The Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education, Dr. Kilo Vivian Asheri, has urged winners of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope 2026 to be Ambassadors of Peace.
She said this during an official audience she granted the winners of the race in Yaounde on March 11. The audience focused on athletes hailing from the Nso community of Bui Division, including Senior Women’s Champion Mary Grace Dzekenyuy Wirba, third-place senior finisher Tata Carine, and junior men’s bronze medalist Musa Oumarou.
During the event, Minister Kilo lauded their remarkable physical stamina and praised them for bringing immense pride to their ancestral land and the entire nation.
The Minister emphasized the symbolic importance of their victory, noting that the athletes successfully transformed a geographical landscape often associated with recent hardships into a stage for positive achievement.
She described the Nso and Bui people as a “gift to mankind,” characterized by intelligence and boldness, and urged the community to continue channeling these inherent strengths toward national glory. By receiving the trophies in her cabinet, she reinforced the message that the zeal and direction shown by these young Cameroonians serve as a blueprint for the country’s youth.
In line with the sports philosophy of President Paul Biya, Minister Kilo reminded the athletes that no sporting achievement is “minor” compared to others. She noted that just as the nation celebrates its soccer stars, it equally values its elite mountain runners for the fame and prosperity they bring to the Republic.
The Minister used the platform to encourage other young people with athletic potential to step forward and compete, asserting that discipline and consistency are the primary requirements for turning small beginnings into grand legacies.
Beyond the celebration of physical excellence, the meeting took on a deeply poignant tone as the champions discussed the situation in their home region. Both Mary Grace Dzekenyuy Wirba and five-time champion Tata Carine expressed a profound desire to return to their villages to celebrate with their people.
Carine specifically shared her dream of establishing a training program for young girls in Kumbo, a goal she noted is currently hindered by the lack of stability in the area. She emphasized that a peaceful environment is essential for her to mentor the next generation of female athletes.
The reception concluded with a powerful charge from Minister Kilo for the athletes to serve as “peace ambassadors” for the Nso community and Cameroon at large. In response, the 18-year-old Musa Oumarou expressed his unwavering commitment to winning more trophies to bring joy to his division and the Republic.
The visit highlighted a mutual hope: that the excellence displayed on the slopes of Mount Cameroon can be mirrored in a return to peace, allowing these national heroes to inspire their communities directly from home.
