This nationwide initiative aims to strengthen national unity and foster civic responsibility among Cameroonian youth through engaging educational and recreational competitive activities that will kick start on August 6, 2025.
From August 6 to 10, 2025, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou, will launch the National Citizenship Games at the university of Yaoundé 1 as part of its patriotic holiday programming. The games will feature participants from across Cameroon’s ten regions competing in various sporting disciplines. The competition structure follows a phased approach, beginning with local selections at district and regional levels before advancing to national finals. The event, per the ministry of youth affairs, will serve as both a competitive platform and an educational initiative for participants, reinforcing values of patriotism, tolerance, and social cohesion. Young athletes will have opportunities to demonstrate their talents while learning about responsible citizenship.
According to information gathered from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, the selection process will be managed through regional youth and sport offices, with finalists progressing to represent their areas at the national level. The Games open doors to all young athletes from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing inclusive participation. The National Citizenship Games will feature a diverse range of competitive categories designed to engage participants’ physical abilities, cultural knowledge, and intellectual capacities. Traditional sporting events such as football and athletics will form the core of the competitions, allowing young athletes to demonstrate their physical skills and also providing an opportunity to celebrate and share Cameroon’s rich cultural heritage and civic values.
To ensure youth engagement with national values, the football competition uses a special theme-based team system. Instead of playing for their home regions, the ministry says young athletes will join teams representing core principles like Peace, Patriotism, Good Citizenship, and Living Together. The Ministry of Youth and Civic Education has been at the lead in contributing to youth development and national unity.
