By Bakah Derick in Bamenda
The Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth has prescribed education as the only way to a better future for the youths.
The Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth has prescribed education as the only way to a better future for the youths.
"The Man of Wisdom" Mbayu Felix was speaking in Bamenda on Thursday July 27 during
the launching ceremony of the National Popularisation campaign on the
Commonwealth Core Values and principles. Placed under the theme; Unity in
diversity inspiring Cameroonian youth through the Commonwealth Core values and
principles of respect for the rule of law, tolerance, mutual respect and
understanding, Minister Mbayu used the event to address himself to the current
education crisis facing Bamenda, the place of his birth and the Northwest and
Southwest regions in general experiencing all times low school attendance rates
due anti school going campaigns as a means of civil disobedience.
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Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in
charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth with youths in Bamenda
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“The Commonwealth crystalised these core values after going
through many testing and difficult times because member countries have seen and
experienced nearly everything we see and experience today. After all of that
they release that the glow that keeps the various components of society
together; the glow that keeps all our differences into a positive purpose are
these core values and principles because my dear youths we are not born the
same.” Minster Mbayu said commenting on the theme.
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| The Man of Wisdom Speaking in Bamenda |
Describing the Northwest region as home to some of the best
primary, secondary and high schools as well as higher institutions, the
Minister noted “Yes ladies and gentlemen education is important.” Quoting
Nelson Mandela he described education as the equalizer. “It is thanks to
education that the child of a shoe mender can become the leader leading
children of former presidents. How can you then let go the wonderful
educational system, the wonderful educational institutions and structures of
our region go to ruins.”
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| Minister Mbayu Felix speaks to the press |
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| Chongwain Christelle Bay Youth Leader speaking |
Speaking earlier as a youth leader, Chongwain Christelle Bay noted “the theme of
this come together points to the important role youth have to play towards
contributions for a meaningful, conducive and peaceful atmosphere even in times
of diverse opinions. This event comes at a time marked by a challenging socioeconomic
context especially in the North West and South West regions coupled with other
upheavals like the threat by Boko Haram in the North just to name a few. In all
of these, the youths have been the most hit as can be seen through key
indicators as: increase in number of youth dropping out of school, unwanted
teenage pregnancies, spread in HIV and other STDs and the rise in unemployment
as over 4000jobs have been lost’ including rising crime wave and other
associated social ills. The immediate past president of Mandela Washington Fellows Alumni expressed the hope that a
platform be created to “engage more in promoting intergenerational dialogue,
tolerance and mutual understanding in our families and communities so that the
vision of the youths would be blended with the experience of the elderly to
create lasing positive social change in our country.”
The Bamenda event which was first for the “Old Town boy or
Abakwa boy” Mbayu Felix since his appointment afforded him the opportunity to connect directly with
his people and make the official call for his people to do everything else but
leave education because it is the only futureproof for the young people.
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| The Bamenda event respecting National Symbols |