Young Cameroonians mark 2009 Commonwealth Day celebrations

Over one hundred young people from the University of Buea, Youth Associations and small business operators from Buea municipality gathered at the Regional Youth Multipurpose Centre Buea, on Saturday 07 March, 2009, for a one day business development workshop organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs as part of activities to celebrate the Commonwealth day 2009 in Cameroon.

Celebrating under the theme: “thecommonwealth@60 - serving a new generation”, the over one hundred young people who took part in the workshop were drilled on issues related to; identifying business ideas, starting and running a business, including aspects of business segmentation, book keeping, financial handling, and business success factors.

Facilitators of the workshop included; Tedd Eyong a successful business entrepreneur in Buea and Secretary General of Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (OIC) Buea; Ms Tar Petronila, Senior Youth and Action Counsellor and Business development professional from the Ministry of Youth Affairs; and Mr Sanyi Emmanuel Sanyi, Cameroon Caucus representative to the Commonwealth Youth Caucus. These facilitators used the opportunity to exchange with the young people on different empowerment opportunities offered by the Commonwealth Youth Programme and available within the Commonwealth in general. Also, issues related to; adding value, building confidence and self esteem in young people’s lives, so they can effectively be of service to their communities and nation, were also explored.

Each year, the Ministry of Youth Affairs in Cameroon works in close collaboration with the Department of Commonwealth at the Ministry of External Relations, to organise activities marking the celebration of the Commonwealth day. Buea being the colonial capital of the then English Cameroons before independence, and now capital city of the Southwest Region was selected to host the celebrations because of its historical linkages with the former British Empire. Other activities undertaken during this 2009 celebration in Cameroon included, a Commonwealth day official event at the University of Buea on Monday 9 March, Radio debates, round table discussions, Cultural exhibitions and sporting activities.

Cameroon which is estimated to have a growing population of more than 16 Million citizens has 60% of its population made up of young people. The Commonwealth @ 60 serving the new generation, particularly speaks to the need for greater action to be undertaken for the empowerment of young people in Cameroon and around the Commonwealth, if they must live up to enjoy their citizenship and contribute their quota to the development of their nations and society.

Submitted by Emmanuel Sanyi

Cameroon Youth Caucus Representative