BY SOLANGE TEGWI
A Cameroonian youth, Awa Brandon Azie, 30, from Momo Division in the Northwest region, though residing in Mbankolo Yaounde, has been recognized with the Jamie Pajoel Innovators (JPI) Award in Nigéria, an honor presented to emerging youth leaders across Africa and beyond.
According to the Cybersecurity student, digital creator and global youth advocate, the recognition comes ahead of the JPI Youth Convention scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria, where he is expected to participate as an International VVIP Delegate. Brandon described the award as his first international recognition, noting that it reflects years of volunteerism, leadership training and community engagement.
“I was just a small boy from Cameroon with a restless heart, hungry for impact, hungry to matter. I had no roadmap, no audience, and no applause, just hungry to contribute something meaningful to a world that felt much bigger than me. As a leadership enthusiast, I have learned that leadership is not about perfection; it’s about commitment, about choosing service over comfort, growth over ego, and purpose over popularity,” Brandon intimated.
The graduate from ICT University expressed gratitude to Dr. Jamie Pajoel, Founder of Jamie Pajoel International (JPI), Jamie Pajoel Leadership University, Workplace Leadership Institute, and Canada for believing in him and for creating a platform that sees potentials beyond noise and values impact over hype. The recognition, he continued, reinforces the importance of early engagement in leadership, service and continuous learning, particularly for young people navigating uncertainty at the start of their personal and professional journeys. In leadership,
You don’t wait until you are ready, you grow into readiness by starting, Brandon advised.
The award adds to a growing number of regional and international platforms recognizing African youth contributions in leadership, innovation and civic engagement. JPI CONNECT cuts across 36 states and operates in 15 Countries.
