Cameroonian youth eyes world title at 2025 Microsoft Excel Championship.

Ngala is not an average student. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, from the University of Bamenda’s National Higher Polytechnic Institute and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree. 

Yet, what truly sets him apart is his extraordinary journey through the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship, MOSWC, a global competition for students aged 13 to 22.

Since 2021, he has participated five times but has never made it to the global stage, as something always stands in the way of him getting there, despite often emerging best. 

In 2021, Ngala, placed first in the Word 2016 category, could  not represent Cameroon at the online world finals due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

A year later, he won again, this time in Excel 2019, and earned a coveted slot at the global finals in California. 

Unexpectedly, he was denied the visa to make the trip. 

In 2023, despite being re-invited by Certiport, the visa appointment proved a hurdle too high for him to skip.

“In 2024, I was eager to participate again, but the championship was not held in Cameroon that year,” he remarks, adding that it also marked the point where he realised he was not getting any younger. 

“I was gradually approaching the age limit,” Ngala states. 

With the last ounce of determination, Ngala aimed for the skies once more in 2025, clinching the national title again. This time, Excel 365, he is set to represent Cameroon in Florida, USA. 

Already, many are worried and asking: "Now that the world has once again opened its doors to brilliance, will the talented one be left standing at the gate because of visa restrictions?

A passion for impact

Competition is just one of many ways Ngala recognises his ability to impact his community. 

Beyond MOSWC, he channels his knowledge into impact by training peers in his university and community on Microsoft Office tools, supporting them in their research and academic work. 

As a member of the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Programme, he uses the platform to empower more young people with the digital skills that have transformed his own life.

In a Region devastated by socio-political crisis, where many youth have lost faith in education and turned to scamming or survivalism, Ngala’s journey is a beacon of possibility.

“Even in the middle of the crisis, we can stand out globally. This is my story,” he says.

His perseverance challenges a system that too often measures potential, not by skill or merit, but by the luck of paperwork and the semi-effectiveness of systems that continue to neglect youth participation in development.

“I am giving my all to make sure Cameroon gets recognised on the global stage and who knows, maybe we will be the first African country to ever win the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship,” he says. 

From Bamenda to Florida: What next?

At just 22, Ngala has already become a situation-imposed national symbol of resilience. He is expected to compete against over 100 finalists from around the world in Florida, USA, from July 27 to 31, 2025. He stands the chance of winning up to 8,000 US Dollars (over 4.6 million FCFA) and other prizes at the global MOSWC finals. 

The MOSWC journey to him, “is a testimony that, despite the challenges, there are still opportunities for tech enthusiasts in the North West Region of Cameroon…”

Regardless of where the road leads, Ngala has left his name in the sands of times. His story is a stark reminder that certifications and talent are not just qualifications.

 In this part of the world, they are mere passports to possibility, a brutal reminder of the harsh reality that Cameroon’s young people face, competing on the world’s biggest stages. 

But what about the countless others whose brilliance remains untold, not because they lacked the skill, but because the system never gave them a chance to shine? 

Like Ngala, they too can be denied, but not defeated.

Giyo Ndzi*

* Giyo Ndzi is Communication Officer for Paradigm Initiative, a Pan African Non-Profit that advocates digital rights and inclusion in the Global South

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3445 of Sunday May 11, 2025