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Chapter 3. The Empire Day and Commonwealth Youth Day Messages:1949-1961
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25 Youth and Nation-Building in Cameroon 3 The Empire Day and Commonwealth Youth Day Messages: 1949-1961 3.1: Commissioner’s Address to the Youth on Empire Day, 1949 Boys and Girls, I am very happy to meet you all here today and to greet you with a message from His Excellency the Governor. The Governor is at present at home on leave but he has remembered how school children all over Nigeria will be gathering on this day and has sent a personal message which he has said should be given to you. These are His Excellency’s words to you. “Empire Day last year fell on a day while I was in the middle of a long tour of Nigeria. I was actually at Onitsha and shall never forget the early morning parade of 18,000 school children, and how before they began their sports they marched past six abreast, while I stood at the salute for nearly an hour. I was very happy to be there. This year, several gatherings will be taking place in many parts of the country, and although I am away on leave, I will like to send from the United Kingdom a message to Nigeria, and especially to the boys and girls. I hope that you will enjoy your holiday and your sports on this Empire Day and about Nigeria’s place in it. Your first thought should be to learn about your own country of Nigeria – about its history and its geography, how it is governed, and how local government works. What plans there are for development and to create better conditions of life for the people. All this is an important part of your education as good citizens and good Nigerians. It is also good to think of how Nigeria fits into the British Commonwealth and about its place in the world. The British Commonwealth is often described – rightly – as a family of nations. We all know that a big united family, the members of which are loyal to each other and well disposed towards other people, can be a powerful influence for good in a community. So it is with the British Family of nations. There are these who criticize the British Empire but all honest people know that it is an influence for good in the world community. Nigeria is one of the younger members of the family, but it is big and vigorous and is growing in strength and wisdom. And the rest of the family is watching its growth with friendly interest and pride. You boys and girls have a big part to play in your country’s progress. Work hard. Play hard, be kind to others, be respectful to your parents and elders, and make up your minds to be good citizens.” That is the message which His Excellency has sent to you and to all this other gatherings of school children today all over this country. If His Excellency were here today speaking especially to you children of Cameroons schools. I am nations which you belong which is interested in your welfare. In the case of you Cameroons children the still bigger company of the world’s United Nations, which the British family loyalty supports, has a constant interest in your welfare. 26 Churchill Ewumbue-Monono Before I watch you march past, I should like to give you my very best wishes and the very best wishes of all Government Officers here for your enjoyment of this Day. 3.2: Address to the Youths by Commissioner of the Cameroons on Empire Day, Buea, 1951 Another Empire Day comes round, and once more I send an Empire Day Message, addressed particularly – though not exclusively – to the boys and girls. I hope that you will all have enjoyment and fun this holiday. (Incidentally, I also hope that your parents have not felt obliged to spend a lot of money on new clothes or school uniforms for you on this occasion; your march-past can be smart and impressive if you are all neat and tidy and if you step out with pride and with cheerful faces). As I have done in the past, I ask you on this day, in addition to having fun, to think seriously about your own country, Nigeria, and about its place as a member of the great, friendly, freedom-loving family of nations that is the British Commonwealth. The pace of progress in Nigeria has greatly quickened in recent times...