An educational talk and the handing over of gifts and prices, were the major highlights of the event.

The people of Ndian Division and those of Ekondo Titi in particular were in a festive mood on Saturday, February 6 for an event that shall ever remain memorable. A delegation from the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (known by its French acroymn CERAC) was in Ekondo Titi within the framework of CERAC's participation in the celebrations of the 44th national Youth Day.

An educational talk and the award of prices and gifts were the major highlights of the event that started on Friday, February 5 when the CERAC delegation met and briefed rural women on income generating projects, especially the planting of palms. This falls in line with CERAC's development project to support rural women to be self-sustaining and combat development challenges. At the Government Bilingual High School , Ekondo Titi, there was an educational talk that revolved on four topics, namely; morality, health issues in general and HIV/AIDS in particular, academic orientation and the choice of a career and the role of youth in development.

The philanthropic dimension of CERAC was best exemplified at the Ekondo Titi ceremonial ground on Saturday when the head of the CERAC delegation Mrs Bernice Mengot, in a keynote address, gave a brief history of CERAC which is an apolitical and non-profit making organisation created by the First Lady Madam Chantal Biya. She hailed the First Lady for her largesse, benevolence and concern towards the underprivileged and vulnerable segments of the population. Reason why the First Lady did not remain indifferent when fire disaster hit the people of Jabane (Bakassi). She exhibited compassion and generosity, Mrs Mengot said, and by this gesture she reaffirms her concern to the affected victims.

Other speakers like the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education in Ndian and the representative of students, did not mince words in praising the First Lady for her "legendary hospitality, love and compassion." On behalf of the people of Ndian, the Mayor of the Ekondo Titi Council Mr Mesembe James hailed the assistance of CERAC to the fire disaster victims of Jabane and praised President Paul Biya for using diplomacy to restitute Bakassi to Cameroon.

There was thunderous applause during the reading of a random list of gifts CERAC brought for the population. These include computers, printers, tables, desks, school bags (with the inscription CERAC), pencils, water filters, buckets, farm tools, bags of food items, planting seeds, delivery beds, first aid kits, the "dignity package", pots, knives, mobil phones for teachers, etc.

To match words with action, female and male condoms were distributed and there was free screening for HIV/AIDS and the results given in 10 minutes.

It should be noted that that the United Nations came as part of the CERAC delegation in which Mrs Anne Nsang played a significant role in sensitising the population on women's empowerment, HIV/AIDS and moral rectitude. As the event said quits, the message from the banners said it all: "Thank you CERAC. Thank you Madam Chantal Biya".