By Tim Mbom Francis
Fifteen-year-old Myrrha Jacqueline Ngono Nkoumou Mpay, the best candidate in the 2025 GCE Ordinary Level examinations, was recently honored for her exceptional achievement by the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Pauline Nalova Lyonga.
Minister Nalova’s award was one of two major accolades presented to Myrrha Mpay after she emerged as the top-performing student in Cameroon.
Miss Myrrha Mpay expressed overwhelming joy at receiving her ministerial award personally from Professor Nalova Lyonga.
The ceremony was held in Yaoundé on 22 November 2025, in the presence of her delighted mother, Mrs Nicole Emmanuelle Nkoumou (née Mpay), and the Turkish Ambassador to Cameroon.
Her second award was presented in Yaoundé on 11 December by the Zacharias Tanee Fomum Excellence Award organisation.
Myrrha Mpay, daughter of Colonel Jean Claude Mpay, lives in Douala in the Littoral Region.
She was, and remains, a pupil at Maarif Schools in Kumassi, Douala.
It was here that Myrrha Mpay sat her GCE examinations in eleven subjects.
The subjects in which she excelled with unmatched distinction were: Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Language, French Language, Chemistry, Physics, Human Biology, Economics, Geography, Religious Knowledge, and Computer Science.
The brilliant young student secured remarkable ‘A’ grades in all eleven.
Who is Myrrha Jacqueline Ngono Nkoumou Mpay?
Myrrha Mpay comes from a well-regarded family, renowned not only for their standing but for their commitment to hard work, determination, resilience, and faith as the cornerstones of their lives.
She is the daughter of Colonel Jean Claude Mpay, who is himself the son of General Philip Mpay.
General Philip Mpay is one of Cameroon’s most distinguished military generals, having successfully overseen the country’s military and paramilitary training schools for many years.
Myrrha Mpay lives with her parents in Douala, in a calm and quiet residential area.
However, it was not merely the environment that enabled her to exceed expectations.
In an era where many of her peers are easily distracted by television and social media, Myrrha Mpay stands apart.
Her self-discipline, appetite for reading, decision to limit phone use, and avoidance of platforms like TikTok greatly contributed to her success.
Furthermore, she comes from a Christian family; her mother, a devoted Catholic, has raised her children to believe that prayer is the key to all achievement.
Thus, prayer has been an essential part of Myrrha Mpay’s daily routine throughout her studies.
Her Ambition to Become a Doctor
From a young age, she has aspired to study in the United States, a country she associates with academic excellence.
With her dream of becoming a doctor, Myrrha Mpay said her father advised her that she must first excel in her studies in Cameroon if she wishes to continue her education in the US.
This advice, she said, added further momentum to her drive to succeed.
To that end, Myrrha Mpay’s approach in class was never to remain quiet when in doubt.
She consistently asked her teachers questions to clarify her understanding
These qualities underpinned Myrrha Mpay’s exceptional performance in the 2025 Cameroon GCE Ordinary Level examinations, where she emerged as the overall best candidate.
The results were published on 1 August 2025, while Myrrha Mpay was on holiday in the US.
“My mum, who had received the news of my success, informed me I had passed my exams. So, I celebrated,” Myrrha said.
“But when I learned I was the national overall best, I didn’t fully grasp what it meant at first. It was when I looked closely at the detailed results that I shouted for joy,” she added.
Moreover, the flood of congratulatory messages from classmates, friends, teachers, school administrators, and others made it clear to Myrrha that something truly significant had happened.
She admitted, however, that she never expected to emerge as the national best.
While she was determined to succeed, acknowledging both her parents’ sacrifices and her own ambition to study in the US, becoming the best in Cameroon had never occurred to her.
Her Success as a Blessing to Her School
Myrrha Mpay’s success has prompted a surge of students seeking admission to her school, Maarif Schools in Kumassi, at the start of the 2025/2026 academic year.
If she succeeded so brilliantly at Maarif, her teachers undoubtedly played a major role—hence the influx.
The school’s Vice Principal for Studies commented:
“This is the first time we have had a pupil raise the reputation of our school so high. It is an honor. We have displayed her photograph throughout the school.”
The Vice Principal went on to say that Myrrha Mpay has been an exceptional pupil throughout her time at the school.
Her average score is said to have consistently ranged between 18 and 19 out of 20.
“She has been our best student for several years now. She is truly exceptional,” he added.
Beyond Her Studies
As the saying goes, “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.”
Myrrha Mpay’s life has not been solely about studying.
Alongside her academic work, she makes time within her well-regulated schedule to relax.
She plays volleyball, tennis, and taekwondo, and enjoys music.
She also has a passion for agriculture. Although she has no farmland, she cultivates groundnuts and lettuce in a small garden at home.
She says that planting a crop makes her feel she is contributing to life and well-being—a feeling that motivates her, given her ambition to become a doctor.
Her mother fully supports this ambition.
Myrrha Mpay Today: In Lower Sixth
Following her unparalleled success as the 2025 GCE O-Level national best, Myrrha Mpay is now in her second term of Lower Sixth.
This means she will sit her GCE A-Level examinations in June 2027.
Naturally, after setting such an impressive national record, there will be pressure to maintain this standard as she prepares for her Advanced Levels in two years’ time.
However, her mother has advised her not to worry excessively, urging her to keep faith, persevere, and trust that she will succeed once again.
Myrrha’s success story—forged through self-discipline, a steadfast love of reading, asking questions, heeding parental guidance, limiting phone use, avoiding TikTok, and, above all, staying close to God—offers valuable lessons for all.
These principles are not only a recipe for academic success but also for nurturing hard-working, responsible citizens for a better future in Cameroon.
