Reunification Anniversary - March Past Rehearsals Enter Second Phase

Though the date for the 50th Reunification Anniversary celebrations in Buea remains anybody's guess, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education Bidoung Mkpatt, is busy ensuring meticulous preparations for the civilian march past. He was in Buea on Friday, 22 November 2013 where, accompanied by the Governor of the South West Region Bernard Okalia Bilai, he watched impressive march past drills of pupils and students of primary and secondary schools at the Molyko stadium.

Addressing head teachers after the event, the elated Minister expressed optimism that from what he observed, the pupils and students will give a laudable performance. Minister Bidoung Mkpatt voiced the same message of optimism, solidarity amongst Cameroonians, tolerance and national integration during a keynote address at the Buea Council Hall. He congratulated the creativity of seasoned professionals who have conceived patriotic songs and choreographic displays for the civilian march past.

Patriotic Songs

On what has been done, Co-coordinators heading different sub-committees presented a rundown of their activities. Some 23 primary schools (12 Government, 3 Lay Private and 8 Confectional) with 2.952 pupils will participate in the choreographic march past that will be graced with patriotic songs. The songs will focus on the virtues of peace, national integration and Cameroon's cultural diversity. The Co-ordinator of Secondary Education and Teachers Training Colleges for the march past disclosed that the sub-committee has been working tirelessly since 14 November 2013 with students of 20 secondary schools and two Teachers Training Colleges.

His counterpart for higher institutions of learning noted that the sub-committee has been active with students of the University of Buea, the National Advanced School of Public Works Annex Buea, the Saint Francis Higher Institute of Nursery and Midwifery, CEFAM, Pan African Institute for Development, the University Institute of the Buea Diocese (UIBD), the P&T Annex and two institutions in Douala. Apart from her students participating massively in the march past, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Nalova Lyonga, PhD, said "UB will play host to a lot of events like debates and theatre." Concerning the selection of patriotic songs in English and French, the jury of the sub-committee financially rewarded three of the seven competitors. The first prize for "The Reunification Song" of CFA 500.000 francs went to Mrs Enongene, second prize CFA 350.000 and the third in classification CFA 250.000.