The British High Commissioner, BHC to Cameroon, H.E. Matt Woods has called on parents in Cameroon to take advantage and get their children enrolled into the Yaounde-based Kelden International Pathways Centre to enable their children benefit from transnational education opportunities.
BHC, NCUK, Kelden officials & pioneer batch of IFY students at matriculation event
He was speaking on December 16, 2025 on the occasion of the official inauguration of the NCUK International Centre and the matriculation ceremony at Kelden International University Institute.
The Kelden International Pathways Centre, it should be recalled, is the fruit of a partnership agreement that was signed in Yaounde on April 25, 2025 between the Northern Consortium of UK, NCUK Universities International Study Centre and the Kelden International University Institute.
Advanced Level GCE holders in at least two subjects, excluding religion, who enroll into the International Foundation Year, IFY programme of the Centre, are open to transnational education opportunities to study in top ranking universities in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, and so on.
H.E. Matt Woods told the students that they were the first batch of beneficiaries of the transnational education opportunities between Cameroon and the UK. Encouraging Cameroonian parents to enroll their children at Kelden International Pathways Centre, the diplomat said the British High Commission is very supportive of the programme.
“It is a wonderful initiative between Kelden and NCUK. It is great to be here today to see the first batch of students matriculated for the IFY study here in Cameroon and this will be followed by studies in top universities in the UK or other countries. It is interesting to meet the students and hear what they intend to achieve after studying.
“My message to them is very clear: you can do what you want but the only thing you can think is holding back yourself. I salute the partnership between NCUK, Kelden and AECO Education and congratulate all those who worked hard for us to successfully launch this initiative here today,” he stated.
The Founder of Kelden International University Institute, Linus Njodzeka Leila disclosed that the school was created some 10 years ago as a training centre for local council officials and later metamorphosed to offer HND courses under the supervision of the University of Bamenda. And that today, the institution is hosting the NCUK IFY programmes that prepare students for first year undergraduate studies in top-ranking universities in the UK and other countries.
Meanwhile, the Regional Manager of NCUK for Middle East and Africa, Liesl May, who was the guest of honour at the occasion, said apart from presenting the programmes and the requirements, it is equally important for parents to know what their children are embarking on.
She told the students that wherever they want to go, to study and what they want to be in future is quite important. “For choosing the NCUK, I can assure that you are already on the road to success.
“But there are many students that start out and don’t know exactly what they want to do. Many are not exactly aware of the path that they want to take. And this is also where we provide the opportunity for students to study at IFY which will help you prepare and set up for your success, help give you the tools to figure out what is needed to get access into world class universities and opportunities,” she maintained.
Liesl May said at NCUK, they are proud to work with colleagues, academic staff and most of all, the parents who are supporting the students on their journey to success. “And working on international education, we are here to celebrate the students, their achievements and success. We encourage you to reach out, connect and network to understand what the programmes really are because it constitutes investment for your future.
“At NCUK, we shall continue to work with Kelden, focusing on Cameroon as a critical market for expansion to provide international university opportunities to every student that has the desire to succeed,” she promised.
The Academic Manager at the Kelden International University Institute, Cyprian Kudi told reporters that the International Pathways Centre has been given the opportunity by NCUK to run four programmes: the IFY, International Year one, and two, and pre-master’s programme. He said the programmes are currently going on as was demonstrated during the matriculation ceremony.
Kudi disclosed that some 10 pre-master’s students who have completed their courses are at the verge of leaving Cameroon to continue their studies in the UK. “Currently at the IFY, we are having more than 15 students. Many more wanted to come but the deadline for registration had already ended. So, we are calling on the population to enroll in January when we shall be having the pre-master’s programme. And in October 2026, we shall be having IFY, International Year one and pre-master’s programme as well.
This is an opportunity for parents in Cameroon and beyond to give the students transnational quality education. You got the British High Commissioner to Cameroon urging all to benefit from this opportunity,” Kudi noted. The CEO of AECO Education, Ewang Atabe used the event to narrate how he works for institutions to sign partnerships with NCUK while the Director of the British Council Cameroon, Caroline Ndifor spoke on what the council is doing to support what NCUK and Kelden are doing.
By Nformi Sonde Kinsai
