The CEO of the Njie Makongo Family Hope Foundation has championed a campaign to steer the West Coast’s youth towards discipline, hard work and responsible citizenship during holidays.
At a time when communities across Cameroon are increasingly speaking out against the devastating effects of drug abuse, Njie Makongo has mobilised youths of the West Coast Sub-Division, South West Region to reject substance abuse and become ambassadors of peace and responsible citizenship. The awareness campaign, organised when many young people are out of school and more susceptible to negative influences, sought to sensitise on the devastating consequences of hard drug consumption and the need for collective action to safeguard the future of the community.Addressing the gathering, Njie Makongo warned that drug abuse is often the gateway to a host of social ills, including violence, theft, domestic abuse, rape and other forms of criminality that continue to undermine families and hinder local development. He urged the youths to resist the temptation of easy but destructive choices and instead invest their energies in education, hard work and productive ventures capable of securing a brighter future.
To Njie “this initiative is intended to send a strong message that the youths of the West Coast Sub-Division have chosen the path of discipline, responsibility and good citizenship”. He affirmed that they remain committed to supporting President Paul Biya’s vision of peace, stability and development, while calling on young people to become active contributors to the progress of their communities.
Njie Makongo also appealed to administrative authorities, traditional leaders and parents to sustain the fight against drug abuse through vigilance, guidance and closer support for young people. He stressed that protecting the next generation requires a united front involving every segment of society.The campaign received the backing of several local stakeholders, including the Mayor of Idenau, Tonde Gabriel Lifanje who alongside others acknowledged that the initiative is a local response to a national concern and stressed that combatting drug abuse begins with a shared determination to preserve the promise of the nation’s youth.
Claudette Chin
