Yaoundé, 24 November 2016: - The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, met with Cameroonian Editors while on a brief visit in the country on 24 November 2016 within the framework of the ongoing AFCON to boost women footballers.

The meeting with the Editors started with a minute of silence in memory of the former Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), William Eteki Mboumoua, who passed away recently and whose corps was being removed from the Yaoundé General Hospital on 24 November 2016. Another minute of silence was for the victims of the recent train tragedy in Ezeka, Cameroon.

The AUC Chairperson then signed the condolence book for the late Mr. William Eteki Mboumoua in the presence of Dr. Sidiki M. Kaloko, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the AUC and H.E Mr. Issa Tchiroma Bakarry, Minister of Communication of the Republic of Cameroon, before engaging the media professionals in a heated debate.

 Dr. Dlamini-Zuma urged the Cameroonian Editors to fully engage in shaping the African narrative by telling the true story about Africa. She invited the journalists to play their rightful roles in popularising Agenda 2063 and be part of the development process of the continent. Worth noting that, the meeting between the AUC Chairperson and the Cameroonian Editors was a follow-up of the outcome of the two African Editors meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda and in Pretoria, South Africa which was aimed at creating a platform for Editors to exchange and interact with the AUC leadership with the view to encourage an inclusive participation in the implementation of Agenda 2063. She emphasized that the media professionals have an important role to play in the popularization of Agenda 2063.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma seized the opportunity to inform the Editors about her visit in Cameroon during the AFCON. She said wants to pass on messages of encouragement to the young female football players and ask them to be role models for the future generation. She recalled that the African Union and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have signed a partnership agreement to use sports as a galvanizing tool for social cohesion and unity. It will also serve as a platform to promote the African Union campaign on “Ending Child Marriage” as well as the importance of educating the girl child and empowering the African women in general.

According to the Cameroonian Minister of Communication, Cameroon is a country of freedom of expression hosting several news agencies, about 200 radios and about thirty television channels. Minister Tchiroma said the presence of the AUC Chairperson in Cameroon was very important as it will boost the spirit of the young female footballers taking part in the AFCON. He welcomed the AUC Chairperson and expressed appreciation to her interest in meeting with the Cameroonian Editors to remind them of their role in contributing in the construction of the “Africa We Want”.

Ms. Jeanine FANKAM, Reporter in Cameroon - Tribune and focal point of the media professionals, thanked the AUC Chairperson for the consideration given to communication during her mandate, making it one of her eight priorities in the AU Commission. “In its march towards modernization, this tool would give the necessary visibility to Agenda 2063, the springboard towards achieving the projected objectives within a 50-year horizon” she noted. She also recalled that it was in Cameroon that the African Union launched the first consultative meeting with media professionals to brainstorm on the Agenda 2063 framework document which was later adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the AU.

The question-and-answer session during the meeting with the editors was addressed by the AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs. Dr. Kaloko appreciated the interest by the journalists to join efforts in the implementation of Agenda 2063.

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