organizing the international celebration marking the 15th anniversary of the retrocession of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. An event that hosted official diplomatic delegations from around 30 countries, Koloko recalled.

Global Human Capital Investment

A central highlight of this sixth edition was the key partnership with the US-based iLead Global Group, led by Chief Executive Officer and Master Coach Raphael Djine (also warmly acknowledged in speeches as Raphael Yimga). Representing Master Coach Djine at the ceremony was Serges Durand Fokam, who was accompanied on stage by members of iLead Global Youth.

Schooling Alone Is No Longer Enough

Fokam delivered a powerful address detailing the core philosophy behind the $2,500 training grants. He emphasized that in a rapidly modernizing economy, conventional schooling alone is no longer enough to guarantee economic self-sufficiency.

"Today, it is not a simple ceremony; it is an act of justice. But beyond an act of justice, it is above all a vision. At iLead Global, we understood that we cannot ask for excellence from those who inform the nation if their children are left behind. School gives a certificate, but quality training gives a skill. And it is skill that creates wealth. We do not want these children to only be educated; we want them to be equipped to become owners, job creators, and naturally leaders,"  Serges Durand Fokam, pointed out.

International Digital Training

The $2,500 educational grant assures each beneficiary access to iLead Global’s international digital training environment. Through this platform, Cameroonian youth will participate in specialized leadership, practical development, and entrepreneurial modules. Alongside fellow students in the United States, Canada, France, and other parts of the world.

Well-structured Curriculum

To ensure maximum inclusivity, the curriculum is structured by age demographics and offers dual-language support for both English-speaking and French-speaking students. Addressing the practical execution of the programme, iLead urged parents to take an active role in following up on their children's registration. Meanwhile, the iLead Global Youth Secretariat has opened a direct communication hotline at 672 93 20 45 to assist families with onboarding and administrative setup.

Adapting To International Market

Fokam also underscored that while the international marketplace is expanding, local youth must be prepared to compete globally. He noted that a child studying in Yaounde, Douala, or Bafoussam should no longer train solely for the domestic market. But must be equipped with the mindsets, technical fluency, and cross-cultural communication skills required to hold their own against peers in Paris, New York, Toronto, or Quebec.

Spectators To Nation Architects

Speaking on behalf of the 2,500 young beneficiaries, a student representative delivered a moving response that drew warm applause from government dignitaries and parents alike. "It is with much emotion and immense joy that I speak today on behalf of the 2,500 children and young beneficiaries of this beautiful initiative. Today, we are not just receiving school supplies. We are receiving your trust. You are telling us: work, dream, persevere, we believe in you. Thank you to our parents - journalists and media professionals - who sacrifice every day for our education.

Tomorrow’s Driving Force

“We are young today, but we are the driving force of tomorrow's nation. Among us are future journalists, engineers, architects, teachers, and doctors. On behalf of everyone, we make a commitment: to work seriously, respect our parents and teachers, and make this help a force to succeed. One day, in our turn, we will extend a hand to others, because solidarity must be passed on," the female student pledged.

Breaking Generational Marginalization

In his closing remarks, Zephyrin Koloko re-emphasized that the strategic objective behind providing school kits, food supplies, and multi-thousand-dollar scholarships is to break generational cycles of marginalization. He urged the young recipients to shoot for the highest levels of public service and private enterprise. Aiming to become future cabinet ministers, corporate innovators, and even Heads of State.

Active Builders Of National Prosperity

By equipping media children with confidence, moral discipline, and world-class skill sets, MUJAC and iLead Global aim to transform young Cameroonians. From passive critics of society into active builders of national prosperity.

In a show of solidarity designed to lift up media families and cultivate the next generation of African leaders, the Staff Cooperative of Cameroon Journalists and Media Associates, MUJAC held a landmark school reopening ceremony in Yaoundé on September 11, 2025. It was organized by MUJAC’s Founding President, Zephyrin Koloko.

Training Scholarships

The high-profile event saw the distribution of food items and comprehensive academic kits and specialized international training scholarships valued at $2,500 USD (approximately 2 million FCFA). They were offered to 2,500 children of Cameroonian journalists, reporters, technicians, and press associates. The event marked the sixth consecutive time the flagship educational outreach was being undertaken.

High Government Representation

The grand assembly brought together high-ranking government officials, media executives, civil society representatives, and hundreds of families. Key state institutions were heavily represented, including official delegations sent on behalf of the Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, René Emmanuel Sadi. Alongside official representatives from the Ministry of Basic Education, the Ministry of Secondary Education, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, and the Ministry of Public Works.

Sacrifices Of Media Families

Opening the ceremony with an emotional address, MUJAC Founding President Zephyrin Koloko emphasized that journalists and press workers spend their lives in the shadows. Fighting daily to inform, educate, and hold power accountable - often at significant cost to their personal stability and economic comfort.

“You Will Never Be Alone Again”

"To the parents, dear colleagues, media professionals: we know the daily sacrifices you make to inform, educate, and contribute to the emergence of our country, often at the expense of your own comfort. This contribution from MUJAC is our way of telling you: you are not alone.

Dear parents, dear colleagues, you will never be alone again. Behind every journalist, behind every media professional, there is a family. Behind every press associate, there are children with dreams, ambitions, and a future to build," Zephyrin Koloko said.

Not Too Young To Lead

Reflecting on his journey, Koloko addressed critics who previously viewed his young age as a structural barrier when he was first elected to lead the cooperative. He argued forcefully that youth should never be framed as a handicap, bu...