Activities to mark the 2019 edition of the Commonwealth Day have been launched in Yaounde by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, on February 25, 2019 at the Reunification Monument. Attended by some government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of civil society organisations, Commonwealth Club members of schools, the official launch paved the way for the promotion of actions that foster fundamental principles of the Commonwealth.

For the next two weeks, stakeholders will organise daily enriching activities under this year’s theme: “A Connected Commonwealth.” Commonwealth Day comes up every second Monday in the month of March. While launching the start of activities, Minister Felix Mbayu said the choice to kick-start activities with the hoisting of the flag is because it is a national symbol which identifies our common heritage and a determination to strengthening our living together.

He noted that the rich programme of activities outlined for the next two weeks gears at empowering Cameroonians with principles of the Gentlemen’s Club and development of the country. “The calendar of activities earmarked for this year’s Commonwealth Day commemoration will be a demonstration of the different ways the people of Cameroon connect with the government.

From a depiction of socio-political connectivity through a workshop on youth and women in preventing and countering violent extremism, through a display of youth connecting with their environment in household waste management, to an exhibition of economic connectedness during the Commonwealth Fair, stakeholders will have the convenience to appraise the bearing of the theme on our country,” he stated.

This year’s theme, ‘A Connected Commonwealth’, underscores the opportunities in the Commonwealth and the benefits that peoples, governments and institutions of this richly diverse worldwide family of nations can reap by connecting and cooperating at various levels through far-reaching and deeprooted networks of friendship and goodwill. Cameroon, this 2019 marks its 25th anniversary as a member of the Commonwealth family.