* Placed under the patronage of Minister Paul Atanga Nji, the organisers ised the jamboree to canvass for an effective back-to-school
* Bamenda City Mayor says the City is taking shape and will soon be the pride of Cameroon
* Prizes worth 13 million shared to winners
For two months, seven divisions of the North West Region, communities that have endured years of crisis, put aside their fears and came together through football, sports, music and culture.
The 3rd Edition of the North West Youths Sports Jamboree that started in July, ended in Bamenda on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with more than medals and trophies. The closing ceremony of the Jamboree brought joy, laughter and a strong message of unity and hope to the region.
Youths from Boyo, Bui, Donga Mantung, Menchum, Mezam, Momo and Ngoketunjia took part in the activities.
During the closing ceremony, the Governor of the North West Region and other sports promoters called on the youths to preserve the spirit of unity developed during the competition and carry it into their communities.
The final football match was equally exciting. Bui Division defeated Momo Division 4-3 in a thrilling encounter that kept spectators on their feet until the final whistle. Bui were eventually crowned football champions.
But football was only one part of the story.
Awards were also given to outstanding participants in basketball, handball, boxing, weightlifting, lawn tennis, table tennis and swimming, as well as traditional and sociocultural games. Sports for persons with disabilities and choral performances were also included, making the jamboree an event that brought together people of different abilities and backgrounds.
Speaking to the press, Bamenda City Mayor Achobong Paul, expressed gratitude to the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, for supporting the idea of using sports and culture as tools for bringing people together and contributing to the healing of the region.
According to the Mayor, the vision behind the jamboree went beyond Bamenda. The organisers ensured that activities reached all seven divisions, carrying messages of peace, reconciliation, happiness and togetherness.
Mayor Achobong said he hoped the friendships created during the competition would replace suspicion and division, allowing love and unity to take root across the region.
One of the key persons behind the organisation of the jamboree was Mekom Samuel Taleh, North West Regional President of the Cameroon National Youth Council.
He explained that the instruction from Minister Atanga Nji was clear: every division had to be represented.
This required organisers to travel across the region and organise sporting activities in the divisions before bringing the participants together in Bamenda for the grand finale.
Mekom described the task as difficult but said it was made possible through the support of the Bamenda City Council, which provided physical, financial and logistical assistance throughout the process.
For him, the greatest victory was not the medals won but the friendships created among young people.
Youths from all 34 subdivisions of the North West came together, discovered new talents, interacted with people they had never met before and eventually left the competition as one family.
He described the experience as an example of peaceful coexistence and the spirit of living together.
Dr Taniform Peter also congratulated the organisers, saying the effort to bring youths from all seven divisions together deserved recognition.
He said the success of the jamboree demonstrated that North West youths are ready to take greater responsibility for their future. He called on elites and other people in positions of influence to support them and help transform their aspirations into reality.
Cash prizes worth more than 13 million Francs CFA were distributed to the participants.
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