In fifteen solid minutes, Youths of Cameroon once again witnessed a relax president, who, in a simple and conversational tone, delivered a fatherly message to his children.
President Paul Biya’s message to the youths started off with congratulations on the successful qualification of the Indomitable Lions for the upcoming African Cup of Nations scheduled for Morocco. President Biya stressed the need for harmony, solidarity and team spirit as prerequisites for more victories going forward.
In furtherance of instructions giving by the Head of State in his 2024 end-of-year address to the nation, the President insisted on improving the living conditions of Cameroonians, economic growth, Peace, security and, most importantly, curbing unemployment and creating jobs.
True to his words, President Paul Biya, said unemployment is a global issue already being addressed by his government, despite the multiple constraints and complex obstacles to the development efforts made by the country.
Can Trade Schools and Vocational Training Centers Provide Some Answers to Unemployment?
Although no country is spared from the issue of youth unemployment, President Paul Biya mentioned that, Trade Schools and many Vocational Training Centers being built in localities across the country will ease up access to the job market. The President announced the opening of the Nanga-Eboko and Lembe-Yézoum Vocational Training Center, to be added to the already existing ones.
Possible Strategies and Tools To Address Youth Unemployment
In his address, President Paul Biya announced the following measures to tackle youth unemployment:
- Setting up municipal employment offices that will provide optimum support for young job seekers.
- Establish a regulatory framework to support the recruitment of first-time job seekers.
- Setting up a National Directory of Jobs, Trades and Professions, to help, analyze, consolidate and disseminate information on the availability of job opportunities across the country.
- Launching the contractualization of health workers, as announced during his December 2024 end-of-year address to Cameroonians.
- Launch Training opportunities based on actual labour market needs, to ensure that many graduates are fully equipped for the job market.
It is worth noting that in 2024, many scholarships were awarded to hundreds of young Cameroonians to encourage entrepreneurship as a pathway to industrialization.
Other Horizons
Recruitment into the Public Service or Private Sector will not offer a job to every young Cameroonian job seeker.
Paid employment is not the only option to enter the labour market. There are other avenues yet to be explored, such as:
The ongoing Green Jobs Promotion Program, estimated to create over ten thousand Jobs through income generating activities in areas such as sanitation, waste recycling and organic farming.
Recall one of the President’s famous statement: “La terre ne trompe pas”(Land is a sure investment). To give credence to this statement, two examplary Youths, worth emulating, were cited in the President’s address:
- Tony Obama Bikoe, CEO of “Banane Plantain Agro-Industry”, and
- 27-year old Tata Bakary, who emerged from the streets, and now runs a large farming complex in the West Region.
Last, but not least, the digital technology arena, which is a fertile ground for self-employment opportunities, and a great tool to address the challenges of our time… bearing in mind that the world has become a global village.
Admittedly, most youths today are tech savvy because most of them are born in the “Android-Baby technological age”.
Accordingly, President Paul Biya is calling on them to take ample advantage of their time and make responsible use of it.
A Call For Peace and Security
Without Peace and Security there can be no development. In pursuing his quest for peace and serenity in Cameroon, as seen in almost all of his previous messages, at national or international events, the president always insists that no government or country can thrive or excel in a chaotic environment. Therefore, with the 2025 elections coming up, he has sounded a note of caution.
Like a father cautioning his children about the dangers that lie ahead, the President has called on youths not to heed unachievable promises made by some, and has requested youth of voting age to be vigilant and responsible in the choices they make.
For, there are people with hidden agendas and evil plans to unleash chaos unto our beloved and beautiful country, Cameroon.
No country in the world is challenge-free.
Even the Word of God attests to this fact in the Book of John 16:33 “ln the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, l have overcome the world.” Similarly, the President ends his message to the youths by saying, “l will continue to stand by your side in addressing the challenges you face”.
In a nutshell, it is better to deal with the person you know, than the angel you do not know.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
Caroline Okie-Anoma
