Maroua, 15 October, 2023 / 8:50 pm (ACI Africa).
Bishop Bruno Ateba of the Catholic Diocese of Maroua-Mokolo in Cameroon has attributed the phenomenon of emigration of Africans to other countries to lack of job opportunities in their respective countries.
In a Wednesday, October 11 report following an interview with tells the Catholic Pontifical and charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, Bishop Ateba advocated for the creation of employment opportunities in Africa to avert challenges related to illegal migration.
“If people were to have access to jobs and economic opportunities in their countries of origin, they would not feel the urge to emigrate. There is a clear connection between the reality of displaced people, emigration, and the lack of a stable future,” the Cameroonian Catholic Bishop is quoted as saying.
He says many youths “feel obliged to leave due to lack of opportunities”, and that “if we want to change this, we have to find a sustainable solution to stop the exodus of our young people.”
The Cameroonian member of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (SAC), also known as the Pallottines, further says, “We mustn’t forget that Africa has a very young population, and there are many of them. Young people represent tremendous potential for our continent, but only if we can give them the tools and opportunities required to prosper.”
