Yaoundé, Cameroon June 2026 Yango, an international technology company providing mobility and digital services, in partnership with Zindi, Africaʼs largest network for data scientists and AI builders, successfully hosted the 2026 Yaoundé Mobility Prediction Hackathon, bringing together young innovators from across Cameroon to develop practical solutions to real-world urban mobility challenges using artificial intelligence and data science.

Held virtually on April 18, 2026, the one-day competition brought together more than 300 participants from universities, workplaces, and technology communities across the country. Participants were challenged to build machine learning models capable of predicting taxi travel times using factors such as pick-up and drop-off locations, time of day, and weather conditions helping them explore how data can improve urban mobility systems. The hackathon generated strong engagement, with participants producing 861 model submissions in a single day, representing more than 2,000 combined hours of work from participants applying their skills to real-world challenges through technology and collaboration.

As the first Yango hackathon hosted in Cameroon, the initiative reflects the companyʼs broader commitment to supporting digital skills development, youth empowerment, and innovation across Africa. Similar initiatives have previously been organized in Ghana, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, DRC, and Côte dʼIvoire, positioning Cameroon within a growing network of African technology communities.

Beyond the hackathon itself, Yango has continued investing in education, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment initiatives in Cameroon. Through the LeadMi initiative, Yango sponsored students, providing access to professional development sessions covering CV writing, personal branding, emotional intelligence, marketing psychology, and corporate social responsibility. The company also donated 20 computers to Lycée Technique Bilingue de Mewoulou, equipping students with tools to strengthen their skills in coding, digital research, and data analysis.

Yango has also actively supported STEM access initiatives, including sponsorship of the Technovation Challenge for girls in Cameroon during the 2023–2024 season, reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to technology education and encouraging more young women to pursue careers in innovation and STEM. Source: Investir au Cameroun coverage on Technovation Girls Cameroon partnership 

The recent hackathon participants gained hands-on experience in machine learning, exposure to real-world datasets, and opportunities to collaborate with peers from different backgrounds while applying their skills to practical urban challenges.

“Yangoʼs services are built on cutting-edge technology, and at our core, we are a company driven by creators, scientists, engineers, and passionate about solving problems through innovation. It is a pleasure to share this knowledge with students and young professionals in Cameroon because we believe technology skills can create real opportunities and solve everyday challenges. We believe local talent will play a major role in shaping the future of innovation in Cameroon,” said Dr. Clovis Pilla, Country Manager of Yango Cameroon.

“We are proud of and grateful for our long-standing partnership with Yango to bring AI hackathons to students across Africa. This collaboration has empowered thousands of students across the continent to engage with data science and machine learning in new ways, and contribute their expertise to improving their communities. Congratulations to all the winners, as well as the more than 300 participants, many of whom built an AI model for the first time in this hackathon.” said Celina Lee, Zindiʼs CEO and co-founder 

The competition concluded with the recognition of top-performing participants whose projects demonstrated strong potential to address mobility challenges through predictive analytics and artificial intelligence. This is the top hackathon where we had so many students joining from different universities. Among them: AIMS Cameroon, ISSEA-CEMAC, l’École Nationale Supérieur de Polytechnique de Yaoundé, The University of Bamenda and l’Université de Yaoundé I (UYI).

The top three winners included:
• 1st Place Overall: ZE II Jonathan Patrick & BIYEKOA DJINGUI Irénée, Team Équipe Vainqueur
• 2nd Place Overall: VANA ZOKOM Elie
• 3rd Place Overall: WANCHI YEN Lucia & NYONG NKWAIN Godwill
For first-place winners ZE II Jonathan Patrick and BIYEKOA DJINGUI Irénée, both computer science students and teammates “Équipe Vainqueur”, the hackathon was more than a competition but an opportunity to put classroom knowledge into practice.

“We participated because we wanted to challenge ourselves, apply our skills to a real problem, and learn from others who are passionate about data and AI solutions. Working with real datasets helped us better understand how technology can be used to solve challenges people face every day. This experience has motivated us to keep learning and improving our skills to be able to contribute to sustainable technology driven solutions in Cameroon.

The initiative also contributed to promoting more inclusive participation in technology through a pre-event beginner workshop and broader outreach efforts, with women representing 14% of total participants reflecting the growing diversity and potential within Cameroonʼs data science ecosystem and positions Yango as more than a mobility service provider, but also as a long-term technology partner supporting innovation, knowledge sharing, and the development of digital talent across Africa.