It was another exciting moment in Bamenda with various activities to mark the National Youth Day. Thousands of pupils and students from nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary schools joined Northwest Governor Adolph Lele L’afrique on the Commercial Avenue ceremonial to celebrate the 49th edition of Youth Day.

Activities which lasted over five hours were marked by the replay of President Biya’s message to the Youths, handing over of Awards of excellence to some youths by Northwest Governor, and a long march pass by educational establishment, professional and vocational training centers and the youth wing of the ruling CPDM party.

According to the Regional Governor, the event was successful as “children came to participate to show love for country and in support to the Head of State in the fight against Boko Haram.”

On the awards of excellence, Adolph Lele explained that giving awards to the youths in the informal sector is to expose them to employers and businessmen for possible employment.

He also added that the award was to encourage those who are not going to school, but are in gainful activities and areas like livestock, handicraft and agriculture to understand that they too can contribute to Cameroon’s emergence.

Celebrated under the theme, “youths and the preservation of peace for an emergent Cameroon” this year’s event was expected to create awareness on the need for youths to contribute in more than one way for the preservation of peace particularly against the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram.

While some opinion in the country see this event as a smoke screen to the real problem Cameroonian youths are facing, the Regional Governor argues that, “from the faces of the youths who marched passed expressing their talents, they were happy as a sign of love for the day and its activities”.