By Ndumbe Bell Joseph Gaston in Douala.
Historic and result-oriented disclosures and presentations were the cornerstone of the occasion to mark the
outcome of the 21 Days of Y’ello Care challenge and the launching of this year’s programme within the
framework of the 25th anniversary of MTN Cameroon. The occasion of one of the main drivers of the
information and communication technology that just ended at the MTN Y’ello House at Bonapriso, Douala
recently, was described as very successful by MTN officials.
At the launch that was attended by partners of their alliance, regional representatives of government and the
private sector, media practitioners and a cross-section of the MTN workforce and other MTN officials such as
Mme Yetna and Mr Tamba, it was explained that the 21 Days of Y’ello Care is an annual flagship programme
authorised by the MTN group and financed by MTN employees, to socially contribute or give back to the
communities wherever they are operational because without the support of these communities, the
communication giant will not be who it is today.
So, every year the theme changes from youth empowerment, education, the environment and also the tackling
of the digital divide. The Cameroonian subsidiary has been first several more times ahead of all other MTN
group affiliates, said Sango Akam.
Before the highly anticipated announcement, the results of the challenge, statistics were revealed by Mr
Tamba that there were as much as 157 contenders who subscribed in the 10 regions of the triangle. Within
one week, Tamba disclosed that voter participation rose to over 200.000 through the Ayoba channel out of
whom the jury selected three from each region amounting to 30 and another three each from the cities of
Douala and Yaounde totalling 36. It is from these actors that this year’s theme of creating more digital centres
had to be selected.
Another suspense before the results were announced was a key speech made by Sango Akam. In brief, he
reiterated and listed the group’s social objectives for offering this programme to all its affiliates in Africa and
the rest of the world and that they are all proud to be part of this great African company. Among all the 21 or
so affiliates, Cameroon has been globally the first in its mobilisation efforts and realisations to give back
something to the communities also described as employee volunteerism. He thanked all the partners and
stakeholders who have been very supportive of these underlined goals.
To demonstrate greater transparency, a bailiff accompanied by the president of the jury read the results. The
winners emerged from the ten peri-urban and rural areas, meaning one each from each region amounting to
10 with one each added to Douala and Yaounde totalling 12 digital centres.
Mme Yetna detailed that having a digital centre in underprivileged areas is like having gold. These
communities will benefit from accessing computers for free, have internet connections and solar panels to
avoid energy outages.
The results were as follow; Adamawa Region, College Shekina of Ngoundere. In the Centre region, College
Agricole Buttier Sa’a was selected. In the East, Association Dade Kaole Lomie. In the Far North; Complexe
Culturel Communautaire de Kolara, Maroua. In the Littoral Region Centre Jeune Jveri Fomak-Ngambe. In the
North emerged APND Environnement Garoua. In the North West; Bindeka Binka of Nkambe. In the West
Region emerged Commune de Babadjou. In the South, Lycee de Nkounmadjap. Aura Foundation Limbe won in
the South West. In Yaounde, Open Dreams Obili and finally in Douala; Emilie Saker Akwa Bonamouti.
Some partners of the Alliance such as Huawei donated FCFA 20 million and equipment alone for FCFA five
million, (tablets etc included) and one French company donated a full digital centre. Both contributors
appreciated the efforts and contributions of MTN group in Cameroon.
In his keynote closing remarks, the CEO of MTN Cameroon, Wanda Matandela acknowledged the presence of
everyone and appreciated all that had been put in to make the occasion a resounding success. He stated that
the 12 digital centres are to be ready within 21 days and praised the mobilisation and team spirit of
Cameroonian employees. He reiterated the give back mechanism to benefit the communities. He went on that
providing digital centres to those communities will impact their developmental priorities and tackle economic
and social change in many different domains.
Wanda Matandela appealed and invited other companies and everyone to join in the battle to impact the
advantages brought about by the introduction of information and communication technology in their
communities. He stated that MTN as a group is very determined to bring about connectivity, but also enabling
rapid change in the communities that they serve because it is because they are the roots why MTN ticks.
The company made about FCFA 366 billion annual revenue in 2024 in Cameroon.