Yaounde: Fifth ICT Innovation Week finalists to pitch projects tomorrow.

The event will run until Friday July 31. It is taking place under the theme: “Protecting cyberspace from the misuse of artificial intelligence and promoting digital patriotism”.

The bootcamp phase was launched by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng. The ICT Innovation Week, officials said, serves as the final phase of the annual National Competition for the Best ICT Project.

Officials of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication say the exercise is aimed at acknowledging and celebrating the most innovative ICT projects initiated and led by young Cameroonians.

The fifth edition was launched on June 22 by Minister Li Likeng. The event opened the floor for applicants to register during the registration window which ran from June 22 to July 22.

The finalists have presented 20 projects selected by an internal committee. The target of this year, focuses among others on health, education, agriculture and cyber security. 

The finalists comprise 14 male and six female contestants. They were selected from among 631 candidates. 

Bootcamp decisive for contestants

The bootcamp according to officials, is helping the finalists prepare their projects for pitching Thursday July 30. The program will conclude with the award of multiple prizes to the best project on the final day on July 31. 

The biggest prize, the President of the Republic’s Special Prize for the Best ICT Project, will be handed to the overall winner.

Speaking Monday, Minister Li Likeng said the series will play a decisive role in readying the finalist to highlight the economic impact and long-term profitability of their projects.

“We have to prepare them for the final stage in front of a grand jury. They have to learn to pitch their entire project in a few minutes. You can have good ideas but if you cannot present the essentials in a limited time, it won’t work,” the Minister stated.

Libom Likeng added that: “That is what this bootcamp is about: ensuring these 20 finalists are ready to defend their projects,” the member of government said.

The minister also corroborated the Project Coordinator, Abega Moussa, that: “Some have projects in the experimental phase, while others just have an idea. During this time, we organize training and capacity strengthening so that participants can leave these masterclasses equipped to develop a business plan and start a digital company,”. 

Abega explained that “out of the selected projects, several respond directly to the theme of the fight against disinformation and fake news”.

He said government is going to transform promising innovations “into credible projects capable of attracting investors.”

Since the launch of the competition for Best ICT Project in 2021, the scheme has produced multiple winners who have been hailed by the government for their contributions to nation building.

The overall winner’s prize for the 2025 edition was Manfred Asah Agha. He participated with the “Intelligent eye glass for the blind” project. The intelligent eyeglass assists persons living with visual impairment. 

By Zanga Mbida & Erica Ngebi, Journalism students on internship

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3862 of Wednesday July 29, 2026