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121 Youth and Nation-Building in Cameroon 7 President Biya’s Democratic Cameroon’s Youth Day Messages: 1991-2008 7.1: Address by the President of the Republic to the Youths of Cameroon on the Occasion of the 25th National Youth Day, Yaounde, 10 February 1991 Theme: “Freedom, Democracy, and Discipline” Young Cameroonians, As has been the case over the past twenty-five years, Cameroon has once more honoured its tradition. As is the case each year, Cameroonians is getting ready to celebrate its Youth day. On behalf of all Cameroonians, on behalf of the Government, and on my own behalf I wish you all a happy Youth Day and renew my wishes of success in 1991. Sons and daughters of Cameroon, you are the future, you are the hope of an entire Nation. Learn to put your strength and skills, no matter what they are, to good use. That is what I am asking of you. You all know that we are pursuing our courageous fight against the economic crisis. We are making every effort to enable Cameroon to recover a healthy economy that will be profitable to everyone. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit but we must still make sacrifices and, above all, preserve. In the face of our difficulties, many of you have shown great maturity. Thank you for your support, thank you for your patriotism, thank you for your understanding. As you well know, the welfare of the Cameroon Youth is still one of my major preoccupations. Your numbers in primary schools, secondary and high schools and the faculties are ever increasing. About 2 million of you are in primary schools, more than 500.000 in secondary and high schools and more than 34 in higher institutions of learning. This figure is increasing at a rate of about 25% per annum. The State is monitoring this development very closely and in spite of the crisis, is adapting to the rising numbers as can be seen from many measures that have been taken, for example last year, at the primary and secondary levels, 350 government schools were opened while 305 private ones were approved. At university level we are still making great sacrifices for students-more than 5,000 million in the form of scholarships, aids and limited assistance to those studying abroad. Many efforts are also being made to improve the quality of education, adapt it to professional life and to provide new infrastructure. In this connection, highly qualified staff have been recruited; new and more appropriate teaching methods are being applied, and-professional post-graduate courses have been introduced in the faculties. 122 Churchill Ewumbue-Monono On a more practical level, a new science block has been commissioned at the Advanced Teachers’ Training College (ENS),- an agreement to the tune of 11 thousand million CFA francs has just been signed with the Spanish government to equip the laboratories of this institution, and to extend and equip the laboratories of the Faculty of Science; and- a new campus is under construction at the Dshang University Centre. But we do not devote our efforts to the education and housing of students only. All young Cameroonians are taken into account, whether they are students or not. All sooner or later whether you are students or potential workers you will face the problem of employment. I am aware of this. So too, are you. This is why the measures taken by the government are intended to facilitate your entry into professional life. Here are some examples: The National Employment Fund will soon become operational; The privatization of public enterprises has started and the initial results indicate that several thousand jobs will be created in the near future; The Aid and Loan Guarantee Fund for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (FOGAPE) and the Agricultural Credit Bank encourage self-employment and the setting up of small and medium-sized enterprises and industries in both urban and rural areas. In this connection, the “Young Promoters” project- a joint initiative of the International Labour Office and the Aid and Loan Guarantee Fund for Small-and Mediumsized Enterprises to set up forty businesses is progressing steadily. Furthermore, promotion of Adapted Farming Systems based on animal Traction (PAFSAT), in the North-West Province, an example of co-operation between Germany and Cameroon, provides our rural youths with an alternative to train in animal traction. Rural electrification projects, like the one in the North – West Province which was accomplished with the much valued assistance of...

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