This piece is the beginning of a journey of gratitude. Over the years I have been shaped, strengthened, and lifted by extraordinary women whose presence continues to guide my steps. They are mentors and friends, sisters and colleagues, mothers of the heart and companions of the soul. Each one has left a distinct imprint through quiet acts of kindness, fearless leadership, or the simple power of showing up when I needed them most. Their wisdom has sharpened my vision; their courage has encouraged my own; their laughter has brightened every path I walk.
Too often, society reserves tributes for after someone has passed. I have chosen a different path. I wish to express love and recognition while people are alive, when they can hear the words and feel the joy of being celebrated. The living possess immeasurable value, and I am committed to ensuring that each person who shapes my journey knows their worth in the present, not only in memory.
Because no single article can contain all these stories, this is only the first volume. Here I begin with the women whose influence first comes to mind, knowing that many more chapters will follow. This is not a ranking, but a celebration, an open invitation to remember, to honor, and to keep telling these stories. May these words illuminate the love and strength that continue to shape the woman I am becoming, and may every woman named here be blessed to keep shining her light, enriching lives, and inspiring courage wherever her path leads.
My Mother – The Heart of Our Home
She has been both father and mother to my brothers, my sister, and I. With a primary school teacher’s salary and the hard work of small trade and farming, she carried the full weight of our education, health, and daily well-being and did the same for her own brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.
Her life is the definition of generosity and resilience. She works tirelessly and pours herself into every task with unmatched dedication. I remember how strict she was with even the simplest chores: washing dishes, doing the laundry, nothing could be done halfway. If it wasn’t perfect, she would have us start over until it shone. At the time it felt demanding; today I see how she was shaping our sense of discipline and excellence.
If I were to write the story of my mother, it would read like a living Bible filled with lessons of sacrifice, faith, and unwavering love. One key value I carry from her into my daily life is the power of hard work and honesty. When I watch my brothers and sister embody those same qualities: working hard, remaining honest and humble, I can only call her a truly successful mother.
What amazes me most is the grace with which she carried it all. She provided love and stability, even when resources were scarce, and taught us that dignity and strength do not depend on wealth. For me, she is the living symbol of power, a woman whose sacrifices and steady courage made every success in my life possible.
Dr Laetitia Ouedraogo
Dr Laetitia is more than a supervisor, she is a compass. In the whirlwind of projects, donor deadlines, and technical reports, she radiates a quiet strength that reassures and motivates. Her leadership carries both firmness and gentleness, guiding with clarity while creating space for others to shine.
What sets her apart is the way she gives feedback. No matter how many tasks crowd her schedule, she always finds a moment to look carefully at the work done and appreciate it at its true value. That simple habit is profoundly motivating: it affirms your effort and provides thoughtful guidance for the next step.
She is the kind of leader who listens and involves every team member. She calls for excellence while showing genuine care, hearing every perspective, and encouraging each person to contribute their best. I have watched her navigate complex negotiations with calm determination, and I have felt her trust when she handed me responsibilities that stretched my skills and grew my confidence.
For me she is both a supervisor and an adviser, a woman who opens doors, entrusts meaningful responsibilities, and inspires growth with quiet certainty. Every encounter with her feels like a master class in leadership: walking with integrity, inspiring trust, and reminding everyone that greatness is built through both smart work and kindness.
Prof. Jeannette Wogaing Fotso
Prof. Jeannette Wogaing was my lecturer at the University of Douala. She is the one who gave me the basis of gender as a concept and gave me the courage to fight for my rights. I used to be very conscious of my rights as a girl and aware of some gender barriers, but she really helped me put words to my thoughts.
Of course, her opinions were not the most shared, but I admired how she defended them with so much conviction and confidence. That was the foundation of my gender advocacy: not only recognizing there are issues, but advocating to make changes.
She is also very dynamic and energetic. I remember in 2012, when they organized the fifth convention of the SYNES—Syndicat National des Enseignants du Supérieur du Cameroun (*The National Union of Teachers of Higher Education in Cameroon), she invited some classmates and me to attend the event. We were supposed to welcome and orient participants, serve coffee, tea, and be nice to participants (all lecturers from different state universities in Cameroon).
But no! She decided that I could play a better role. She installed me inside the main hall and asked me to write the report of the entire sessions. I told her I wasn’t sure I could, and she only smiled and said: “I am sure you will, take your seat with the others, the meeting has started.”
I walked slowly closer to the participants and sat next to a professor. That was day one. People started introducing themselves as Dr. X, Prof. Y. I enjoyed it so much that when it was my turn, I found myself saying, “Dr. Cheutou” .
