By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
The founder and promoter of the Pondi Foundation, Prof. Jean-Emmanuel Pondi, has stated that the Cameroonian-based Pan-African think-and-do institution would rely on endogenous knowledge to build a sound future for Africa.
Panelists at Pondi Foundation pioneer public conference
He was speaking in Yaounde on April 18, 2026 during a public conference that marked the launching of activities of the Foundation in Cameroon. The conference placed under the theme: “The role of young people in the transformation of Africa in the 21st century,” saw a massive attendance of a teeming youthful population.
In presenting the foundation, Prof. Pondi disclosed that it was founded in 2022 and designed to move Africa from the margins of history to the centre of its own future. He said unlike classical foundations or NGOs, it positions itself as a continental response mechanism – one that goes beyond charity to actively shape Africa’s intellectual, political, economic, and cultural destiny through endogenous knowledge and African-led solutions.
On the key problem the Pondi Foundation shall be tackling, Prof. Pondi remarked that Africa is living through a defining global historical shift, yet remains largely a spectator rather than an actor. Stating that the evidence is stark, he said Africa produces only 1.3% of global scientific knowledge despite representing 18% of humanity while intra-African trade remains below 15% of the continent’s total trade volume, thereby severely limiting economic sovereignty. In addition, violent conflict and governance decline are rising simultaneously across multiple regions of the continent; and external development models continue to dominate African thinking, further deepening dependency.
Prof. Pondi said the vision of the institution borders on fostering a peaceful, prosperous, and self-determining Africa shaped by endogenous knowledge, empowered citizens, and visionary leadership. On the other hand, they are on a mission to promote African-centred research, leadership development, cross-sector collaboration, and policy innovation that strengthen peace, deepen economic integration, and advance sustainable development across the continent.
On their philosophy, Prof. Pondi told the audience that the Foundation is anchored in the conviction that Africa’s future will be secured by Africans who understand, value, and mobilise their own knowledge systems. He said the philosophy rests on five pillars: intellectual traditions as they hold that African societies possess rich knowledge capable of informing modern governance; holistic approach for peace and development are inseparable; economic Pan-Africanism essential for long-term sovereignty; youth leadership (who must be equipped with tools, confidence, and cultural grounding to lead); and cross-sector collaboration essential for accelerating transformation at scale.
He equally noted that the Foundation operates through six interconnected institutional pillars notably the Pondi Institute for Peace and Development geared at training leaders in conflict prevention, mediation, and governance ethics; and develops culturally grounded peace-building methodologies. Others are the Economic Pan-African Lab which promotes regional integration, intra-African trade, and African economic sovereignty through research and advocacy; the Endogenous Knowledge and Archive that supports research rooted in African epistemologies, publishes of African perspectives on global issues, and preserves and digitizes African diplomatic and intellectual archives.
In addition, there is the African Collaboration and Innovation Platform which fosters cross-sector collaboration between academia, government, the private sector, civil society, and the diaspora to solve continental challenges collectively; the Fonlon Leadership Fellowship that aims at building the next generation of African leaders through fellowships, mentorship, leadership academies; and the Pondi Scholars Network across African universities as well as an Annual Pondi Lectures and Pan-African Dialogue Series with the goal of facilitating high-level dialogues and knowledge exchange on critical continental issues through signature public events. One of such is the international conference on mathematic coming up on May 7, 2026.
Other areas of concerned presented by Prof. Pondi had to do with expected short, medium and long term impacts of their work, governance of the Foundation, partnerships, fundraising strategy spanning 2025 – 2028 and targeting US 5-7 million dollars to build a continental platform for African knowledge, leadership, and collaboration. Membership into the foundation is open to all upon the payment of an annual token of FCFA 12000.
Meanwhile, presentations and response to questions at the conference by other panelists notably: Junior MP for the Littoral, Hon. Johnson Njoh Edimomene; the CEO of Cameroon Digital Tank, Lionel Mbiandjeu; Artist and Comedian, Koppo; President of Artificial Intelligence Cameroon, Boris Kouekam; and a young political and cultural analyst popularly known as La Peritzocratie drew applause from the audience.
Acknowledging the participation of all, Prof. Pondi declared that the Pondi Foundation is ultimately a call to every African heart – to rise, reclaim Africa’s voice, and shape its own future, because this the moment for Africa to stop watching history unfold and start writing it together.
