Young people in the country have been tasked to rise up to the terrorist challenges facing the nation.

The call was made in Yaoundé yesterday, August 12, 2015, by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Bidoung Mkpatt, on the occasion of the 16th International Youth Day celebration on the theme, “Youth Civic Engagement.”

Speaking at the Yaoundé City Hall, Bidoung Mkpatt said the youth could show their concern by joining the blood donation campaign that began yesterday at the Yaoundé Military Hospital. The blood is meant for soldiers wounded in the war against Islamic State of West Africa (defunct Boko Haram) militants. Similarly, the Minister urged the youth to report any suspicious people in their midst to the authorities. “Cameroonian youth must all be united in combating Boko Haram,” he insisted.

While acknowledging that youth challenges are the same all over the world, Bidoung Mkpatt said this year’s theme was timely, given the ongoing national civic education campaign. He said young people must actively contribute to proffering solutions to national issues. Earlier, the President of the Cameroon National Youth Council, Jean Marc Afessi Mbafor, said youth engagement entails contributing to building democracy and the nation as a whole.

“Youth have a role to play as active citizens,” declared Mbafor, while promising that they will ensure the success of the ongoing National Civic Education campaign.

A representative of UNESCO read the Director General, Irina Bokova’s, message at the event, harping on the contribution of youth to living together and national well being.

Attended by some cabinet ministers and other dignitaries, the celebration also saw an exhibition by young people with paintings condemning insurgency and calling for national solidarity in the face of the unprecedented security challenge.