This is where my story of writing event reports started, and it doesn’t seem to end even today. Honestly, I did not know why she chose me for this job. I just told myself, I am already here, it would be a shame not to meet the expectations and the trust she put in me. I was so attentive, trying to capture things I did not even understand, asking questions to my neighbors to know what was going on.
I came up with a bilingual report that I could not even imagine myself capable of. I was so proud of myself. Over the years, I keep thanking her for the trust she put in me, for the boldness she planted in me, and for the smile she gave me. I hadn’t signed up for anything official, yet I even received my own per diem. I can’t remember how much, but I know it was enough for a student, more than enough to give me a big smile.
As a lecturer, she always showed passion, discipline, and content—all in one—to make her teaching time my best moments at the university.
In 2023 march 24, she became the Secretary General of SYNES. She is the first lady at that Prestigious position in Central Africa and the First President of USAES Africa (Union Syndicale Africaine de l’Enseignement Supérieur) since February 07, 2025, . These milestones are a powerful testimony to her courage and vision.
I wish her continued success and fulfillment as she opens even more doors for women in higher education and proves every day that dedication and brilliance know no limits
Ghislaine Tchamkam
Any single call or moment with Ghislaine feels like stepping into sunlight after a long shadow. She carries an energy that is pure joy, deep emotions, laughter, and an effortless positivity that instantly lifts my spirit. Her words are like the perfect medicine for stress: a soothing balm that calms the mind while awakening hope. Whether it’s a brief message or an hour-long conversation, she knows how to brighten the day and leave me smiling long after we hang up.
Ghislaine is a perfect blend of intelligence, motherhood, friendship, sisterhood, and unshakable joy. She balances strength and tenderness with such natural grace, thoughtful in every word, radiant in every gesture. She celebrates every small victory as if it were a grand milestone, and she transforms ordinary exchanges into moments of deep connection. In her presence, laughter flows easily, worries lose their weight, and life feels richer.
Her influence reminds me constantly of the importance of surrounding myself with women whose very being is a source of strength. Ghislaine embodies that truth. She is not just a friend; she is a well of healing energy, a sister of the soul, and a daily reminder that happiness and resilience grow stronger when they are shared. Time with her is never just time spent it is time renewed, infused with the kind of warmth that lingers like a blessing.
Mrs. Florentine Fandio
I met her in 2013 when she was the program officer of an association/NGO in Douala. I was a student preparing my master’s in anthropology, carrying the writing skills I had built from my communication background. I was fascinated by the youth-engagement environment and had already begun shaping my professional path, though I still felt a lot of uncertainty.
I first saw her at a conference she organized ahead of International Women’s Day. I remember how confident, eloquent, and brilliant she was, effortlessly switching between French and English, and later I learned she spoke German just as fluently. I told myself that day, This is the kind of woman I want to be.
She supported my candidacy to become an intern in the organization even though no position had been advertised. She personally spoke with the coordinator and created a space for me to work. Soon after, the organization received funding to send one young person to Germany for a year-long cultural exchange program. I heard about the project but, as a good Cameroonian, I had no expectation; I assumed it would go to a family member or close friend of hers.
But surprise! She called me into her office and told me I matched the profile and would represent the organization in the national competition. That single act spoke volumes. Beyond that, she taught me soft skills: discipline, punctuality, non-violent communication…that still guide me today.
With her support I succeeded in the national competition and was awarded the scholarship to Germany, where I spent a year without paying for anything – not the passport, not the travel ticket, not even local transport. She continued to support me when I returned, helping me transition from intern to staff in the same organization.
Mrs. Fandio is also deeply spiritual. Over the years she has offered professional guidance, social support, and spiritual encouragement. More than a mentor, she has been a godmother, an enduring presence of integrity, justice, and generosity. She remains one of the great wonders of my life.
Leonie Noubissie
Leonie is the elder sister I never had: a quiet wave that carries you toward calm and confidence.
I met her in 2011, when I was a young Anthropology student at the University of Douala, full of curiosity and already passionate about communication. Leonie was then the program officer of a local NGO and responsible for a vibrant youth center that gathered several clubs of aspiring communicators.
She is the one who first saw in me a spark of leadership I had not yet recognized. Without my asking, Leonie nominated me to become president of the NGO’s communication team, an energetic group of about twenty young people passionate about media. My appointment, however, was far from unanimous. My youth intrigued, my femininity disturbed. Criticism came from every direction, sometimes disguised as advice, sometimes blunt and sharp.
I hadn’t sought the position; the decision came from above, from Leonie herself, who believed I had the energy and vision the team needed. But that confidence wasn’t enough for everyone. I found myself facing peers who had been in the group long before me, some older, some former presidents, and, of course, several men who were certain they knew better.
