Meet VIIMMA 2025’s Two Youngest Awardees
By Nchendzengang Tatah
The eighth edition of the Victoria International Merit Awards(VIIMMA), organised by the Cameroon Association of Media Professionals (CAMP), held in Limbe on December 12, 2025, spotlighted several media personalities from around the country.
Amongst them were two reporters in their early 20’s; Seilenu Precious Indah and Bekali Cyprain. The two were conferred first degrees in Journalism and Mass Communication earlier that day at the University of Buea(UB).
While Indah was named Female Sports Journalist of the Year, Bekali clinched the Elah Geoffrey Prize for Best Print Reporter.
As stated by the VIIMMA Award committee chair, Kiven Fonyuy, who is Programmes Officer at the United Nations Human Rights Office for Central Africa, the awards were merit-based. A show that the works of many are seen, and appreciated.
Defiling odds
Indah, 21, currently studying for a Master’s in Journalism, is a passionate sports writer with an interest in football. She primarily practices on her Facebook handle, “Seilenu Precious Indah”, and also contributes to Buea-based HiTV. Sports journalism is generally male-dominated in her community.
“It encourages me to continue pushing boundaries and to affirm that, as a woman, limitations are self-imposed. Through passion, consistency, and hard work, doors will open, and success will be achieved solely on merit,” Indah stated.
Award for conflict victims
Similarly, Bekali Cyprain is a humanitarian and environment reporter contributing to Cameroon’s most read English newspaper, The Guardian Post (TGP) and the environment-oriented press, Eco-Outlook.
The award he admitted was a crown for his continuous efforts through people-centred reports fostering advocacy for humanity, peace and change. He particularly dedicates the distinction to victims of the ongoing socio-political crisis in Dipenba, a heavily affected community in Konye, South West. Bekali recently carried out an investigative report in the area published in TGP issue 3658 of December 17, 2025.
For her part, Indah honours her mother with the award for powering her work through her sacrifices. Both Indah and Bekali add the distinction to their gallery bearing several awards from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, UB.
