Youth affairs minister unveils blueprint for 58th Youth Day celebrations.

The member of government made public the program outline during a presser in Yaounde on Friday January 26. 

Activities to mark the Day, the minister said, will run for one week.
The theme for this year, he disclosed, is: “Youth, Import-Substitution and Economic Patriotism for Cameroon’s Development”. 

The theme, the minister said, is anchored on government’s commitment to support young people.
He reiterated the need to reduce dependence on import. Minister Mounouna Foutsou said: “To achieve this goal, our youths must increasingly be patriotic, and this is where economic patriotism becomes crucial”. 
The consumption of locally produced goods, he said, must be promoted with an interest on sustainable development.

Locality to host launch of activities, innovations
Activities to launch the Youth Day this year, the minister said, will take place in Nsem, Upper Sanaga Division of the Centre Region. He said this will be done on on January 31 and February 1.
Concerning the march past parade, the minister said innovations will touch on the opening of bouquets, with special squares of youths of the World Youth Camp, young entrepreneurs and athletes.
“We expect to have 81 marchers that is in nine rows and nine columns,” the minister remarked.

The Youth Onzaine
Another highpoint of the Youth Day this year, the minister said, will be the celebration of Youth Onzaine. The activities in this light, he stated, will span 11 days.
Focus, he explained, will be on opportunities the government is making available for young people alongside partners. 
During the exercise, he said energy will be pumped in to ensure young people make use of the openings in a spirit of patriotism and respect of the country’s emblems.
Young people, he said, will also be sensitised on key issues while thus who are vulnerable will be exposed to new opportunities. For 11 days, he said, groups such as commercial bikers will be trained.
The minister also announced the distribution of farm and other agro-pastoral inputs to young people among others.

First World Youth Camp to hold in Yaounde
Another major event in the build up to the Youth Day this year will be the holding of the first-ever World Youth Camp in Cameroon.  
The minister said it will be organised under the auspices of the Cameroon National Youth Council, CNYC. This, he said, will be in partnership with the Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO, International Youth Fellowship, IYF.
Minister Mounouna Foutsou said 5,000 young people from across Cameron and other countries in the globe such as South Korea will attend the Camp. 
He said the gathering is part of the Moral, Civic and Entrepreneurial Rearmament, REAMORC, programme of the Head of State.
Participants will converge at the Yaounde Omnisport Stadium from February 7 to 10. Activities during the Camp will feature; Mind-reading sessions, conferences, training academies, an education and entrepreneurship forum, artistic and cultural performances with the world’s best orchestra, the Gracias Choir from South Korea, as Guest Star.

First Youth Senate in view
The 58th edition of the Youth Day, the member of government equally said, culminate in the putting in place of the first Youth Senate. 
This move, he said, is intended to ensure the holding of a full session of the Youth Parliament, attended by junior parliamentarians and junior senators.