"I am joining the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Alumni Advisory Panel" - Dr. Jacqueline N. Fonkwo

I was raised by a woman who believed deeply in education, even though she was denied the right to fully access it.

My mother longed to go to school, but her father did not think a girl child should be educated. 

Yet with only a primary education, she went on to lead 500+ women in the Cameroon Baptist Convention Women’s Department — and she made it her mission to ensure all her children received the education she never could.

Her strength and sacrifice are the reason I hold an MD, two Master’s Degrees, and am currently pursuing an MBA. I have seen firsthand what happens to a family — and a community — when a mother is educated.

In 2020, I became a proud recipient of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, which enabled me to pursue an MSc in Global Health and Development in the UK.

 This scholarship transformed my career and expanded my view of what is possible for young leaders from low- and middle-income countries.

Today, I am honored to announce that I will be joining the  Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK Alumni Advisory Panel, contributing to the implementation of its 2025–2028 strategy.

This is more than an appointment — it is a tribute to my mother’s story, and a commitment to helping shape opportunities for future generations of scholars across the Commonwealth.

Because when one woman gains access to education, entire communities rise.

Open Dreams Educational NGO Carlson Nkwain Gilbert N. Miki (PhD) Banda Khalifa MD, MPH, MBA Mireille Djob Ilouga

hashtag#CommonwealthSharedScholarship hashtag#CSC hashtag#CommonwealthScholar hashtag#OpenDreams hashtag#WomenInLeadership hashtag#EducationTransforms hashtag#AfricaRising hashtag#GlobalDevelopment hashtag#ImpactLeadership