A few months ago, a parent in Limbe was searching online for a school for his daughter. He typed the school’s name into Google hoping to learn about admission requirements, fees, and contact details. Nothing appeared except an old Facebook page that had not been updated in years.
He moved on and found another school with a simple website. Within minutes, he had downloaded the admission form, viewed photos of the campus, and sent an inquiry.
That experience reflects what happens every day across Cameroon.
For Bobvalla Lesly, a young web developer based in Cameroon, this is the reason he strongly believes every institution should have a website.
“People no longer wait to visit an office before making decisions,” he explains. “They search online first. If they cannot find information about your institution, they may assume you are not active, organized, or trustworthy.”
Many institutions in Cameroon still depend entirely on social media platforms to communicate with students, parents, patients, and clients. While social media is useful, Bobvalla believes it should support a website rather than replace it.
Social media accounts can be suspended, hacked, or become difficult for people to find. Posts disappear quickly in crowded timelines, and important information gets buried. A website, on the other hand, serves as a permanent home where visitors can always find accurate and up-to-date information.
Schools can publish admission requirements, tuition fees, academic programs, and news updates. Clinics can share their services, introduce their medical team, and allow patients to book appointments. Training centers can showcase their success stories and answer common questions without receiving dozens of phone calls every day.
According to Bobvalla, having a website is no longer about prestige.
“It is about accessibility,” he says. “Someone living in Buea should be able to learn about a university in Douala without traveling. A parent in Bamenda should be able to compare schools before making a decision.”
He also points out that institutions with websites often have an advantage in search engines. When people search for schools, clinics, or businesses in their area, websites have a better chance of appearing in search results than social media pages alone.
As more Cameroonians gain access to smartphones and affordable internet services, the expectation to find information online continues to grow.
For Bobvalla, the question is no longer whether institutions need a website.
The real question is how many opportunities they are losing by not having one.