“Be Good Governance Ambassadors”

-Senator Mbella Moki tells Youth Leaders in Buea
By Ajongakou Santos in Buea

Senator Mbella Moki

Some 50 youth leaders drawn from diverse institutions and associations in Buea have been challenged to be good governance ambassadors whenever and wherever they find themselves in the country. Senator Mbella Moki Charles and the leaders of Local Youth Corner Cameroon (LOYOC) made the call recently on the campus on the University of Buea during a one-day training programme for prospective youth leaders.
    Based on governance and accountability in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the training forum at the boardroom of the Faculty of Arts, University of Buea was occasion for the young leaders to be schooled on pertinent issues relating to good leadership notably having the right attitude, doing the right things and for the right objectives and purposes.
    To this effect, sundry presentations during the over four hours training programme was done by people who had the experience and savoir-faire of good governance in particular, and the Post-2015 Development Agenda in general.
    Amongst the several presentations was that of Senator Mbella Moki Charles, who talked on Youth engagement in the Decentralisation process; the opportunities and expectations. The senator urged the young leaders undergoing the training to actively participate in the decentralisation process that is on-going in the country. He exhorted them to seek clarifications from government whenever necessary and also know what their roles are in the decentralisation process, the path towards Vision 2035, and especially their role as leaders in the attainment and realisation of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

    Mr. Tangang Andrew, Secretary General of Local Youth Corner Cameroon and project coordinator for the training of the 50 youth leaders, talked on “Youth and Governance in the Post Development Agenda.” He drew allusions from the experiences he has had as a young leader who has on several occasions represented the Cameroonian youth at the international scene. According to him, the Millennium Development Goals that expire this 2015 have not been achieved because of the lack of political will especially the complete absence of the youth in the process. It was for this reason that Mr. Tangang and colleagues of Local Youth Corner Cameroon have adopted the slogan: “Nothing about us, without us”.
    He emphasised on the Post-2015 Development goals (Sustainable Development Goals) of the United Nations which include: “ End Poverty in all its forms everywhere; End hunger; achieve food security and improved nutrition; Promote sustainable agriculture; Ensure healthy lifestyles and promote well-being for all at all ages; Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; Reduce inequality within and among countries; Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts; Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development; Provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels among others.
    Other speakers at the forum included Valerie Viban, the VP of LOYOK who talked on Youth Civic Responsibility and Nation Building. He advised the young leaders to make hay while the sun shines.
    In collaboration with some key student associations of the University of Buea, notably; the Buea University History Society (BUSH) and the Commonwealth Student Union (COMSU), Local Youth Corner Cameroon with the assistance and experience of Senator Mbella Moki Charles have set the pace for young Cameroonian leaders in Buea. The continuing pursuit for change of youth mentality and their active participation in Nation Building was emphasised.
    They expressed the hope that the benefits of the programme will be clearly visible in the coming years.