Ministers Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute and Issa Tchiroma Bakary visited the Commonwealth Exhibition Village in Yaounde on March 11, 2016.

There was a festive atmosphere in the rear courtyard of the Yaounde City Council just before midday on Friday, March 11, 2016 as the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Relations with the Commonwealth, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, solemnly opened the Commonwealth Exhibition Village to visitors. The one-day crowd-pulling event was a major highlight of weeklong activities preceding the commemoration of the Commonwealth Day today March 14, 2016 on the theme: “An Inclusive Commonwealth”.

Accompanied by the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute visited various stands set up by associations, common initiative groups and small and medium-size businesses belonging to Cameroonians from all horizons including vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities. Both ministers and their collaborators as well as early visitors showed appreciation for the modern and African fashion designs by handicapped women and their group Bobine d’Or, craftwork by the Club of Rehabilitated Blind Youth of Cameroon (CJARC) and services by the National Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Handicapped, amongst others.

A joyful moment was the thrilling musical performance by CJARC’s President, Coco Bertin, to welcome visitors after the opening. Also present in various stands were representatives of more than half a dozen ministries as well as other specialised institutions created by government to technically and financially accompany income and job-generating initiatives by all groups of Cameroonians.

Meanwhile, in the early hours of Saturday March 12, 2016, over 200 denizens participated in a sports walk that took off from the premises of the Ministry of External Relations, sauntered  through the May 20 Boulevard and the Kennedy Avenue and ended at the departure point. Besides MINREX staff, participants had come from various sports federations, the National Institute of Youth and Sports (INJS) and several ministries.

When fitness exercises ended the event in the rear courtyard of the Ministry of External Relations, the Secretary General of the ministry, Felix Mbayu, urged the participants to “go back to society and show inclusiveness by extending a hand of friendship to all who are less fortunate than yourselves.”