By SAH TERENCE ANIMBOM
Observed under the theme Youths, multiculturalism, peace and national unity, the 52nd edition of the National Youth Day was celebrated under very tight security following threats and calls for boycott from varied angles.
After the governor of the North West arrived celebration grounds, the singing of the national anthem was followed by a rebroadcast of the Head of States traditional message to the youths.
At the end of the speech, some youth excellence award prizes were given to some children and youths who distinguished themselves during the course of last year in the region.
The prizes were awarded to; Best First School Leaving Certificate pupil in the North West that was awarded to Awazi Julius from Pledge Bilingual Nursery and Primary School Bamenda, Best Common Entrance Pupil in the North West awarded to Ani Precious Ani from Rosy Bilingual Nursery and Primary School Bamenda, Wamba Fotsing was also awarded best Common Entrance Pupil; in the North West. Ngum Evaristus from Wum received the award for Best Multipurpose Youth Empowerment Center, while Ndikali Evelyne received best Young Farmer award in the field of Cassava, Maize and Tomatoes. Ful Blessing Wuh from Kumbo received the best trainee award at the women’s empowerment center. In athletics, 12year old Ibrahim Zakaria from Government School Tumbo in Ndu sub division received best male athlete award in the North West in FENASCO B games. It should be noted he was also the national champion in his discipline fetching a gold medal for the region. Sixteen-year-old Nadia Youh from GBHS Ndu received best female athlete award in the North West in FENASCO A games while 18 years old Hamza Aboubakar from GTHS Vekovi in Jakiri Sub Division received best North West male athlete in FENASCO A games while 20 years old Tamba Noela Nick from the University of Bamenda received North West best female athlete in the University games category.
The prize award ceremony paved the way for the march pass parade that saw ten government primary schools with a total of 105 pupils with only one private primary school represented by only five of its pupils. The primary schools population during their march past was boosted by a total of 56 teachers that accompanied their pupils during march pass thus lifting the number of participants in the primary schools march pass to 163 with the most impressive turnout from Ecole Publique Francophone de Camp Militaire that had 45 pupils and 18 teachers.
Primary schools were immediately followed by 12 secondary schools all public with a student turnout of 363 students and 2 teachers of GBHS Nitob who accompanied the six students that were courageous enough to represent their over 1500 Students.
The most impressive turnout among secondary schools came from GBHS Down Town with 92 students and GBHS Bayelle with 87 students while the worst came from GHS Nekuehni Nsongwa with just one student holding her school board.
Secondary schools were immediately followed by CENAJES Bamenda and the University of Bamenda that gave a very colorful march pass with a very impressive turnout, coming out with a total of47 students and 464 students respectively from almost all its colleges. They were closely followed by the National Cooperative College Bamenda with 15 students and a private vocational training center with 4students.
Political parties then took the stage with the CPDM coming out with the most interesting performance ever as instead of marching pass the grandstand in the normal swing arm manner, they came first with a group of 44 youths mostly between the ages of 16 or 17.
Their display was spiced with highly rhythmic drums and gongs made of fine wood from the African forest that made their sounds resonate in the whole commercial avenue of Bamenda. Despite the prohibition of display in front of the grandstand by the authorities, this particular one could not be stopped as even the authorities seemed to have been so thrilled by the performance. There was also the symbolic handing over of the peace plant to the governor.
CPDM came out with a total of 191 militants and were followed by another political party though not very popular with 41 militants. SDF and other popular political parties were not present but Ni John Fru Ndi was however present at the grandstand.
601 civil servants from over 16 Ministerial departments marched after the political parties bringing the total number of those who took part in the march pass parade to 1829, taking about one hour to finish. It is worth noting that among the 1,829 persons that marched, the student population stood at 51%, thus, almost equating the focus of the day among students, civil servants and political parties.
With the military heavily present at the grandstand and equally stationed in all major road junctions around the centre town and a gorgeous military helicopter hovering over the area, some 10 teachers of Government school Mbinfibieh were mercilessly beaten on their buttocks on their way to the grandstand for the youth day celebration.
Among them was a nursery school teacher, Che Loveline who succeeded to continue to the grandstand after the inhumane treatment amidst her tears and deep pain.
At the end of the event, the governor expressed satisfaction at the mobilization and called on the youths to avoid any actions that can disrupt public peace.