Launch Of May 20 Civilian Component: Bambili, The Chosen One!

The exotic and charming town of Bambili found in Tubah sub-division, Mezam division in the North West region of Cameroon was the perfect ultimate site chosen to launch the civilian component of the 51st edition of Cameroon’s National Unity Day which comes up next May 20.

To the presiding Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou, it didn’t come as any accident.  “The choice of Bambili for the launch was that of the Head of State,” Foutsou said during the event that took place on the campus of the University of Bamenda on May 12.

“It is judicious and responds to the context,” he said. “It is judicious and responds to the context. The locality is a testimony of living together and national unity because the University has students from all the ten regions. The students live together in harmony.”

During the ceremony, Foutsou enjoined youths of Bambili in particular and those of the North West region as a whole to shun behaviour that could jeopardise the peace and unity in the country and should instead embrace hard work and resilience for a brighter future.

Taking part were officials from the seven divisions that make up the region.  In their speeches, they expressed the desire to see a peaceful and united Cameroon.

After the launch, it was a happy Minister who took to twitter, describing the mobilisation as “unprecedented”. “(This is a) great moment of communion. Thank you all,” he tweeted.

A day prior, the Minister inaugurated the multi-purpose youth empowerment centre in Baligham, a locality in Santa subdivision still in Mezam division. He described the gesture as a “gift from the Head of State”. Constructed on an approximately 3000m2 piece of land, the multi-purpose youth employment centre has two workshop halls,  four offices and has as mission, help in training youths in agriculture, decoration, tailoring and computer science.

In appreciation, His Majesty Fon Samkie Elvis Gahnyam II of Baligham conferred on the Minister, the title of the one of the “messengers of his people” to the President of the Republic.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for the mark of esteem and confidence,” Foutsou said.

As part of activities leading up to the National Day, officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education have also been touring other regions giving support to young people who are beneficiaries of the three year special youth plan of the Head of State.

“I am using this launching ceremony to hand over all the support of the three-year special youth plan to young beneficiaries of the North West region,” confirmed Foutsou.

March-past rehearsals have also been on the menu. Thousands of pupils and students from the basic, secondary, vocational training, and higher education sectors jammed the Reunification Avenue in the Ngoa-Ekelle neighbourhood in Yaounde on May 10 to take part in the rehearsal of the civilian march-past.

This year’s National Unity Day has been placed under the theme: Defence Forces and Cameroonian People, In Harmony to Safe Guard Peace and National Unity, Bedrock of a Strong and Prosperous Cameroon.