The President of the Board of Trustees and Founder of ICT University, Prof Victor Mbarika, has donated 5 million FCFA to several media organisations and journalism associations in Cameroon.
The donation was handed over to beneficiary media organisations and associations in Yaoundé on May 12, 2026.
The initiative forms part of a special support fund for media organisations in Cameroon and Africa at large, which Prof Mbarika announced several months ago.
A roundtable discussion on the realities of Artificial Intelligence in journalism also featured prominently during the event.
Speaking via Zoom, Prof Mbarika underscored that the media remains an integral part of the development of any organisation.
He stated that the media has contributed significantly to taking ICT University to another level.
Prof Mbarika announced that ICT University would initiate a special support fund, with the assistance of partners, to support media organisations in Cameroon and across Africa.
He stated: “We appreciate the work of journalists in Cameroon. On behalf of ICT University, I salute the role of media practitioners in Cameroon. In this light, we are launching a special support fund for media organisations in Cameroon to enable them to carry out their duties with greater ease.”
The ICT University founder also encouraged media organisations to continue the good work they are doing, noting that it contributes greatly to the development and growth of Cameroon.
Underscoring the raison d’être of the discussions, the Vice-Chancellor of ICT University, Prof Emmanuel Tonye, said the conference paves the way for journalists in Cameroon to adapt to the AI era and use it as a tool to improve their work.
He said journalists should not be afraid of AI, insisting that it has come to ease their task of relaying information.
Prof Tonye added: “We organised this conference to draw the attention of media practitioners to the direction Artificial Intelligence is taking. The conference is intended to make them aware of the role AI can play in making their work easier and more professional. We are therefore encouraging them not to fear this era, but to use it as a stepping stone for growth.”
The Vice-Chancellor also said the conference was organised to appreciate media practitioners for their enormous contribution to nation-building and national integration.
He noted that it is thanks to media organisations in Cameroon that ICT University has become widely known, which is why the institution is extending its gratitude to the press.
The meeting was attended by heavyweights in the media landscape, including the President of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, Jude Viban, and the President of the Union de la Presse Francophone, UPF, Evelyn Mengue, among others.
Beneficiaries React
Speaking to the press shortly after receiving the support, the President of CAMASEJ, Jude Viban, said the sum of 500,000 FCFA handed to the association would go a long way in empowering its members.
He also stated: “At a time when the press in Cameroon is facing economic challenges, support from institutions such as ICT University serves as a major boost to our activities. CAMASEJ, which is the umbrella association for English-speaking journalists in the country, is grateful for this support from ICT University, and it will go a long way in strengthening our activities.”
Viban further noted: “The conference we attended today serves as an eye-opener that we can use AI for growth as media organisations rather than seeing it as an opponent.”
Evelyn Mengue of UPF also saluted the efforts of ICT University in empowering the media.
She said: “The support we have received here reassures us that the work we are doing is being recognised. We thank ICT University for this support, which will go a long way in fostering our activities.”
It is important to note that ICT University, besides being a citadel of learning, remains a strong partner of the press.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of special awards to media organisations and media practitioners for their contribution to nation-building.
