By Christopher Ambe ShuAssociation of Youth for The Promotion of Peace, Democracy, The Millennium Development Goals and Africa’s Unity (ASSYOUTH) based in Buea-Cameroon last July 25 organised a one-day seminar on the theme "Galvanising Youth Power for the Promotion of Peace and Development in our communities,country and Africa."
The seminar, which brought together youth leaders, graduates and students, took place at the Alliance- Franco Camerounaise conference hall in Buea.It was the first in a series of seminars,forums and activities that ASSYOUTH will organise between July and December.
The seminar came several weeks after ASSYOUTH officials called a press conference and presented the new association to the public.
At the press conference, ASSYOUTH president, Song Stephen Mbangtang, had publicly vowed that the association would mobilise and activate youth especially Cameroonian youth, in the promotion of peace and development in African communities.
Nsang Rosette, Secretary-General of ASSYOUTH, moderated the seminar, whose resource persons included Dr. Canute Ngwa, Head of History Department of University of Bu
ea.Dr Canute who spoke on "The Role of Youth in the Promotion of Pan-Africanism and Regional Integration," challenged the youth to encourage, in different ways, African unity and love. He argued that if in the past the cry for African unity was not a great success all African youth are now better placed to bring about this much-needed unity.
"Youth now have the mandate to right the wrongs of the older generation", he noted, adding that pioneer Pan-Africanists such as Kwame Nkrumah had had done their best.
Dr Canute also urged youth to say "No" to corruption, nepotism, ethnicity, tribalism and other vices that promote disunity in African Communities.
For his Part, resource person Mbah Njong Ano-Ebie harped on "Networking and Entrepreneurship: A Great Source of Youth Power".
Mr.Njong Ano-Ebie defined networking as "an act of always meeting and communicating with other people who may be useful to one’s work and progress". He gave tips on networking and urged youth to start and or enhance their networking since such helps one to achieve his/her goals.
Talking about entrepreneurship, Mr .Njong Ano-Ebie challenged youth to take risks that result in the creation of new opportunities for individuals and/or organisations.
He noted that the spirit of entrepreneurship is naturally endowed in youth, citing Bill Gates, now a noted billionaire, who at 19 entered the business world and together with his friend, Paul Allen, started the first micro-computer software company.
Another Resource Person was a government official Judith Moffa Liengu Luma, who is Southwest Regional Delegate for Women Empowerment and the Family. She dwelled on "The Role of Youth in Promoting Affirmative action, Gender Equity and Women Empowerment", stressing the important role women play in nation-and peace-building.
Mrs Liengu Luma urged young women to identify role models and emulate; and above all, should be self-disciplined, respectful and duty-conscious to become successful in life
Earlier,Song Stephen Mbangtang, ASSYOUTH President, in his seminar opening reamaks, reiterated that, unlike many other organisations with similar goals, ASSYOUTH will "greatly and actively get youth and communities involved in their own development".
ASSYOUTH, he insisted, is a catalyst of youth development and change.Mr. Mbangtang invited all youth to be strong advocate of peace, development, democracy, the millennium Goals and Africa’s Unity.
"The responsibility must not only be that of our elite/leaders to create an enabling environment for peace and development in our various communities, country and Continent, the youth must also show a sense of civic and moral responsibility. Depravity is the order of the day. Youth spend 2/3 of their precious time either in bars, internet cafes, not for research, but on the premise of scamming and looking for boy friends and girl friends. There is no meaningful interchange among our youth both internally and externally. All they dream of is having money and money at all cost with little or no effort to work for, " noted Mr.Mbangtang,adding that for a commuinty, country, or continent to be healthy community the fear of God must reign supreme.
He stessed that, change begins with self and it is the onus of every community member, citizen to become the change he or she wants to see in society as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.
"For this to be possible families, communities, and society in general have to play a crucial role, in the up -bringing of the youth through various education forums, both formal and informal; civil society helping out in the education and sensitization in various areas of civic responsibility, while at the same time disseminating information on the various opportunities for the youth in areas of peace, human rights, democracy, the MDG’s that will help built a more responsible and pro-active youth with a civic responsibility and moral obligation, to promote peace and development in their various communities, country, and continent."
He announced that ASSYOUTH will launch a giant activity- the Soppo youth Road Development project next September 30, and organise The Cameroon National Youth Forum on Plan Jeunesse, form November 1-6. 2009.It will also organise the African Youth Forum from December 6-11, 2009.
Song Stephen Mbangtang, is also the executive director of Federation of African Youth Leaders-headquartered in Ghana.
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