A quarter of the world's population is young, or 1.8 billion adolescents. In Cameroon, they are 10 million young people, half of the population.

The representation of the United Nations Fund for population (UNFPA) in Cameroon launched Friday, 28 November, in Yaoundé the report on the State of the world population 2014 under the theme: "the power of 1.8 billion adolescents and the transformation of the future". Different stakeholders during the ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé in partnership with the Ministry of economy, planning and the development of the territory (Minepat), have focused on the challenges at the national level.

Young people from 15 to 34 years of age constitute 35% of the Cameroonian population. The elderly fringe of less than 18 years is half of the national population, slightly more than 10 million people, according to the representative of the UNFPA in Cameroon, Barbara Sow. The main challenge is to achieve the demographic dividend by youth «active workers and not dependent unemployed», said the representative.

And there are many sites to enable young people to realize their full potential and participate in economic growth: provide equal opportunities for boys and girls; to end early marriage and demeaning practices at the girl; strengthening the employment market; promote the equality (50% for girls) and 50% of boys.

The Minister delegated to the Minepat, Yaouba Abdoulaye, shelled other problems: rampant unemployment, exploitation, absence in decision-making bodies. At the institutional level it was recalled that all the initiatives have been put in place by the Government of Cameroon: the creation of a Department entirely dedicated to youth in 2004; the establishment of the national employment fund; the national youth Council; multifunctional Centres for the promotion of youth (CMPJ); the Agency of the national civic service for participation in development, to name but a few.

Programs have also been created to support the framework and the integration of youth, he added: the players in the sector support program (PIAASI); the support Programme, sites with high-intensity labor approaches (HIMO); etc.

"I invite the Cameroonian youth to be more responsibility," recommended Yaouba Abdoulaye in respect of this category of the population, while seeking a continuous accompaniment of the international partners of Cameroon. "We cannot afford not to reach the next deadline, i.e. the objectives of sustainable development (ODD) in 2030.