Youths Discuss Possibilities Of Emergence Before 2035

/By Macdonald Ayang Okumb/

   Cameroonian youths drawn from all walks of life converged on the South West Regional capital, Buea, over this weekend to discuss perspectives and possibilities as to how Cameroon can actually emerge even before 2035.

   This was during a two-day workshop organised Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June by the Student Government Association, STUGA, of the Catholic University Institute of the Diocese of Buea, CUIB. The over 50 selected youths came together under the banner of a forum christened ‘CAMER YOUTHNITED.’

 Fr. Nkeze: Youth Entrepreneurship Is Our Philosophy

 (Pic: google images)

    The workshop that took place at the Molyko campus of the institution, featured panel discussions, networking and group work sessions during which participants brainstormed and proffered practical suggestions, in different domains of national life, on how Cameroon can become an emerging nation much earlier that the 2035 benchmark set by the Head of State; which is some 20 years from now.

    Participants, most of them young entrepreneurs, youth leaders, and students from institutions of higher learning, in their final declaration at the workshop, which they say they’ll forward to the Head of State, all agreed that encouraging youth entrepreneurship, curbing corruption and embezzlement and improving the quality of governance, are some cornerstones to achieving early emergence.

   Some other suggestions touched on aspects such as the importance of understanding national unity, patriotism and civic responsibilities, a retouching of our educational system,  exterminating vices like favoritism, tribalism, gender bias and nepotism, the importance of technology and energy, culture as well as the possibilities of emerging from the soil; that is, agriculture as the lifeblood of Cameroon’s emergence.

   Opening the workshop Saturday, the President and Pro-Chancellor of CUIB, Rev. Fr. George Nkeze lauded the initiative by the young people. He sustained that emergence for Cameroon even before 2035 was possible if the youth can imbibe the entrepreneurial spirit, a thing which he boasted, is the key philosophy driving CUIB.

   STUGA President, Bertrand Momo, on his part, also expressed optimism. He averred that it was time for the youth to take up the challenge of not only being the leaders of tomorrow but also those of today. The Divisional Officer for Buea, Paul Kouam Wokam, was present at the opening ceremony.