On Thursday, February 11, 2016, Cameroonian Youth were rallied in a grand style, throughout the national territory, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this “Wonder Day”.
We say “Wonder Day” because even the initiator, in the person of the Late President Ahmadou Ahidjo did lack the eloquence with which to tell the world why 11th February 1960, which had its own historical meaning as the plebiscite date, had to become a Youth Day.
Since then therefore, there are many cynics among Cameroonians, who have continued to question why this day’s celebration is manifested as a Youth Day instead of giving it the true label and historical value as the day when the Cameroonian people took a very firm decision that changed both the history and geopolitical formation of the world.
The arguments of these cynics is that, whatever the geopolitical shape that Cameroon has taken today, the course to this point passed through the international community, represented by the United Nations Organization (UNO) in whose custody lies all the historical facts that give full meaning to 11th February, as a day to commemorate the decision that changed the destiny of a people. We can however not question the right of any one to express his or her opinion, not even on an issue as important as the one that touches on our youth.
Taking this argument from whatever angle, be it from the side of the cynics, or the initiator himself, the truth remains that we cannot wind the hand of the clock backwards. We have accepted to dedicate this day to the future and wellbeing of our youth, so be it. And, accepting things as they are, we should do so with all zeal.
We have, most of the time paid lip service to the youth, raising in them, false hope that never pays any dividends.
What we should remember is that we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of this day. What this means is that for the past fifty years, not much has changed in favour of a generation that is fragile and therefore prone to revolt.
A generation that is constantly moving upward, meaning that as many graduate into adulthood so too,others are born to fill the gap. But to allow those graduating into adulthood to do so without guaranteeing them a better place in the wider society, simply amounts to destroying their future with our very hands.
For too long, we have continued to sing the same song that gives them the hope that they are the leaders of tomorrow. It is our unalterable wish that the tune and the tone of that song change. They cannot continue to wait for a future that brings no good news for them.
One thing government must be commended for, is that some recognizable attention is being paid to creation of professional training schools to cater for the needs of the youths. But what can justify this effort is the possibility that these youths do not just leave school and roam the streets. They must find jobs.
Nothing is capable of filling the emptiness in the youth than creating opportunities that will give them the assurances that they are part of the same society in which no one must be left out.Considering that the bone of contention is that every Cameroonian must find something to do, other than just irking out a living. Obviously, nothing speaks better for the youth that does not include an economic plan that will once and for all reduce the high percentage of unemployment in our midst.
Fortunately this year’s celebration of the youth day comes amidst government’s recent promise to create 35,000 jobs through its emergency plan. This was what the Minister of Employment announced during a conference in Yaounde on February 3, 2016.
We are not saying Minister Zacharie Perevet was simply preparing the minds of the youth for a happy 50thanniversary celebration. It is the timing of this announcement that interests us. It should only be hoped that the youth did not leave their various ceremonial grounds with the anxiety that in the next few days, the gates of heaven will be opened. Government plans are most of the time slow but certain.
As a backup to this promise however, the Head of State made it more concrete and assuring in his address to the Youth on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Youth Day celebration.
In the speech the president announced his instructions for the launching of a FCFA 120bn three-year ‘Special Youth Plan’, which he believes will facilitate and accelerate the economic integration of the Youth.
This, ofcourse is the kind of concrete assurance that the Youth had hoped for in the past 50 years. That FCFA 102Bn has been put at the disposal of a ‘Special Youth Plan’ sounds a boom for the Youth, but to those who will be entrusted with the management of this plan, it also sounds bewitching.
As it has always been, a good percentage of this sum will disintegrate from the whole only to land on strange grounds. Our wish is that the president should himself assume, even if in camera, the role of principal supervisor, lest his good intention lands on marshy ground.
With the president’s assurance, we would urge Cameroonians not to go home with the perception that this year’s celebration was just another jamboree.
