The gateway city into the South West Region of Cameroon, Tiko, will host the 2026 edition of Na-We-We Sports Jamboree, an annual youth-led sport and recreational event which serves as a hub of peace crusading, social cohesion and community engagements between displaced persons and their host communities.
Event concept owner, Local Youth Corner (LOYOC) Cameroon, made the disclosure at a press conference in Yaounde on Friday, February 7. The Executive Director of LOYOC Cameroon and vision bearer of the sports fiesta, Achaleke Christian Leke told journalists that Tiko was chosen from a three-city shortlist based on the readiness of the community and local leaders.
Speaking in the presence of key partners of the festival including the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education (MINJEC), the United Nations, Plan International Cameroon, COSMOS Educational Press, among others, Achaleke said LOYOC intends to leverage on the “creative nature of the South West Region” to pass their message across.
The fifth edition of the Sports Jamboree to take place in Tiko will run from July 4 to August 29, 2026 under the theme “Together in times of crisis through sports”. A key innovation this year is a plan to produce a national guide for related activities that serve as a model for using sport to promote living together, LOYOC’s Executive Director told journalists.
Sitting in for the Mayor of the Tiko municipality, the Youth Senator for Fako Mokoko John, expressed the municipal authority’s gratitude to LOYOC for the choice of the municipality saying the timing couldn’t be any better.
He said Fako and Tiko youths in particular need empowerment more than ever before, given that the unrest in the English Speaking Regions of the country has forced most of them out of school. He explained that most families depend largely on the Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC), which unfortunately, has been hard hit by the ongoing crisis.
The past speaks for the future
If the fifth edition of Na-We-We Sports Jamboree in Tiko is expected to wow the country, it’s largely because the previous four editions in Bafoussam, Douala, Yaounde and Bertoua have left indelible footprints.
During the 4th edition in Bertoua in the East Region last year, over 300 athletes participated in front of over 5,000 spectators with over 20,000 others following via the social media, LOYOC’s Executive Director disclosed to journalists at the Yaounde press conference.
LOYOC and partners also donated over 3,000 books to students and pupils in the border Region, offered free health screening, food and other basic necessities to communities that also joined the organisers in the planting of over 300 trees.
Of the athletes who took part in the previous edition in Bertoua, more than 150 were female – a remarkable achievement which LOYOC hopes to keep the numbers going up to boost the confidence of girls and women.
But, perhaps, the greatest achievement so far, they say, is how the jamboree has managed to bring influential people (diplomats, government officials, renowned artists and footballers) to play together with refugees, internally displaced persons and local people.
“The Ambassador of the European Union to Cameroon was one of the goalkeepers in Bertoua last year,” Achaleke said.
Partners express satisfaction
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education through Alexandra Bitchoka was thankful to LOYOC, saying the ministry is looking forward to ensuring that other sectors apply the same formula to achieve social cohesion.
The United Nations Peace and Development Advisor for Cameroon Stean Auguste Tshiband reiterated the strong ties that bind LOYOC and the UN as well as their achievements over the years. He stressed the importance of local actors like LOYOC in peace building.
Peter Eselecha of COSMOS Educational Press, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction at their relationship so far, adding that his institution has copied the model from LOYOC and now empowers and provides scholarships to young Cameroonians through basketball.
Also present at the press conference were renowned artiste Bobe Magasco and legendary footballer, former Indomitable Lion Bernard Samuel Tchoutang. Both play a crucial role in influencing public opinion.
