As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Cameroon has donated 500 English-language books to the library of Alfred Saker College in Douala, in a bid to rekindle students’ passion for reading.
The donation was made on March 19, 2026, during a visit by a UBA delegation led by the Regional Director for Littoral 1, Mahama Moustapha Biondokin. The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader commitment to supporting education and youth development in Cameroon.
“UBA, as a responsible corporate citizen, has an obligation to the Cameroonian population. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders and future professionals. We must do everything possible to support their growth and integration into society. This gesture is about giving young people the opportunity to embrace the culture of reading,” said Mahama Moustapha Biondokin.
He further highlighted the growing decline in reading habits, particularly due to the influence of social media. “We have observed that with the rise of social networks, people are investing less time in reading. Many believe everything can be done on a phone. While digital access to books exists, it is still highly recommended to engage with physical books in real time,” he added.
The choice of English-language books also reflects the importance of English as one of the most widely spoken languages globally, and Cameroon’s bilingual context. UBA aims to promote English proficiency among students, noting that despite the country’s bilingual status, many young people still lack a strong command of the language.
Alfred Saker College, one of the largest secondary schools in Douala, was selected as a beneficiary in recognition of its size and impact. The initiative also served as an opportunity for UBA to celebrate and encourage students.
The school administration warmly welcomed the donation. “UBA’s initiative will have a significant impact. It will help revive the reading culture, increase library attendance, and encourage students to rediscover the habit of reading. Along the way, it will also enhance their listening, writing, imagination, and creativity skills,” said Esther Dorcas Njoh Eteki, Principal of Alfred Saker College. She added that the books would also contribute to improving students’ proficiency in English.
Promoting reading culture through the ‘Read Africa’ initiative
The donation falls under the “Read Africa” project, an initiative of the UBA Foundation aimed at reviving the reading culture among young Africans. According to Fointama Beizia, Head of Corporate Communications at UBA Cameroon, the program addresses the steady decline in reading habits among children and students across the continent.
“Today, children are reading less and less. Their interest in informative and educational books is rapidly declining. This is one of the challenges we aim to address within Africa’s education sector,” he noted.
Young people are increasingly distracted by digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, among other factors that continue to negatively impact the education system across Africa.
The UBA Foundation launched the “Read Africa” initiative in 2011 to promote and strengthen reading culture in secondary schools. The program involves the distribution of English literature books to students across the continent.
In Cameroon alone, more than 10 schools have already benefited from the initiative, with over 20,000 books donated to school libraries. The program has reached institutions across several regions, including the South West, Littoral, West, South, North, and Centre in recent years.
