Changemakers :TEDx Yaoundé set to inspire innovation, redefine success

The city of Yaoundé is set to host its inaugural edition of TEDx, a groundbreaking gathering of thinkers, innovators, and changemakers, at the Starland Hotel in the Bastos neighborhood in Yaounde on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The event aims to inspire innovation and redefine success.

At a press conference held at the Mellen wing of the Ubuntu Cultural Centre on April 12, lead organizer Nadia Habsatou described TEDx Yaoundé as a transformative initiative. “This event will shift mindsets and spark action-oriented ideas among participants,” she said. Habsatou emphasized that the goal is to gather a powerful mix of thinkers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and change-makers to explore new definitions of success in today’s rapidly evolving world.

Co-organized by Habsatou through her platform Learn and Adapt and Freddy Tchala, founder of the Ubuntu Creative TAF Hub, TEDx Yaoundé promises to be a milestone in Cameroon’s intellectual and creative landscape. Among the distinguished speakers confirmed for the event are Colonel Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, President of the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee; U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, H.E. Christopher J. Lamora; and other influential figures such as Élisabeth Tchoungui, Guillaume Soto, Mentchum Tayon, Jérôme Carayon, and Roland Fomundam.

Each speaker was carefully selected for their visionary work and alignment with TEDx’s spirit of innovation and impact. Covering themes from governance, education, and health to technology and artificial intelligence, the talks will focus on solutions tailored to the Cameroonian and African context.

The goal is not only to inform but also to catalyze meaningful, lasting change. In the lead-up to the main event, a creative teaser dubbed the “mini-idea journey” has already captured attention. It features interactive installations such as the “Umbrella of Ideas” and the “Wheel of Ideas,” designed to visually spark reflection and dialogue among attendees.

Tickets have been structured to ensure broad accessibility: 10,000 FCFA for students, 25,000 FCFA for general admission, and 100,000 FCFA for VIP access. Addressing questions about pricing, Habsatou was candid: “Yes, TEDx content is available online. But what we’re offering is something different — a live experience grounded in local realities, presented by people who are actively shaping our society.” Freddy Tchala echoed that sentiment, stressing the importance of taking ideas beyond conception. “Everything starts with an idea. But to have an impact, it must be structured, programmed, and brought to life.

That’s exactly what TEDx enables,” he said. TEDx Yaoundé is expected to welcome between 150 and 200 participants. The event is backed by a strong coalition of partners including the KDI Foundation, ASK Travel & Services, the African Institute of Computer Science, AFREDIT, Yelloo, Premium Insurance, and the Project Management Institute Cameroon (PMI) — all united by a shared commitment to promoting transformative ideas.

As an independently organized event under license from the globally renowned TED platform, TEDx Yaoundé joins more than 4,300 cities worldwide that have embraced the TEDx movement. These gatherings offer local stages for sharing powerful ideas, fostering critical thinking, and nurturing vibrant community dialogue.