At National Bilingualism Week: MINAT staff test competences in use of official languages.

This was the focus of a session on Wednesday, February 4, in Yaounde. The exercise brought together staff from the central and external services, including personnel from the Centre Governor’s Office and Mfoundi Divisional Office.

The exercise saw some 15 staff divided into three groups of five participating. Aim was to strengthen their bilingual competence and promote the use of the country’s two official languages in public administration.

A quiz session was conducted under the supervision of the Assistant Research Officer No.1 of the Division of Translation and Promotion of Bilingualism, Mondgeli Joseph. 

It formed part of celebrations held under the theme: “Prefectoral Administration and the Promotion of Bilingualism in the Context of Artificial Intelligence”.

A total of 60 questions were randomly drawn and answered in both English and French. The questions tested knowledge in grammar, spelling, verb conjugation, and familiarity with the organisation, roles, and responsibilities of the ministry’s various services, from top management to operational units.

According to officials, to ensure transparency and discipline, participants were searched before the start of the session and their mobile phones collected. 

Answers were given after consultation among group members, encouraging teamwork and collective reasoning rather than individual competition, officials stated. At the end of the contest, Group C emerged winner.

An official of MINAT, Dr Werebesi Luther Tetuh, said the initiative was designed to motivate staff from both central and external services to develop interest in using both official languages. 

He explained that the format of the evaluation has evolved over the years to make it more engaging and effective.

“Last year we had a written test. This year, we changed the style to make it more interactive so that participants can reason faster and understand that it is important to speak both French and English in order to better serve users of our services,” he noted.

Dr Tetuh revealed that each service was allowed to nominate a representative to increase participation and seriousness among staff. He added that the ministry looks forward to improving the initiative in future editions.

Following the quiz, MINAT personnel proceeded to a gastronomic fair at the ministry’s lobby. The Secretary General, Yves Christian Edoa Effa, officially opened the fair alongside directors of various departments.

A wide variety of Cameroonian dishes were displayed, including eru and water fufu, ekwang, okok-baton, achu, nnam owondo, couscous, koki, egusi pudding, kilishi, and natural fruit juices. 

Mbezele Françoise Yolande, Sub-Director of Bilingualism, supervised the activity.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3698 of Sunday February 08, 2026