At seminar in Yaounde: Cameroonians urged to approach travel to Canada with due diligence.

The call was made in Yaoundé Tuesday, August 18. This was during a seminar organised by BEF Academy Language and Vocational Training Institute in partnership with SkyPath Immigration Services.

The seminar coincided with the visit to Cameroon of Alireza Mansouri, a Canadian Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, RCIC.

The sensitisation meeting offered participants the opportunity to learn about legitimate Canadian opportunities in education, skilled migration, workforce mobility and permanent residence.

Representing SkyPath Immigration Services, KK Bonteh explained that the initiative was designed not merely to promote migration, but to create a platform where prospective applicants and professionals could better understand the different pathways available under Canadian immigration rules.

“International mobility should be approached with preparation, integrity and accurate information,” Bonteh said.

A significant part of Tuesday’s presentations focused on the potential opportunities available to French-speaking Cameroonians.

The Francophone Mobility Programme, presented as part of Canada’s International Mobility Programme, officials said, can enable eligible Canadian employers outside Quebec to hire qualified French-speaking workers without the usual Labour Market Impact Assessment, LMIA, process.

The opportunity generated an important area for prospective applicants to explore, particularly in a country such as Cameroon where many candidates possess both English and French language abilities.

The seminar presentation highlighted Express Entry, including the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programmes.

It identified language proficiency, education and qualifying work experience among factors relevant to candidates’ profiles. 

It also emphasised the potential value of French-language proficiency in Express Entry, noting that eligible candidates with strong French can receive additional Comprehensive Ranking System, CRS points.

Another central message of the seminar was the importance of obtaining professional immigration guidance from properly authorised representatives.

The presentation described Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants, RCICs, as authorised professionals who operate under Canada’s immigration regulatory framework and are subject to professional obligations and continuing education requirements.

Commenting on the issue, KK Bonteh was unequivocal, noting that “No responsible professional should guarantee an immigration outcome”.

Immigration decisions, he explained, are made under Canadian law by the competent authorities. 

The role of a professional, he explained, is to provide information, guide applicants through applicable requirements and assist with preparation—not to promise a predetermined result.

BEF Academy’s role

Speaking further during the Yaounde event, KK Bonteh explained that his organisation, BEF Academy Language and Vocational Training Institute, complements the immigration component by helping prospective applicants strengthen their academic, linguistic and professional profiles.

The message, he said, was particularly relevant to candidates considering English- or French-language examinations, vocational training and further studies before pursuing international opportunities.

The seminar presentation similarly identified official language testing, including IELTS, TEF and TCF, as part of the preparation process for prospective candidates, alongside educational credential assessment, ECA.

It should be said that the seminar was not limited to students and skilled workers. Presentations also examined business immigration pathways, including entrepreneurial and intra-company transfer possibilities. 

The presentations highlighted, among others, regional entrepreneurial opportunities and the Intra-Company Transferee, ICT pathway for qualifying executives, senior managers and specialised-knowledge employees of eligible businesses.

Call for due diligence

For Bonteh, perhaps the most important lesson from the initiative is that prospective migrants must take responsibility for understanding the pathway they intend to pursue.

“Do your homework,” he advised, encouraging applicants to verify information, understand applicable requirements, prepare their documents carefully and seek professional guidance where necessary.

The seminar’s presentations similarly proposed a structured roadmap beginning with profile assessment, official language testing and educational credential assessment, followed where appropriate by a temporary study or work pathway, entry into the Express Entry pool and, for eligible candidates, an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.

The Canadian partner’s visit, officials said, is expected to serve as a platform for continued professional engagement, consultation and networking between Cameroonian stakeholders and Canadian immigration and education professionals.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3885 of Friday August 21, 2026