By Fonban Emmanuel
Yaoundé, May 30, 2026 — The auditorium of the Ministry of Communication played host to a landmark event in Cameroon’s media landscape as MTN Cameroon, in partnership with FEDIPRESSE, officially launched the Y’ello Press Awards. The initiative, placed under the patronage of the Minister of Communication, René Emmanuel Sadi, aims to reward excellence and professionalism in print journalism across the country.
The ceremony brought together key stakeholders in the media and telecommunications sectors, including the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Cameroon, Wanda Matandela; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication, Charles Ndongo; the Director General of CRTV; as well as representatives of FEDIPRESSE and other media professionals committed to ensuring merit and credibility in the awards process.
In his address, Minister René Emmanuel Sadi underscored the importance of upholding ethical standards in journalism. He expressed confidence in the credibility of the selection process, noting that a competent and experienced jury had been constituted to ensure fairness. “Our ambition is to make sure that we have the best among our journalists who exercise their profession according to ethics and the rules of deontology,” he stated. He added that with clear and objective criteria in place, “we have no doubt that they will really do a good job,” announcing that the awards ceremony proper is expected to take place in December to honor deserving journalists.
On his part, MTN Cameroon CEO Wanda Matandela described the initiative as more than a sponsorship, emphasizing its strategic importance. “It’s not even a sponsorship, it’s more really of a partnership that helps us to contribute towards the progress and the development of Cameroon,” he said. He highlighted the critical role journalists play in informing society, especially in today’s digital age where access to credible information is essential.
Matandela further stressed MTN’s role as a technology enabler, working alongside government to expand internet access and digital inclusion. According to him, the partnership aligns with MTN’s mission to build an ecosystem where both citizens and media professionals can thrive. “The media sector is not immune to digital transformation. The question is how fast it can adapt and this is where we come in,” he explained, adding that initiatives like the Y’ello Press Awards help recognise journalists who often work under difficult conditions while holding institutions accountable.
A key highlight of the launch was the presentation of the competition’s rules, categories, and prizes by the president of the awards’ working group. Among the standout incentives is a prize of 500,000 FCFA for the best student journalist, a move seen as an effort to encourage young talent and nurture the next generation of media professionals.
The Y’ello Press Awards thus emerge as a timely initiative aimed at strengthening professionalism, encouraging ethical journalism, and promoting quality media output in Cameroon. As the countdown to the December awards ceremony begins, with the launch of the platform for submissions, expectations are high that the competition will spotlight the country’s finest journalistic talents while reinforcing the critical role of the press in national development.
