Education, employment destroys poverty cycle - Jaji

Chevening alumnus, Alternate Member of the Senate and Special Adviser to the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, Jaji Manu Gidado has said education and employment are the only ways to destroy the cycle of poverty.

He was speaking on Friday, October 31 in Yaounde, to Youths at the International Relations Institute, IRIC, during an event organised by the Cameroon Chevening Alumni Association, CAMCHEV, under the theme; “ Young people and Sustainable Development: A Chevening Dialogue.”

The dialogue comes on the heels of another which was held at the Pan African Institute of Development- West Africa, PAID-WA in Buea, with the objective of impacting young Cameroonians with managerial and leadership potentials.

Elaborating on the importance of the Chevening scholarships, Senator Jaji said the scholarship gives young leaders the opportunity to study in the UK and return home to improve the status of their country. The Senator said young people can make Cameroon a better place by being the change they want to see. He urged the participants never to misuse opportunities, stating that, only Cameroonians can change Cameroon.

The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Brian Olley said the UK scholarship scheme enables joint prosperity between Cameroon and Her Majesty’s Government. He added that the UK Government, through the Chevening programme, offers more than just an air ticket and a study opportunity.

He said by offering fifteen opportunities for Cameroonians in this year’s Chevening programme, the UK hopes to build a strong relationship with the Cameroon Government, thereby boosting its economy by empowering citizens with enormous international experience in the United Kingdom.

He urged the youth to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, given that, Britain is searching for such people who can serve and impact their different communities.

On her part, the Vice President of CAMCHEV, Mercy Nanji, said the world will be destabilise if young people’s resources and time are misdirected. She called on young people to act locally in favour of sustainable development in a bid to enable Cameroon attain vision 2035.

Another Chevening Alumnus, AshuNyenty, said young people can be part of the global agenda if they start learning to take risks, build confidence and change their cultural altitude. He urged the participants to thrive towards being part of the solution and not the problem. To him, this can only be possible if the youths cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship, which he said, is the momentum that moves people forward.

Participants at the forum discussed the contribution of young people to Cameroon’s development agenda in view of ongoing global conversations on the post 2015 development framework. The Chevening dialogue is a positive step towards building a critical mass of young people, who can play active roles in their communities and empowering them for better engagements in society.

The scholarship programme is open to young persons with leadership and managerial potentials having at least a Bachelors Degree in any legally recognised University with a minimum of two years working experience, comprising internships, voluntary services and paid labour.

Presently, there are over 120 Chevening scholars and fellows in Cameroon.