The Commissioner for Economic Development at the North West regional Assembly holds that the match will reinforce the relationship between youths of the Bamenda DDR centre and local administration.
Youths nationwide will on February 11, 2022 commemorate the 56th edition of the National Youth Day. Several activities are ongoing in various localities in prelude to the day. Since the advent of the health crisis caused by Covid-19 and the ensuing restrictions, commemorative activities took a down turn. This year, the effervescence is promising and youths are gearing up for a remarkable feast.
It is in line with activities marking the Youth Day that the football match pitting “Lions of the DDR” and the local administration in Bamenda will take place on February 10, 2022. Placed under the patronage of Governor Lele L’Afrique, the monumental game will be played at the Upstation military field. According to Ngejung Awunti, Commissioner for economic development at the North West regional assembly and brain behind the activity, the come together will help ex-combatants and local administrators to better understand themselves. The context is particular. For some five years now, the North West has been under the scourge of terrorist fighters seeking to establish an imaginary country. Through several calls made by President Paul Biya and peace loving Cameroonians, a good number of youths who had taken up arms against the state have dropped them, with some having been reintegrated into society while others are still being groomed at the DDR centre in Bamenda. It is thus in a bid to make these prodigal children understand the workings of the local administrators and their role towards bettering their situation that the football match will hold.
To the regional councilor, “this activity and community support will go a long way to secure regional peace in a meaningful sustainable manner through the continuous engagement with our youth.” It will be an occasion to resonate the call for youths who have remained adamant to change to heed to the voice of reason and come back to the fold.
Claudette CHIN
