TLDR: Cameroon, in collaboration with UNESCO, is actively implementing programs to integrate Artificial Intelligence into its education system and establish robust ethical frameworks. Initiatives like the ‘Education Day 2025’ and conferences on ‘AI and Education’ aim to train the populace in IT and AI, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age. The country is also evaluating its readiness for AI ethics, emphasizing human agency, creativity, and critical thinking amidst technological advancements.
Cameroon is making significant strides in leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foster digital inclusion and redefine its educational landscape. Through a series of strategic initiatives and partnerships, notably with UNESCO, the nation is committed to bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to the benefits of AI for its entire population.
At the heart of these efforts was the ‘Education Day 2025’, which served as a pivotal platform for UNESCO to convene partners, member states from the Central Africa Region, policymakers, experts, educators, and innovators. The discussions centered on the theme ‘AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation,’ highlighting the critical need for ethical governance in AI integration.
Armand Claude Abanda, Resident Representative of IAI-Cameroon and President of the UNESCO ICT Chair for Central Africa, underscored the urgency of widespread digital literacy. He stated, ‘The first thing I recommend is to avoid having a two-speed world, i.e. a world of people who don’t know how to use IT tools, and who will never be able to exploit or benefit from the advantages of AI. And to do that, we need to train the whole population to use IT. Once we know how to use IT, we now need to know how to optimise the use of AI so that it is truly useful.’ This statement encapsulates Cameroon’s ambition to empower its citizens with the necessary skills to thrive in an AI-driven future.
A key event was the Regional Conference on AI and Education, held on January 24, 2025, at the UNESCO Regional Office in Yaoundé. This conference explored how AI can revolutionize education while safeguarding core human learning attributes such as autonomy, creativity, and critical thinking. Paul Coustère, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa, emphasized the inevitability and ethical imperative of AI, stating, ‘The subject is no longer a choice, it’s a reality. But it must be guided by ethics and human values, and that’s where UNESCO steps in, providing tools to help member states design responsible policies.’
Further demonstrating its commitment, UNESCO partnered with the UNESCO Chair for Central Africa ACCES-TIC and the Ministry of Higher Education on January 22, 2025, to host a conference titled ‘AI and Education: Preserving the Autonomy of Youth and Women in an Automated World.’ Held at the IAI Cameroon campus, this event addressed the crucial question of how to preserve the autonomy of young people, particularly women, as automation advances. The theme ‘One Student, One Project, One Enterprise’ promoted the integration of education with innovation and entrepreneurship.
Simultaneously, Cameroon also hosted the 5th Evaluation Meeting on Cameroon’s Readiness for AI Ethics on January 22. This workshop, conducted in collaboration with the National Commission of UNESCO for Cameroon, assessed the country’s preparedness to adopt a robust ethical framework for AI. Discussions covered legal structures, policies, and necessary infrastructures, aiming for a responsible approach to AI. The final phase of this evaluation, focusing on economic and infrastructural concerns, was scheduled to conclude on February 4, 2025.
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These concerted efforts underscore Cameroon’s proactive stance in embracing AI as a tool for national development and inclusive growth, ensuring that technology serves humanity while upholding ethical principles and fostering a digitally literate society.
