Dr. Yanick Kemayou is Co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Kabakoo Academies, a pioneering organization reimagining learning institutions in West Africa. From his early days as a street vendor in Cameroon to earning a PhD in Economics and teaching at prestigious institutions, including the University of Vienna and the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, his journey embodies the transformative power of education.
At Kabakoo, Dr. Kemayou developed the Highdigenous approach — a framework that bridges emerging technologies with endogenous knowledge systems to create locally-rooted innovations. This model has enabled over 30,000 young Africans to develop sustainable livelihoods in contexts where formal employment is scarce.
Recognized by the World Economic Forum and UNESCO as a pioneer of the future of education, his work demonstrates how institutions can evolve to meet contemporary challenges while drawing strength from endogenous knowledges. Through Kabakoo’s evidence-guided approach, Dr. Kemayou is showing how learning institutions can become catalysts for socioeconomic resilience and value creation in rapidly changing societies.
