At the Official Launching of Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund: Minister Fuh Calistus Catapulted

The Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung, Nkwenti Simon Doh has officially launched the FCFA 15 million scholarship Fund code named Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund.  Funded by Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development to the tune of FCFA 15 million, the scholarship fund seeks to support students, pupils and teachers ahead of September school resumption. Addressing education stakeholders, pupils, students and parents at the official launching ceremony, the SDO for Donga Mantung applauded the benevolent gesture by minister Fuh Calistus Gentry to boost the reopening of schools in the division couple with the fact that many parents who are crippled by the crisis are unable to meet up with the school needs of their children. “We want to say that this is coming at an opportune moment and we want to encourage other elites who have similar ambitions for this fast and important division to also come on board. This scholarship scheme is definitely going to boost the moral of those who are willing to study but the crisis has pulled them down”. He continued that Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry has been offering scholarships desirous pupils and students of Donga Mantung but this year the amount has been raised to FCFA 15 million. “We have seen practically the distribution of the largess to those who merit and I want to use this occasion to also tell the willing pupils and students of this division that the administration will not spare any efforts in helping them where the need arises for effective resumption of schools. The last academic year has shown us that we are up to the task”. He concluded by reminding the population of Donga Mantung that “ there is nothing you can give a child that surpasses education”. Before commissioning into function the members of the coordination charged with overseeing the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries, the SDO warned that any “mago-mago” wont be tolerated.

SDO for Donga Mantung

On her part Madame Ajara, 4^th Deputy of Nkambe said that a gesture of such magnitude can only emanates from an intellectual of his caliber. She added that wherever the development of the mind passes, all other forms of development follows, she emphasized. She concluded reiterated that the “seed that was sown in Misaje some years back has gradually covered the whole division and we pray that it has come not to go but to stay until our illiteracy rate heats the highest level in the North West Region and why not Cameroon”. She concluded even before the crisis it has been the general wish of everyone to see such a gesture. 

Tarlishi OliverYinyu, the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education and Coordinator of the scholarship fund in a presentation disclosed that the programme will be in three phases.  He said the second phase will be disbursed when schools have resumed while phase III will be encourage and reward outstanding teachers, students and pupils. In his statement, he was categorical that education is the key to the world. He said a child without education is like a bird without feathers given that education doesn’t only prepare the youths for a better future but it is life in itself.  He expressed gratitude to the funder, minister Fuh Calistus for his philanthropic gesture and added that those who give never lack.

The fon of Misaje on the other hand said thanked Dr. Fuh Calistus for his generosity of spirit which is a great step towards nation building. To him supporting the education of kids is the key to development that is why “we need to have people behind him who can be equivalent to him that is why we salute his gesture. I think this is an encouragement to other elites to see what they can also to in our community because a community like Donga Mantung cannot have just one elite who can afford this type of gesture. Many are more viable but        they have no concern for the education of our people. So, we don’t want to have an eye among the blind but many people who will be our overseers who will continue to think of the development of our division” he concluded.

Pa Cletus Nyeba, was categorical that Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry has demonstrated beyond reasonable

Madame Ajara: 4th Deputy Mayor Nkambe Council

doubts that he has the population at heart. “In my capacity as a parent and PTA chairman, I am very thankful to the minister for this great initiative. In my school where I am PTA chairman, we had only few teachers. And now that the scholarship will recruit teachers, I am leaving this hall very satisfied.”

The first beneficiaries expressed thanks and gratitude to the donor. “I was already thinking how the year would look like given that the parents are not viable due to the crisis. I already saw frustration ahead of me but God this donation by H.E Dr. Fuh Calistus has come to take me out from the stress”. Another beneficiary from Ako said she would like peace to return to the North West and South West so that there is an enabling environment for them to study. “We are praying that the powers that be, should hear us and give us peace because we want to go to school” he lamented.

It should be recalled that over 900 students and pupils attended the launching ceremony that took place at the Nkambe community hall. Those who took the challenge to attend the historic event went back more convinced than when they were going that the FCFA 15 million is purely a kind gesture with no political strings as beneficiaries were selected without any form of discrimination. Those who couldn’t have the opportunity to express themselves in speeches or interviews did so in songs. The euphoria was total as the people danced to the tones of the drumbeats to give a standing ovation the minister.  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Back2School: Dr. Fuh Calistus Announces FCFA 15 Million Scholarship for Donga Mantung

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development has announced a scholarship fund worth FCFA 15 million to egg on school resumption in Donga 7 revealed that the scholarship Fund aimed at stimulating effective school resumption will be launch in the days ahead in Nkambe, the Divisional Headquarters of Donga Mantung. Harping on the functionality of the fund, Dr. Fuh Calistus went further to relate that during the launching ceremony, the divisional services concerned will receive the first disbursements. This, he added is to egg on and support students, pupils and teachers to get hold of the basics for a better and effective school resumption. He also emphasized that the sum of FCFA 3 million will be given to each of the five sub Divisions that make up Donga Mantung. The funds, he continued will be disbursed in three phases. The first phase at the launching ceremony, the second phase be disbursed after follow-up and the third phase will be disbursed to encourage merit among teachers, students and even the Parent Teacher Associations.

