Representing Cameroon on the global stage | Bill N. Agha

Open Dreams
Jul 9
2 min read

Grateful to be selected for the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship from a pool of close to 7,000!

Over 6,800 exceptional young Cameroonians applied for the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the U.S. Government’s flagship program for emerging African leaders. From that incredibly competitive pool, only 11 were selected—and I’m humbled to share that I’m one of them.

I have been placed in the Leadership in Business Track at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where I am currently undergoing intensive training at the Mendoza College of Business and the Keough School of Global Affairs. These institutions are not just academic powerhouses—they are breeding grounds for visionary leadership, ethical entrepreneurship, and global impact.

But this moment is bigger than me. It’s a celebration of the collective work we have been doing through platforms like the TiC Summit, The TiC Foundation, Open Dreams, and our growing network of startups—inspiring tech talents, fueling innovation, and connecting dreams to opportunity across Africa.

From Cameroon to the US, this journey reminds me that impact isn’t bound by geography—it’s driven by vision, fueled by community, and sustained by purpose.

During this fellowship, I hope to:

Deepen my expertise in business leadership and strategy.
Strengthen my ability to scale mission-driven ventures across Africa.
Forge powerful connections with other changemakers from across the continent and the US.
Design solutions that create jobs, build ecosystems, and spark lasting change.

To every young African reading this: Dream audaciously. Start where you are. Use what you have. Keep building. The world needs your voice.

Thank you, the U.S. Embassy Yaounde, U.S. Department of State, IREX, and the University of Notre Dame for believing in us and investing in Africa’s next generation of leaders.