Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou, president of the Cameroon National Youth Council, made an open statement to the press on Friday, October 10, 2025, in Yaounde.
Ahead of the highly awaited presidential election on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the president of the Cameroon National Youth Council (CNYC), Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou, made a statement to the press in order to call young people to be key actors in the voting process.
The spokesperson of youths in Cameroon delivered a message of peace, unity, and solidarity as people are expected to cast their ballots on Sunday to elect a new president for a 7-year mandate.
She said: “As your sister and leader, I come before you today to call on each of us, young men and women of this nation, to stand together as one. Our strength lies in our unity and in our shared love for peace and progress. We must also face our challenges together, with honesty and courage…”
While addressing the media, Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou pointed out the key role of youths in Cameroon. She said youths represent more than 65% of the population, and this presidential election is an opportunity for them to prove that they are not bystanders to the nation’s story, but true authors and guardians.
The chairperson of the Cameroon national youth council stated: “In a few days, our nation will once again demonstrate its democratic maturity as we, citizens, head to the polls to elect the next President of our country. This is not merely a political event, but a decisive moment in our collective history, a time for unity, peace, and civic responsibility. As we prepare to play our role in this defining moment, it is equally important to recognize the realities confronting our generation.”
In her declaration, Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou also reassured young people of new projects and incentives put in place by the government to curb issues of unemployment and make them the main actors in the development of the country.
“Despite the many challenges facing young people in Cameroon, concrete solutions are being implemented to address these difficulties. Across the country, renewed initiatives are expanding employment opportunities, fostering innovation to reduce youth unemployment, and promoting socio-economic inclusion through entrepreneurship and self-employment. Education and vocational training are being reoriented to meet labor market needs, with particular emphasis on key sectors such as agriculture, crafts, and new areas like digital technology and by broader national programs such as the Three-Year Special Youth Plan, and the National Program for Moral, Civic and Entrepreneurial Rearmament (PRONEC REARMORCE), which continue to strengthen youth participation, civic engagement, and leadership. Youth support structures, including training centers and business incubators, are being reinforced, while new financial mechanisms, including the restructuring of the National Employment Fund, are being designed to finance youth-led projects and start-ups. These national programs complement the initiatives undertaken by the youth themselves.” She said.
At the level of the Cameroon National Youth Council, she indicated there is a newly created digital platform dubbed “CNJCJobHub”, which is designed to connect young people directly to opportunities for employment.
The president of CNYC added, “In this spirit, we at the Cameroon National Youth Council (CNYC) have also taken proactive steps to strengthen these national efforts. Earlier this year, we convened the Cameroonian Youth Dialogue Platform, which brought together young people, youth leaders, civil society, and policymakers to identify key challenges and propose practical solutions. Building on the outcomes of that dialogue, and with the support of our partners, we launched the CNJCJobHub, a digital platform designed to connect young people directly to opportunities for employment, training, and entrepreneurship. The JobHub not only centralizes job offers and internships but also provides mentoring, business incubation, and professional development guidance, helping bridge the gap between young talent and available opportunities.”
In her statement, Mrs. Iyawa Ousmanou also outlined some initiatives organised recently by the CNYC to promote peace, innovative and transformative leadership amongst young people.
She cited the WYLEF for peace program held last September with youths from Cameroon, Africa, and the Arab world, and also indicated the active role and participation of the CNYC in the revision of the National Youth Policy (NYP), which is a key instrument in shaping policies addressed to youths.
The president of the Cameroon national youth council stressed on the fact that young people should adopt fair, civic, responsible, and disciplined behaviours during the election on Sunday, as they have to be spearheaders of social cohesion and peacebuilders.
She also seized this crucial occasion while in front of media persons to call on youths to avoid hate speeches, sharing of fake information, religious or tribal confrontations, that could escalate to conflicts.
“As the election approaches, let us remain informed, responsible, and united. Elections are not a battlefield, but a peaceful exercise of citizenship where every voice matters. Let us verify information before sharing it, reject hate speech and manipulation, and remember that disagreement should never lead to division. On election day, let us be models of discipline and peace. Let us vote with patience, respect the choices of others, and cooperate with the security forces as well as the electoral authorities so that this election becomes a celebration of democracy and not a source of conflict. After the results, whatever the outcome, Cameroon remains our common home. True victory belongs not to one tribe, one party, or one region, but to all of us. Let us choose dialogue over violence and unity over discord. Let us continue to work for peace, tolerance, and social cohesion. In case of war, young people are the first victims. So let’s work for peace and living together so that we can better profit from the governmental and non-governmental projects and programs undertaken by the public authorities, in collaboration with youth and development partners, because we are the present and the future of Cameroon, and we must build this Cameroon all together. The Cameroon National Youth Council calls on all young people, youth associations, student organizations, and community leaders to join us in spreading this message of peace in our neighborhoods, schools, markets, churches, mosques, and online platforms at www.cnjcnyc.cm. Let us show that Cameroonian youth are not the problem; we are the solution and the hope. Let us vote wisely for ourselves and vote responsibly.” Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou said.
As a proactive and dynamic youth leader, Fadimatou Iyawa Ousmanou, reiterated her call to say no to division, violence, and hate speech in Cameroon.
Elise Kenimbeni
