Bilateral relations between Cameroon and UNESCO took the centre stage yesterday when Irina Bokova held discussions with President Paul Biya.
Day two of the UNESCO Leaders Forum had a touch of Cameroon colours as President Paul Biya accompanied by First Lady Chantal Biya who doubles as Goodwill Ambassador held talks with Irina Bokova the Director General of UNESCO. The First Couple left their apartment at Hotel Meurice at 14h30 yesterday and were received at the UNESCO Complex at Avenue Suffren at the 7th Paris district by the Agency’s Protocol officials. Before being led to the plenary of the Leaders’ Forum where Speeches were being delivered. After the last speaker who was President François Hollande of France, President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya were taken to Room five of the UNESCO Complex for a meeting with Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO. After the discussions, President Paul Biya offered a gift to the UNESCO boss. Before the meeting with Irina Bokova, four world Leaders addressed the Leaders’ Forum in the presence of Cameroon’s First Couple. The first Speaker was Maria Louise Colero Preca, President of Malta. The second Speaker was the deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovakia, Miroslave Lajacak. Third on the list of speakers was the President of Azerbaidjan, Ilham Aliyev. After him, a message from President Barack Obama was read by the permanent delegate of the United States of America to UNESCO, Crystal Nix-Hines. The last Speaker of the day was French President, François Hollande.
Strengthening Relations
Cameroon and UNESCO have a strong historic and active relationship since November 11, 1960 when cooperation ties were established. All successive Directors General of UNESCO Mathar M’bow, Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Koichiro Matsuura and The current Irina Bokova have made official visits to Cameroon. President Paul Biya paid his first official visit to UNESCO headquarters in Paris on October 23, 2007 to attend the 34th session of the General Conference. The visit helped to strengthen relations between Cameroon and UNESCO. While on a working visit to France in February 2013, President Paul Biya granted an audience to Irina Bokova current Director General of UNESCO leading to an agreement for Yaounde to host the UNESCO sub-regional Office for Central Africa. The increased cooperation between Cameroon and UNESCO is also supported by the actions of the First Lady Chantal Biya who was named Goodwill Ambassador on November 14, 2008. The appointment was in recognition of her commitment to women, vulnerable persons and minorities and her over all contribution to promoting the ideals of the Agency. Cameroon’s presence is highly visible within UNESCO. This is partly due to the position held by the country at the African group of UNESCO. Cameroon demonstrated its commitment through financial commitments for the renovation of the Executive Council’s hall. It also recorded a remarkable performance on the occasion of UNESCO’ Africa week in May this year. On the instructions of the Head of State, Professor Ebenezer Njoh Mouelle’s candidacy into UNESCO’S Executive Board was presented in the ongoing 38th General Conference. Cameroon is President of the Human and Social Science committee and member of at least four other committees.
UNESCO Structures
Beside the sub-regional Centre in Yaounde, UNESCO has many other Structures in Cameroon, an indication of cooperation in every domain run by the organization. Education appears to be an area that is old and rich in Cameroon- UNESCO relations. The organization has three Chairs in Cameroon. Chair in Education at the University of Buea, Chair in Intelectual Property at University of Yaounde II and the UNESCO-NATUA Chair in Agronomy and public Policy at the University of Dschang. UNESCO assistance to research in higher education is provided through the granting of Scholarship, infrastructural development and the organization of seminars. The flagship project of UNESCO in Cameroon in association with other partners was the creation of the Advanced Teachers’ Training School (ENS) Yaounde in 1961. UNESCO is also involved in supplying of computers in Schools, training of trainers, and supporting environmental policies to stem the tide of desertification in the north of Cameroon. Numerous scientific projects have received assistance from UNESCO. Cameroon also benefitted from the international program for development of Communication. The creation and funding of twenty nine community radio stations in Cameroon is part of the IPDC programme. Cooperation between Cameroon and UNESCO is rich, varied and fruitful. The visit of President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya to UNESCO is expected to increase these beneficial relationship.
