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59TH EDITION OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH DAY : HEAD OF STATE’S MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH

My dear young compatriots,

In my message to you last year, in similar circumstances,

shortly after our country’s challenging campaign at the Africa Cup

of Nations tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, I assured you that we

would return to winning ways.

Our brilliant qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of

Nations tournament to be hosted by Morocco, is testimony to the

remarkable achievements of which, you, our talented and

courageous youth are capable, by dint of hard work and

discipline.

On behalf of you all, I would like to sincerely congratulate

our brave Indomitable Lions and their managers. I urge them to

forge ahead this path, to continue bringing joy and pride to the

Cameroonian people and to set an example to our youth. The

Government, under my leadership, will spare no effort to give

them all the support they need.

However, I believe I should emphasize here, that the

positive momentum we are celebrating together today will bear

fruit only if harmony, solidarity and team spirit prevail within and

around the team. In this regard, I appeal to the sense of

responsibility of all stakeholders.

My dear young compatriots,

This year holds many challenges for our country, our people

and our youth. In my recent address to the Nation, I reviewed

the constraints awaiting us in our quest for progress.

Some of them stem from the international environment and

others from our country’s internal circumstances. I will not come

back on that.

On the same occasion, I also highlighted the commendable

efforts made by the Government to address these constraints and

to actively continue to improve the living conditions of our fellowcitizens, based on strong economic growth and the need to

maintain peace and security.

While the vast majority appreciated the sincerity of my

message, some pessimists chose to focus on the fact that one

thing or another had not been done, or had not yet been done,

disregarding the real and verifiable constraints I mentioned.

My dear young compatriots,

Let me assure you: Whatever the criticism, I will always

speak the language of truth to you.

And the truth is that, despite the multiple and complex

obstacles to our development efforts, we have achieved very

much together. Tremendous strides have been made in recent

years, thanks to our combined efforts and the unwavering

support you have lent me.

My dear young compatriots,

I know that, as with all young people worldwide, your

education and training mean everything to you. Understandably,

you are particularly concerned about your entry into the labour

market.

Let’s talk about your training for a moment.

It is clear that, with each passing year, the training

opportunities are getting better and better in terms of quantity

and quality.

The school and university landscape continues to expand

and diversify with the establishment of new primary, secondary

and higher education institutions.

New specialized courses are regularly introduced in

government secondary schools and universities. The

professionalization of training curricula is ongoing in all types of

education systems to provide young graduates with the requisite

technical skills likely to facilitate their access to the labour

market.

Similarly, through operational training centres, young people

without qualifications can learn a trade and find their place in

society. In this regard, I am delighted with the opening of the

Nanga-Eboko and Lembe-Yézoum vocational training centres.

Other centres are being built in various localities around the

country.

I have also instructed the Government to fast-track the

setting-up of municipal employment offices, to provide optimum

support for young jobseekers.

Furthermore, the number of learners in Vocational Training

Centres of Excellence has increased significantly following the

reduction in tuition fees in these institutions.

My dear young compatriots,

No country is spared by the youth unemployment

phenomenon. Commendable efforts are ongoing to reduce it. To

this end, I have instructed the Government to establish a

regulatory framework to support the recruitment of first-time

jobseekers.

This mechanism is intended to provide better support to

young people who have never had a job and to help them find

their first job.

The National Directory of Jobs, Trades and Professions has

also been set up with this goal in mind. It will help to consolidate,

analyse and disseminate information on available job

opportunities in our country.

Furthermore, the Government will continue to ensure that

training opportunities are as relevant as possible to actual labour

market needs, to prevent many graduates ending up

unemployed. Scholarships were awarded to hundreds of young

Cameroonians in 2024.

I have also instructed the Government to involve as many

young people as possible in preserving the environment and

combating climate change.

Such is the objective of the ongoing Green Jobs Promotion

Programme. It will ultimately help to create over ten thousand

jobs through income-generating activities in areas such as

sanitation, waste recycling and organic farming.

In the coming weeks, the contractualization of health

workers that I announced at the end of last year will be launched.

This initiative will spare thousands of young health sector

graduates from social insecurity and improve their living

conditions.

As you can see, Government is actively developing

strategies and tools to reduce youth unemployment. Many

government services are being mobilized for this purpose and

substantial financial resources are allocated each year to achieve

this goal.

Believe me, I will not relent in the fight I have been waging

for years against unemployment, particularly youth

unemployment.

My dear young compatriots,

I want to assure you that public service recruitments will

continue. However, you know as well as I that, whatever the

Government’s determination and our country’s available financial

resources, these will never suffice to offer every young person a

job in the public service or in the private sector.

I can understand the frustration of many of you.

Unfortunately, this frustration leads some of you to wander off

the beaten path, and to go astray.

Others, in desperation, choose the perilous and devious

route of illegal immigration, with often tragic outcomes, as we are

aware.

And yet, as you know, paid employment is not the only

means to enter the labour market.

Other avenues exist. Once again, I urge you to explore

opportunities in sectors such as agriculture and livestock farming.

You should draw inspiration from the success stories of Samuel

Tony OBAM BIKOUE, who has established an agro-industry, or

the young TATA BAKARY, who now runs a large farming complex.

Let me remind you that you are definitely the most

technology-savvy generation. So take advantage of digital

technology to create self-employment opportunities and to

address the challenges of your time.

I would also encourage you to participate in the moral, civic

and entrepreneurial rearmament programme that the

Government has designed to strengthen your civic engagement.

My dear young compatriots,

I understand your legitimate desire to realize your dreams

and improve your living conditions. It is only natural that you

expect the Government to provide appropriate solutions to the

issues that are vital to your fulfilment.

This year, once again, our country will hold important

elections. This will afford those of you who meet the legal

requirements, the opportunity to freely exercise your civic duty.

When the time comes, it will be up to you to make your choice

responsibly, in peace and quiet.

Therefore, I urge you not to pay heed to the siren calls by

some irresponsible individuals. Do not let them use you to

achieve their evil plans of wreaking chaos in our beloved and

beautiful country.

Also, do not be swayed by the false and often unachievable

promises they try to lure you with.

For my part, I assure you that I will continue to stand by

your side in addressing the challenges you face.

Happy Youth Day to you all.

Thank you.

Yaounde, 10 February 2025

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