After end of year address: Biya uses Youth Day message to subtly declare for 2025 presidentials.

After subtly announcing during his end-year-address to the nation, his plans of staying on to power, Biya on Monday echoed similar remarks while addressing youth of the country.

In his traditional February 10 address to the youth in Youth Day celebration on February 11, Biya was equivocal on his presidential bid for 2025 but made remarks suggesting he has plans of staying on.

Biya who came to power in 1982 told the youth that: “I assure you that I will continue to stand by your side in addressing the challenges you face”.

Earlier, President Biya reminded the youth that: “This year holds many challenges for our country, our people and our youth. In my recent address to the Nation, I reviewed the constraints awaiting us in our quest for progress. Some of them stem from the international environment and others from our country’s internal circumstances. I will not come back on that”.

He recounted that on the same occasion: “I also highlighted the commendable efforts made by the Government to address these constraints and to actively continue to improve the living conditions of our fellow-citizens, based on strong economic growth and the need to maintain peace and security”.

Biya said while a vast majority appreciated the sincerity of his message, some pessimists chose to focus on the fact that one thing or another had not been done, or had not yet been done, disregarding the real and verifiable constraints he mentioned.

He was blunt that: “Let me assure you: Whatever the criticism, I will always speak the language of truth to you”.

Gov’t combating unemployment

Speaking further, Biya said despite the multiple and complex obstacles to the country’s development efforts “we have achieved very much together. Tremendous strides have been made in recent years, thanks to our combined efforts and the unwavering support you have lent me”.

He told the youth that: “I know that, as with all young people worldwide, your education and training mean everything to you. Understandably, you are particularly concerned about your entry into the labour market”.

Biya boasted that with each passing year, the training opportunities are getting better and better in terms of quantity and quality.

The school and university landscape, he said, continues to expand and diversify with the establishment of new primary, secondary and higher education institutions.

He said new specialized courses are regularly introduced in government secondary schools and universities. 

The professionalisation of training curricula, he announced, is ongoing in all types of education systems to provide young graduates with the requisite technical skills likely to facilitate their access to the labour market.

Similarly, he continued: “through operational training centres, young people without qualifications can learn a trade and find their place in society.  In this regard, I am delighted with the opening of the Nanga-Eboko and Lembe-Yézoum vocational training centres. Other centres are being built in various localities around the country”.

More vocational centres…

In further assuring the youth of government’s efforts in fighting unemployment in the country, Biya announced that he had instructed Government to fast-track the setting-up of municipal employment offices, to provide optimum support for young jobseekers.

He rejoiced that the number of learners in Vocational Training Centres of Excellence has increased significantly following the reduction in tuition fees in the said institutions.

He was categorical that no country is spared by the youth unemployment phenomenon stating that commendable efforts were ongoing to reduce it. 

“To this end, I have instructed the Government to establish a regulatory framework to support the recruitment of first-time jobseekers. This mechanism is intended to provide better support to young people who have never had a job and to help them find their first job,” he noted.

He said the National Directory of Jobs, Trades and Professions has also been set up with this goal in mind adding that it will help consolidate, analyse and disseminate information on available job opportunities in the country.

Job opportunities for health workers

In his address to the youth Monday, Biya disclosed that in the coming weeks, the contractualisation of health workers which he had announced at the end of last year will be launched. 

He said the initiative will spare thousands of young health sector graduates from social insecurity and improve their living conditions. He said Government is actively developing strategies and tools to reduce youth unemployment. 

“Many government services are being mobilised for this purpose and substantial financial resources are allocated each year to achieve this goal,” he added, before stressing that he will not relent in the fight which had waged for years against unemployment, particularly youth unemployment.

Crucial year for nation

In concluding his address Monday, Biya reminded the youth that this year, once again, Cameroon will hold important elections. 

“This will afford those of you who meet the legal requirements, the opportunity to freely exercise your civic duty. When the time comes, it will be up to you to make your choice responsibly, in peace and quiet,” he said before urging the youth not to pay heed to the siren calls by some irresponsible individuals.  

He cautioned that: “Do not let them use you to achieve their evil plans of wreaking chaos in our beloved and beautiful country”.

“Also, do not be swayed by the false and often unachievable promises they try to lure you with. For my part, I assure you that I will continue to stand by your side in addressing the challenges you face,” he concluded.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3363 of Wednesday February 12, 2025