Dear young compatriots,
H. E. Paul BIYA, President of the Republic of Cameroon
In my address to you at this same time
last year, I gave you a glimpse of our renewed economic growth and, of
course, positive job creation prospects. Well, this recovery was
confirmed in the course of last year. There are statistics to prove it.
As I mentioned in my 2014 end-of-year
message, 283 443 jobs have been created by government services and
enterprises. In 2015, we expect 350 000 new jobs to be created. At this
time next year, we will have the opportunity to take stock of all the
jobs created since 2011.
Obviously, this is commendable. However,
we must also recognize that we are far from a glorious sustainable
recovery that can alone transform our country into an eldorado.
Such bright spell must be sustainable
and consolidated to lead to economic emergence. At any rate, our youth
will continue to reap its benefits.
I am well aware that many of you,
whether educated or not, are unemployed. I am well aware that to
survive, many of you resort to precarious options that are unrelated to
your training or qualification.
This situation is in several cases due to the global context as well as our educational system.
For nearly twenty years, unfair terms of
trade and successive economic and financial crises have slowed down our
development process and thus made job opportunities scarce.
Another possible cause is the delay in gearing our educational system towards professionalization.
For a long time, we believed that it
sufficed to make education accessible to the greatest number and
continually raise its level, to mechanically resolve the unemployment
problem.
Our primary, secondary and high schools,
universities and professional schools must constantly adapt to the
changing world. In our quest for development, we should be guided by the
need to train youths who are capable of building our country.
Technological advancement has changed
the way things are done. The new economy is computer-dominated. We
should focus on training technicians and engineers. The ongoing
professionalization of secondary and higher education seeks to meet this
requirement. In this light, manual labour, which has been neglected,
will definitely need to be given its deserved place from primary school.
In a country like ours, whose ambitions
in the areas of agriculture, mining, tourism, arts, sports and the
environment are an open secret, and where handicraft and small
enterprises still occupy a prominent position, it is indispensable to
have better training institutions that prepare our youth for these
trades.
These sectors are real niches for growth and skilled jobs such as plumbing, electricity and motor and industrial mechanics.
Industrialization, especially key anchor
projects and our agricultural policy will only increase our needs in
these specialties. Needless to point out that in more advanced
countries, such trades are often better paid than those in the business
and service sectors.
From that perspective, given the
relatively recent adoption of professionalization of education in
Cameroon, its impact on employment will definitely not be immediate.
You might then ask me: given the urgency and the fact that youth are naturally impatient, what do we do and how?
I urge the Government to use the
existing structures to continue providing vocational training, promoting
self-employment and micro-project financing. I also urge every trades
chamber, employers’ organization, in short, the private sector, to pull
its own weight.
Dear young compatriots,
Our country’s ongoing and irreversible transformation is only possible with you, and for you.
How could it be otherwise when the youth represent one half of our population?
The youth are also known to be
passionate. That, I understand. However, they should show some
moderation in their drive and be realistic.
Do not be misled notably by birds of ill
omen, dreamers and enthusiasts of virtual calls for destabilization
through the social networks. These irresponsible prophets are
desperately seeking to manipulate you.
Never has our national cohesion been as
indispensable as during this delicate period when our country is facing
external threat from barbaric enemies.
It is not at a time when our nation’s outlook is bright that we should listen to calls for division and destabilization.
Dear young compatriots,
I have always trusted you. I know you
treasure our unity. I know you cherish peace, progress and justice. I
also know your good sense and your pragmatism.
I am certain that the horrific scenes
being witnessed in some countries torn by civil war, religious
conflicts, population displacements and anarchy will deter you from
getting involved in such adventures.
Take the example of our young soldiers
who are ensuring our security along our borders. Their bravery, their
sense of duty and sacrifice show us what utmost love for fatherland can
be.
The war they are waging on our behalf,
at the risk of their lives, involves the entire Nation. There is no
doubt that with the support of us all, we will emerge victorious.
Friendly countries that cherish peace and freedom, the international
community and world opinion are on our side.
Happy Youth Day to all of you!
Long live the Cameroonian youth!
Long live Cameroon!
Yaounde, 10 February 2015
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