Leonie stood quietly behind me, offering guidance and trust rather than constant instructions. That single decision of hers to place me in leadership, became a defining moment in my life. Over the year of my presidency our team thrived: we organized media-training sessions, company visits, and recreational activities that helped each member grow. More importantly, I learned to stand firm, to speak with conviction, and to lead with both strength and empathy.
Looking back, I see that Leonie didn’t just give me a title; she gave me a foundation. She sowed the seeds of self-confidence and leadership that continue to grow in everything I do today. And even now, she remains my best adviser. She calls or sends long messages and voice notes just to check that I am well and to share her thoughtful guidance. Her faith in me remains one of the greatest gifts of my early career, and her calm, unwavering presence still feels like the gentle voice of an elder sister guiding me forward.
Ladies Safe Space (LSS)
Ladies Safe Space is a circle of young, dynamic, and intelligent Cameroonian women who first met in Brazzaville as part of the WHO workforce.
Its members are Zita, Christine, Muriel, Marriane, Marita, Eni, Matilda, Sarah, Beryl, Nina and Nyandoh. They need no titles, for each one carries the same strength, a blend of sisterhood, intelligence, hard work and care. Whatever life brings, they always know how to handle it.
In Brazzaville, they became for me the shelter when the rain poured and the shade when the sun grew too fierce. Different in backgrounds, expertise and even styles, yet always united when it comes to lifting one another through joys and challenges alike.
Our conversations are endless rivers flowing from politics to the most intimate matters, weaving professional debates with laughter and a touch of gossip. Our WhatsApp group is indeed a true safe space where dialogue, laughter and support are the bread of every day.
Love you all, ladies.
Maeva Ngounou
Maeva is probably my oldest friend. Our story began in 2001, and across decades our bond has only deepened. We chose different paths and built different lives, yet we remain sisters of the heart who always find our way back to each other. She is the first person I run to when things go wrong because I am certain of her loyalty and the quiet strength of her presence.
Our conversations are a tapestry of encouragement and shared wonder. Maeva never hides her admiration; her messages arrive like little poems of love and faith. She once told me that my own reading habit inspired her to read more, and that my articles “answer so many needs.” I carry those words as a treasure because they reveal the circle we create for each other: inspiring, supporting, and lifting one another higher.
Maeva is also a gifted writer whose book À nue – L’écho des silences left me breathless. I told her that her prose is a hymn to resilience and alignment, a mirror of the soul that transforms vulnerability into power. When I read it, I felt as if our voices met in the invisible, speaking of silence as a sacred space, of alignment as an inner posture, of small gestures as a path back to oneself. It was as though our separate journeys had secretly braided together.
She receives every word with grace and returns it multiplied. Her responses are always tender, full of faith, encouraging me to trust that “God listens and does things in His time.” Maeva’s love is constant, her friendship unwavering. I often tell her that one day we will share a stage, signing books side by side, at least one of them co-written, because our resonance can only become creation.
Through every season of my life, Maeva remains a luminous presence: writer, confidante, sister. Her messages, her art, and her faith remind me that friendship can be both anchor and horizon, holding you steady while calling you toward the future.
Dolvira
Dolvira is my youngest sister, the first and forever friend, the one whose love speaks in messages overflowing with joy, laughter, and a touch of teasing. On every birthday she finds words that are pure sunshine, prayers for my health, long life, success, and happiness, blessings whispered and laughter that feel like a warm embrace across any distance.
Her messages tell the story of our bond: deep affection wrapped in humor, a sister who wishes me the world and reminds me that I already have everything that matters. She carries the wisdom to pray for what is good for me in every circumstance and the courage to say exactly what she feels, whether it is a blessing, a joke, or a gentle nudge about life’s next steps.
With Dolvira, love is never quiet. It is expressed loudly, joyfully, and without hesitation. She is a sister who celebrates every part of who I am, who fills our conversations with energy, and who keeps the roots of our family strong. Her devotion and playfulness are daily reminders that sisterhood is one of life’s greatest gifts.
Conclusion
These portraits are only the opening notes of a much larger symphony. For every woman named here, there are many more whose wisdom, friendship, and quiet heroism deserve to be honored. Their impact lives in the choices I make, the work I do, and the person I continue to become. Volume 1 is a promise as much as a tribute: a promise to keep telling these stories, to keep celebrating the women who give strength to my journey, and to make space for every voice that has lifted mine. More names, more memories, and more gratitude will unfold in the volumes to come because the women in my life are too many, too powerful, and too inspiring to fit into a single chapter.
I hope these words inspire you to reflect on the remarkable women in your own life. Share their stories, celebrate their impact, and keep their light shining, because every woman’s influence deserves to be remembered and passed on.
