British High Commission strengthens women parliamentarians’ leadership, communication skills.

The initiative aims to strengthen participants’ communication, leadership and advocacy skills, equipping them to engage more effectively in public discourse, parliamentary debates and constituency outreach.

It was organised under the theme of enhancing women’s leadership and visibility in political and public spaces.

Focus was on the shared commitment of the United Kingdom and Cameroon to promoting women’s participation in governance and decision-making. 

Beyond skills development, the event also served as a platform for dialogue, networking and collaboration among female legislators on issues affecting women and girls.

Organisers said empowering women leaders with stronger communication and advocacy skills would contribute to more informed public debate and greater female influence in policymaking processes.

Addressing participants, the Chargé d’Affaires of the British High Commission, Simon Tooth, underlined the importance of effective political communication and the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting female leaders across the world.

“The purpose of this session is to provide effective political communications and the UK is committed throughout the world to supporting female leaders,” Tooth said. 

“We strongly believe that having women in politics helps to make institutions stronger, improves decision-making and ensures that society as a whole is better reflected,” added. 

He said effective communication enables politicians to convey their messages confidently, engage meaningfully with constituents and participate actively in national debates. 

The official explained that the workshop will provide practical communication skills that would help female politicians communicate more effectively during legislative debates, election campaigns and public engagements.

“Our aim is to provide those skills so that participants can better understand public concerns and communicate their ideas effectively,” he added.

Tooth emphasised that the initiative is not only about supporting women leaders but also strengthening democratic institutions and political systems in Cameroon.

The workshop facilitator, renowned communications coach, Queen Jokem, led participants through an executive masterclass titled: “The Power of the Microphone: Speaking with Influence, Authority and Impact”.

The facilitator drilled participants on training executive presence, persuasive communication and communicating under pressure.

During the module on Speaking with Authority, participants explored executive presence, confidence, voice projection and body language. 

Jokem stressed that leaders often command attention before they utter a word and encouraged participants to eliminate nervous habits that could undermine credibility.

“People believe the speaker before they believe the speech,” she told the participants.

Through the second module, The Art of Persuasive Communication, she enlightened participants on structuring compelling speeches, storytelling, persuasion techniques and communicating vision effectively as well as how to influence hearts, minds and decisions through clear and purposeful messaging.

“People support what they understand and believe,” Jokem told participants.

On the third module, Communicating Under Pressure, she equipped participants with strategies for handling difficult questions, responding to criticism professionally, engaging with the media and maintaining composure during debates and high-pressure situations.

“Great leaders are revealed by how they communicate during difficult moments,” she noted

Jokem also highlighted the growing influence of social media and the need for public figures to remain conscious of every gesture and expression.

She encouraged participants to record themselves regularly while alone in order to identify and correct nervous habits.

“Practice makes perfect,” she insisted, urging participants to apply what she described as the “Four Cs” of being calm, clear, confident and connected to communicate effectively. 

Participants later took part in a practical leadership challenge, delivering one-minute messages on national issues while receiving coaching on presence, structure, delivery and impact.

Participants laud initiative 

For many attendees, the workshop offered valuable lessons ahead of upcoming electoral activities. Honourable Cecilia Dione Epie Njumbe, Member of Parliament for Kupe Muanenguba in the South-West Region and Vice President of the Cameroon-British Parliamentary Friendship Group, praised the initiative.

“Most of us women are very happy because with our upcoming elections, we will know what to communicate to our constituents, what to tell them and how to make them believe more in us,” she said.

Njumbe expressed the wish that similar training opportunities could be extended to the entire National Assembly.

“I have learned how to communicate, how to gain the trust of my audience and how to make them believe in me before believing in what I have to say,” she added.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3847 of Tuesday July 14, 2026