By Andrew Nsoseka
The two-day Central Africa Think Tank Forum, hosted by the Nkafu Policy Institute, concluded in Yaoundé on Friday, 8 August 2025, with renewed commitments to strengthening regional collaboration.
Held under the theme “Shaping the Future: Role of Think Tanks and Civil Society in Central Africa Policy Processes,” the forum brought together participants from across the region, including policy researchers, civil society actors, development partners, diplomats, and youth leaders. It served as a platform for robust dialogue on civic engagement, democratic resilience, and the role of evidence-based research in shaping public policy.
US Ambassador to Cameroon, Christopher J. Lamora, was one of the keynote speakers at the forum. He praised the Nkafu Policy Institute and the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation for their leadership in nurturing youth, promoting research, and driving civic dialogue in Cameroon and across Central Africa.
“This forum is an important step in building a political ecosystem that is innovative and resilient,” Ambassador Lamora said. “In Cameroon, institutions like the Foretia Foundation and the Nkafu Policy Institute are already playing a vital role by conducting research on economic governance and mentoring the next generation of policy leaders.”
Throughout the forum, sessions emphasised the importance of independent think tanks in enhancing governance and accountability. Participants discussed shared regional challenges such as economic diversification, democratic consolidation, and digital transformation, while identifying common ground for collaboration.
Addressing the audience at the close of the Central Africa Think Tank Forum, Dr Denis Foretia, Co-Chair of the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation and Executive Chairman of the Nkafu Policy Institute, made an urgent appeal for collective action. “There is no one who is going to change our region but ourselves,” he said. “There is no one who is going to come rescue us… Progress comes by taking the first step.”
Dr Denis Foretia underscored the Nkafu Policy Institute’s guiding principle: “Collaboration is the new currency.” True collaboration, he explained, is generous, sharing ideas, networks, and resources without competitiveness. “It is about building something stronger together, like a broom that is far stronger.”
The Executive Chairman of the Nkafu Policy Institute encouraged attendees to carry forward the energy of the forum, to turn new contacts into lasting partnerships, and to use their skills and networks to advance their communities. He announced that the forum would return next year, with an even greater focus on co-creation, policy innovation, and civil society empowerment.
“It’s not about changing the world with one step,” he said. “But if you don’t start with the first step, you will never change the world.”
2025 Emerging Leaders Salute Foretia Foundation
In a moving moment that marked the close of the 2025 Think Tank Week, the Emerging Leaders expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to Dr Foretia and the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation for what they described as igniting in them “a true renaissance as transformational leaders.”
In his response, Dr Denis Foretia said the recognition was deeply humbling and a powerful reminder of the mission his team continues to pursue. “On behalf of the entire Foundation team, the Nkafu team and everyone, it’s beyond words to receive this,” Dr Foretia said. “To understand that some of the small work we are trying to do and the impact we are trying to create is touching souls, this means everything.”
The Emerging Leaders Programme is one of the flagship initiatives of the Nkafu Policy Institute, a think tank of the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation. It aims to equip young professionals and aspiring leaders with the tools to drive change, influence public policy, and constructively engage their communities.
Over three days, the 2025 cohort received rigorous training in leadership, entrepreneurship, public policy, and civic engagement. The programme also created a unique space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration across different sectors and regions of the country.
Dr Foretia encouraged them to keep the spirit of transformation alive. “We hope to continue to see that in all of you,” he said. “As you return to your communities, the rest of the country, and wherever the next steps take you, you’ll continue to shine, as we have already seen you shine. So thank you very much.”
About the Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation
The Denis & Lenora Foretia Foundation was established to catalyse Africa’s economic transformation by focusing on social entrepreneurship, science and technology innovation, public health, and progressive policies that create economic opportunities for all. The Foundation partners with local governments, policymakers, private enterprises, civil society organisations, and development partners to expand resources available to entrepreneurs, farmers, and small business owners, thereby improving individual livelihoods.
About the Nkafu Policy Institute
The Nkafu Policy Institute is an African think tank with a mission to provide independent, in-depth, and insightful policy recommendations that enable all Africans to prosper in free, fair, democratic, and sustainable economies. The Institute’s team of analysts, experts, and researchers works on governance and democracy, health and education, peace and security, science and technology, and economic policy.
