Clement Ngosong (born Clement Ngosong Nkengbeza) is a celebrated Cameroonian youth development strategist, social entrepreneur, and international advisor. Often recognized as one of the most influential young voices in African education, Ngosong’s work focuses on “unlocking potential at scale” by bridging the gap between academic theory and the soft skills required for the modern workforce.
Early Life and The “Opportunity Gap”
Born in Muyuka, a rural farming community in the South West Region of Cameroon, Ngosong’s worldview was shaped by the stark contrast between his hometown and the capital city, Yaoundé. After moving to the capital at 13, he realized that a student’s success was often determined more by their environment than their talent.
At just 17, he committed to a lifelong mission: bridging the opportunity gap between rural and urban students. This mission was forged in fire; during the height of the “Anglophone Crisis” in Cameroon, Ngosong and a team of peers delivered free lessons to students whose schools had been closed due to insecurity, often putting their own safety at risk to ensure education continued.
Impact as a Youth Leader
Ngosong’s impact is defined by his transition from a local volunteer to a global advisor. His work operates at three distinct levels:
1. Impact Axis and the Goodwill Fellowship
He is the Founder and Executive Director of Impact Axis, a non-profit that revolutionizes how young Africans acquire soft skills.
- The Goodwill Fellowship: His flagship program has directly empowered over 500 young people across Cameroon. It utilizes game-based and experiential learning to teach critical “future-ready” skills like digital literacy, critical thinking, and leadership.
- Youths Inspiration: Earlier in his journey, he launched this initiative to share the stories of Cameroonian changemakers, reaching over 1,000 secondary students through conferences and workshops.
2. Global Policy and Advising
Unlike many activists who work only on the ground, Ngosong has taken the African youth voice to the highest levels of international diplomacy:
- EU Youth Sounding Board: He served as a board member for the European Union, advising the European Commission on youth participation in global development.
- USAID Youth Advisory Group: He provided strategic input to strengthen global youth programmes, ensuring they are data-driven and inclusive.
- Mastercard Foundation: He has consulted for major foundations to help design learning experiences that truly resonate with African youth.
3. Academic and Individual Excellence
A Mastercard Foundation Scholar at Ashesi University (Ghana), Ngosong has consistently proven that “where you grow doesn’t have to define where you go.”
- Global Student Prize Finalist (2021): He was shortlisted for the prestigious $100,000 Chegg.org Global Student Prize, being named one of the top 50 most impactful students in the world.
- Peer Mentorship: He serves as a peer mentor for UNICEF, guiding young professionals through the complexities of global careers in migration and development.
Philosophy: Engineering Change
Ngosong describes himself as a “Learning Experience Designer.” He believes that the rigid, lecture-based education systems of the past are failing the youth of the future. His philosophy centres on Civic Engagement—the idea that young people should not wait for “permission” to lead but should instead “invade” rigid systems to propel change from within.
“I’m not just building programs; I’m designing pathways for others to follow.” — Clement Ngosong
Legacy and Future Aspirations
Today, Clement Ngosong continues to disrupt the status quo of African development. Whether he is facilitating a workshop in Yaoundé or advising a commissioner in Brussels, his focus remains on creating a world where every child, regardless of the village they were born in, has a “fair shot” at excellence.
