Commonwealth youth ministers’ meeting imminent

A delegation from the Commonwealth secretariat in London is in the country on a working visit.

Cameroon will host the first-ever Africa Region Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting in February 2015. In prelude to the event, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Bidoung Mkpatt, yesterday, November 10, 2014 held a working session with the planning team from the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and Africa.

Heading the Commonwealth delegation for a three-day working visit in Cameroon is the Director of the Youth Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat London, Katherine Ellis alongside the Deputy Head of Conference Section, Commonwealth Secretariat London, Karren Williams as well as the Africa Representative of the Commonwealth Youth Council, Philbert Kiziah.

Minister Bidoung Mkpatt said Cameroon’s effective participation in the Commonwealth Senior Officials’ meeting and Youth Ministers’ meeting in the past certainly paved the way for it to be selected to host the first-ever Youth Ministers meeting. The Minister acknowledged that Mrs Katherine Ellis' presence in the country is going to lay ground works for an effective hosting of the meeting.

As part of the preparations, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education has put in place a National Organising Committee made up of youth experts as well as a National Taskforce which is an operational arm of the organising committee to ensure adequate preparation of all documentation and arrangements.

Katherine Ellis lauded the commitment of Cameroon’s government towards youth issues as well as the organisation of the meeting which will gather people from more than 20 countries in the world. Although the theme of the meeting is not yet known, Katherine Ellis said it will definitely revolve around youth and development because the Commonwealth wants youths to be at the centre of development.

Philbert Kiziah told the press that they are looking for a united Africa in which the voice of young people is speaking in a united manner. “We want to ensure that young people are included in all government processes and any other aspect of leadership. As a young man, we mostly feel that we are not included or consulted in decisions taken,” Kiziah noted.

While Commonwealth Youth Ministers will be meeting in Cameroon, Kiziah said Commonwealth youths will also be gathering in a forum through which they will come out with declarations that will be submitted to ministers on what young people feel and want as people who are developing in leadership.