In preparation for World Press Freedom Day (May 3, 2026), the President of The ICT University, Professor Victor Mbarika, has launched a FCFA 100 million support fund to assist journalists in Cameroon.

Many journalists continue to work under very difficult conditions, with limited resources and declining advertising revenue. This initiative aims to provide direct support to media professionals across the country. Cameroonian journalists face severe financial precarity, with up to 80% of private media staff enduring months of unpaid salaries, often working without employment contracts. This instability drives ethical compromises, reliance on bribes, and reliance on “reporting under fire” amidst high, dangerous operational costs and limited resources.

• Extremely Unpaid Wages: A significant majority of private media professionals face long periods without salary, sometimes for over a year, forcing many to leave the profession or seek alternative income.
• Lack of Resources and Equipment: Journalists frequently lack basic tools for their jobs, including transport means, proper office spaces, and technical equipment.
• Corruption and “Envelope” Journalism: Due to lack of pay, journalists are susceptible to accepting small bribes (“envelopes”) from politicians or business elites to cover events or alter stories.
• Limited Financial Sustainability of Media Houses: Media outlets suffer from dwindling advertisement revenues and poor market capacity, reducing their ability to pay employees.
• Legal Fees and Physical Risks: Journalists face high costs to defend themselves against malicious lawsuits designed to financially drain them. Furthermore, they face high risks of injury or death, with little to no insurance coverage.
• Inequitable Government Subsidies: The management of public aid for private media is often criticized, with calls for better restructuring to support practitioners

The news has already been welcomed by several Cameroonian journalists who believe that this gesture will promote professionalism and make the press viable.

Prof. Mbarika is a vocal advocate for “building the nation rather than complaining.” He noted that while the government has been supportive of diaspora investments, the private sector and academia must step up to empower the storytellers who document Cameroon’s growth. He has already contributed FCFA 5 million and is calling on 19 additional business men and women to each contribute FCFA 5 million, so the fund can reach the target of FCFA 100 million before May 3.

Contributions must be made ONLY through ICT University official channels:

Official ICT-U Email: president@ictuniversity.edu.cm

Phone / WhatsApp: +1 (225) 288-8883 / +237 673 14 70 12

For Mobile Money Transfers:
Contact us via phone or email.

For Bank Transfers:
Bank: ACCESS BANK
Account Name: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY “ICTU”

Account number: 00401300173

⚠️ No funds should be sent to any individual. Full transparency will be ensured by selected senior journalists from both Anglophone and Francophone media.