At One Youth, One Dream Confab in Buea Youths discuss building healthy future through leadership, innovation.

Participants who numbered at least 600 were aged between 18 and 40 years. They were drawn from sectors such as health, medicine, nursing, technology, agriculture, law, entrepreneurship, business, education, media, civil society, and digital innovation.

The youth empowerment and health promotion initiative was organised by the Make Them Smile Foundation. The two-day conference opened with an Innovation Pitch and Virtual Pre-conference Policy Conference on 15th October.

It climaxed Saturday with a hybrid main conference featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, caucus tracks, skills workshops, exhibitions and awards.

It was under the theme: “Building Healthy Futures through Youth Leadership, Innovation and Community Action”. 

The Founder of Make Them Smile Foundation, Eliva Enanga Fule, said the platform was created to bridge the gap between youth potential and opportunities. 

"…it is a platform that brings together youths, change makers and innovators, because we believe that youths have great potential to scale, to succeed,” Enanga stated.

Enanga also explained that the gathering provided an opportunity for collaboration among young people. He said collaboration results in more spinoffs.

 "…The whole idea is not about who does it, but about how much impact it does to our community," Enanga noted.

She encouraged young people to start leading where they stand rather than wait for a leadership position. 

The South West Regional Delegate of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Isaac Ekombe Mbua, praised the massive turnout of young people.

He noted that government has been supporting the project from inception. Mbua noted that the success of the event is a proof that when government institutions and grassroots organizations align, true impact is inevitable.

Mbua noted that this year's theme is a direct reflection of national programmes championed by the Ministry. He listed the structures created by the government to support young people. 

These, he said included the National Youth Observatory, the National Volunteering Program; the Youth Entrepreneurship Guarantee Fund with 50 billion FCFA consecrated by the President of the Republic; the National Civic Education Program through Civic and Entrepreneurial Re-armament; and the National Citizenship Games for peace and national integration.

According to him, OYOD operationalizes the ministry's mission at the community level and proves that youth participation is not passive but active and socially oriented. 

To ensure sustainability, organizers said they have planned continuous mentorship, support for youth-led initiatives, partnerships with health institutions and NGOs, annual youth empowerment activities. They also added to the list digital platforms for continuous engagement.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3944 of Monday October 19, 2026