NCPBM Vice President Oumarou Djika Saidou presided over the ceremony
The National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (NCPBM) at the Congress Center in Yaoundé December 23,2025 to take stock of its activities for the year and projections for 2026.
The commission was meeting at their second biannual session where they presented significant efforts at combating hate speech, promoting social cohesion, and evaluating the use of official languages across various sectors, especially during the election period.
Key Activities and Focus Areas for 2025
The NCPBM’s primary focus in 2025 was navigating a challenging year marked by the Presidential and Regional elections.
Also on focus was the fight against hate speech, a central initiative, with the commission intensifying its efforts and partnering with various civil society organizations (CSOs) such as Eduk-Media and Hwalana for Peace.
These collaborations aimed to engage youths and communities in responsible online and civic communication to prevent the spread of disinformation and xenophobia. The commission held conferences and missions to various regions, including the North West and South West, to assess and bolster these efforts.
Promotion of Official Languages: The commission conducted field missions to evaluate the implementation of the national bilingualism policy in nursery, primary, and secondary schools across five regions (North West, West, South, East, and North). They also continued monitoring the effective use of English and French in public institutions, private businesses, and diplomatic missions abroad.
National Bilingualism Week: The 20th edition of the National Week of Bilingualism was celebrated in February 2025, with activities in schools and a closing ceremony presided over by the Minister of Secondary Education.
Collaboration and Partnerships: The NCPBM strengthened its cooperation with other government ministries, such as the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Social Economy, and Handicrafts (MINPMEESA), and UN agencies like the UNHCR, to ensure the smooth implementation of bilingualism and multiculturalism in various sectors, including the socio-economic inclusion of refugees.
The year’s end review was chaired by the NCPBM Vice President Oumarou Djika Saidou, who sat in for the President Peter Mafany Musonge, unavoidably absent.