The Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education of Cameroon congratulates the Young Adventists (AY) for their noble discipline. It was during the annual festivities marking the National Youth Day on February 8, 2017 in Yaounde, capital city of Cameroon.
That day was dense in the city of Yaounde. The Indomitable Lions recently returned from their victorious African Cup of Nations football trip from Libreville (Gabon). The President of the Republic, Paul Biya and the populations welcomed and celebrated those heroes with pomp. It was in this festive atmosphere that the village of youth installed at the Multipurpose Sports Center of Yaoundé (PAPOSY) flowed its activities. The young Adventists were solicited there. In their outfits, adventurers, explorers and Master guides ensured security, welcome and even orientation to the thousands that come to visit.
Fervor was visible. At least five members of the government witnessed the panel discussion on "Religion and civic education of young people". All the religious leaders of Cameroon were invited. The prominent Cardinal Christian Tumi represented the Catholic Church. Pastor Assembe Valère Guillaume represented the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cameroon and a large audience of other religious leaders listened to these exchanges, attended by nearly 5,000 people. From the start, the AYs executed the national anthem with such brilliance that the hall was raised with admiration. The score was well assimilated. They came back with this impressive parade that forced the admiration and standing ovation of the government authorities and the general public.
Minister Mounouna Foutsou in charge of Youth Affairs and Civic Education has not failed to express his admiration to the young Adventists: "I found you well disciplined and different from the other children. You are models on which Cameroon counts to shape a dependable youth." One of the speakers, Professor Jean Emmanuel Pondi, praised these young people: " I have noticed you. You were calm and you took notes of everything that was said. You were not like the others.” Shaking hands with the Director of the Youth Ministries for the Cameroon Union Mission, Dr. Assam Assam Jean Paul, he renewed his appreciation. The hundred young people present were satisfied and pleased to have distributed Adventist literature to all the participants. That was real Total Member Involvement.
The National Youth Day and the May 20th National Unity Day are the two biggest national mobilization opportunities. The Youth Day holds on February 11 and is preceded by a whole week of activities in schools and universities. Conferences, competitions, career counseling, sports competitions, and many other activities mark these very popular festivities across the country.
The fifty-first edition of this year 2017 is to be feted in a precarious socio-political context, exacerbated by many problems such as the desecration of emblems, violence, illegal immigration, delinquency, immorality, idleness, pauperism ... The President of the Republic, Paul Biya, during his traditional address to the youth on February 10, 2013, urged the religious groups. He said "our churches, temples and mosques have to become true schools of civility, rigor and morality". With all this in mind, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education organizes a series of activities throughout the national territory mobilizing religious leaders in order to involve them in promoting the values of citizenship, Ethics and morality, the culture of peace and harmonious living together.
According to the 2010 statistics, more than half of Cameroon's population is under 17 years of age. The age pyramid reflects the extreme youth of the Cameroonian population. This reality is also that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cameroon, which has more than 70% of its membership very young. The nation counts on this youth to impact the national project of civic rearmament.
Abraham Bakari
CMUM Communication Director