At youth parliamentary congress: Junior MPs, Senators tasked to be catalyst of change in communities.

This was the message that cut across the different speeches made during the first-ever youth parliamentary congress organised in Yaounde. The ceremony which took place February 9, marked the 7^th edition of the Youth Parliament.

Held at the Yaounde Conference Centre, it was organised in prelude to the National Youth Day on February 11. It was under the theme: “Youth and participation in local development for the promotion of peace and social cohesion”. 

The session was chaired by the Senior Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Hilarion Etong, on behalf of Rt Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, Speaker of the National Assembly.  

Hon Hilarion Etong was assisted during the sitting by the Vice President of the Senate, Senator Vaniganssen Mochiggle; the Coordinator of the Parliamentary Network for Youth and Childhood Advocacy, better known as REJE, Hon Joshua Osih; the Secretary General of the National Assembly and the Deputy Secretary General No. 1 of the Senate. 

The session had in attendance some members of government including, ministers of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Secondary Education, Labour and Social Security, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Public Health and a host of others.

Addressing the youth parliament, Hon Hilarion Etong urged them to show loyalty to Republican institutions and the authorities that represent them. 

While highlighting the dynamism and potentials of the youth, he tasked them to be the catalysts of change in their communities which will have an impact on national development. 

To promote civic, moral values

Joining his voice to an earlier call made by Hon Osih Joshua, Hon Etong reminded them of the need to promote the national feeling, and moral and civic values as well as the respect of rights of others each. 

On his part, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mounouna Foutsou saluted the resilience of Cameroonian youths despite several challenges. 

Amidst the different challenges, he said government is committed to promoting the import-substitution policy geared towards improving on the situation of Cameroonians in general. 

He re-echoed the efforts made by government to ensure the socio-economic reinsertion of the youth in the main areas of agro-pastoral, digital economy, and ecological innovation. 

CNYC president thanks Senate, National Assembly president

Mounting the rostrum to address her peers, the President of the Cameroon National Youth Council, CNYC, Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou expressed gratitude to the Speaker of the National Assembly, and the President of Senate for leaving no stone unturned to ensure the youth parliamentary congress takes place and for also implementing President Biya’s plans for the youth. 

She equally appreciated the different members of government for making themselves available to the young lawmakers and to respond to the different worries of the Cameroonian youth. 

“It is quite an opportunity for me to thank the entire members of the REJE network led by its coordinator, Hon Joshua Osih, for their engagement and efforts deployed that has enabled us to make this session a reality,” she stated. 

The sitting was further punctuated by different speeches followed by oral questions from the youth MPs and senators to members of government.