Students Play Vital Role in Raising Awareness
about the Commonwealth by Ayuk Augustine Ayuk

Commonwealth awareness in Cameroon is fairly low. This is because over 70 percent of the population uses French as a first language. Secondly, the country joined the Francophone movement - the French equivalent of the Commonwealth - many years ago, whereas it joined the Commonwealth only in 1995. During the week leading to the Commonwealth Day, there were news reports on radio and TV, interviews with various officials and write-ups in newspapers geared towards raising awareness about the importance of the Commonwealth.

However, even more attention grabbing, are the many activities carried out by students to raise awareness. These include sporting events like football, handball matches, radio quizes, poetry and drama, and in some cases, even a gala night.

In the past many of these activities were organized by the British High Commission, but student clubs have begun springing up too. One such club, the ENAM English Club, launched on Commonwealth Day 2001. Its' officers are pictured above.

ENAM (French for Ecole National d'Administration et de Magistrature) is the prestigious institution in which the country`s top managers are trained. Asked why they thought it necessary to form an English language club, Oscar Landy Ngui, the treasurer, a Francophone, replied: 'top managers can be called upon to work anywhere, in the French or English speaking areas of the country. It is important that wherever they are called upon to work, they are able to communicate easily and effectively with their colleagues.