Yaoundé, Cameroon – After months of impactful in-person and online training sessions, the highly anticipated grand finale of Ladies in the Boardroom, an entrepreneurial initiative designed to empower women, took place on Friday, March 28th, 2025. The event was led by Dr. Edith F. Gibson, popularly known as Captain Delight, in partnership with the British High Commission. Held at the Arc-Bi-Valley Banquet Hall in Bastos, over 300 female entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs gathered to elevate their entrepreneurial journey to the next level.
This initiative has provided women in entrepreneurship across Cameroon with critical skills, mentorship, and networking opportunities. With multiple masterclasses held in Douala and Yaoundé, both physically and virtually, the program has empowered participants to take bold steps in business leadership and innovation.
The grand finale was also a celebration of resilience, growth, and the future of female entrepreneurship in Cameroon. Open to all, the event featured expert panel discussions, keynote sessions, and opportunities to connect with influential stakeholders.
After breakfast on-site, over 300 business bank accounts were created “for free” for Ladies in the Boardroom by Atlantic Bank, who are also sponsors of this initiative. The difficulty of creating business bank accounts in Cameroon for young entrepreneurs cannot be overemphasized.
Besides panel discussions, there were prize awards, which was another big item on the agenda of the day amongst other major activities. Winners of the business pitching activity, were rewarded handsomely as their businesses received instant funding.
Here are the winners:
- 1st Prize: Tanekeu Durance, Public Health Advocate and Social Entrepreneur – 1,000,000 CFA
- 2nd Prize: Jobain Francisca, Echography Specialist and Health Professional – 750,000 CFA
- 3rd Prize: Mafor Constance, Founder of ZHOD and Fiberglass Production & Interior Design Specialist – 500,000 CFA
Other prizes:
- The Most Intentional Entrepreneur: Yvette Asanji, Marriage Counselor – 250,000 CFA
The Most Creative Entrepreneur: Nkafu Sulet, Founder of Sulet Noir, Fashion Designer – 250,000 CFA (Plus a fully-funded trip to the USA and a free placement of her designs in art galleries)
The Most Dynamic Entrepreneur: Vicky Fokala, MC/Beautician – 500,000 CFA
The Most Passionate Entrepreneur: Ngong Sandra, Author, Trainer, and Public Speaker – 250,000 CFA. - The Most Educated Entrepreneur: Unknown – 250,000 CFA
Special prizes:
- Ngoran Adel, Founder of Adel Spices – Fully Sponsored Trip to the USA to Scale Her Spices Business
- Special Award for Support of the 80-20 Campaign: CY Old Pancho International, for his contributions to the 80-20 Project – 500,000 CFA.
- The Next Generation Award: Ms. Playne Fuonjing, for her outstanding work in charity and philanthropy, especially with children – 500,000 CFA
With the success of the first edition of the Ladies in the Boardroom project, where 300 female entrepreneurs were trained and rewarded with free business bank accounts, the journey to inspiring 1,000 Cameroonian female youths to achieve financial freedom through entrepreneurship continues. From masterclasses, both online and offline, to networking and capacity building, the future of Cameroonian entrepreneurship is bright.