On who will be the potential beneficiaries of the scholarship fund, Dr. Fuh Calistus told the Press that the intention is to support children of displaced parents, orphans and to support the recruitment of PTA teachers in localities where teachers have abandoned their duties because of the crisis. He concluded that the fund will be managed by the divisional services of education under the strict supervision of the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division.

It should be recalled that the Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund is a reorientation of the Ako-Misaje Scholarship Fund.  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 

2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry Announces FCFA 15 Million Scholarship Fund for Donga Mantung Div

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development has announced a scholarship fund worth FCFA 15 million to egg on school resumption in Donga 7 revealed that the scholarship Fund aimed at stimulating effective school resumption will be launch in the days ahead in Nkambe, the Divisional Headquarters of Donga Mantung. Harping on the functionality of the fund, Dr. Fuh Calistus went further to relate that during the launching ceremony, the divisional services concerned will receive the first disbursements. This, he added is to egg on and support students, pupils and teachers to get hold of the basics for a better and effective school resumption. He also emphasized that the sum of FCFA 3 million will be given to each of the five sub Divisions that make up Donga Mantung. The funds, he continued will be disbursed in three phases. The first phase at the launching ceremony, the second phase be disbursed after follow-up and the third phase will be disbursed to encourage merit among teachers, students and even the Parent Teacher Associations.

On who will be the potential beneficiaries of the scholarship fund, Dr. Fuh Calistus told the Press that the intention is to support children of displaced parents, orphans and to support the recruitment of PTA teachers in localities where teachers have abandoned their duties because of the crisis. He concluded that the fund will be managed by the divisional services of education under the strict supervision of the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division.

It should be recalled that the Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund is a reorientation of the Ako-Misaje Scholarship Fund.  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

2019 GCE Results Published

The 2019 results of tge General Certificate of Examination have been made public by the Cameroon GCE board. The results were  released on Monday, 29th July 2019.

According to the national state radio CRTV, a total number of 110,916 candidates registered for the examinations while 98,015 effectively wrote the examinations nationwide.

Statistics indicate that 66,846 passed recording a percentage pass rate of 74.24%

According to the GCE board, there was an 11.97 percentage improvement in the general performance of the examination compared to last year. In 2018, the success rate stood at 62.27% and this year it has increased to 74.24%.

AL/OL Pass Rates

The pass rate per level in the different examinations organised by the GCE board stands as follows

Advanced Levels Generals = 78.36% pass

Advanced Levels Technical = 89.34% pass

Ordinary Levels Generals = 62.15% pass

Advanced Levels Technical = 67.34%

SOURCE: CRTV

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Labour Day Celebration in Donga Mantung: Workers Call for Peace, Inclusive Dialogue to End Crisis in NW, SW

The Vice President of Donga Mantung Divisional Union of Trade Unions has appealed on government to engage in an inclusive dialogue to end the crisis in the North West and South West Regions. Comrade Langhi David, Vice President of Donga Mantung Divisional Union of Trade Unions made the clarion call at the Fon Jabpfu Ibrahim Nfor Grandstand in Nkambe at celebrations marking the 133^rd International Labour Day, “we appeal to the government to listen to the cry of the citizen and engage in an inclusive dialogue to bring an end to the crisis in the Anglopne zones so that the internally displaced people should come back and carryout normal activities in their various communities. He lamented that “It is with a heavy heart that I welcome you today on the occasion of the international Labour Day celebration 2019. Heavy heart, because we are witnessing a very scanty population. We are in a situation where we are losing the most active and productive working population due to the ongoing socio-political crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon”, Langhi David continued. He added that many enterprises and businesses have closed, thereby creating serious unemployment and hardship in families.  He also used the opportunity to appeal to government to speed up the decentralization process in order to enable effective development in rural areas

Harping on this year’s theme, Langhi David also decried the fact that workers rights are violated by the employers. To him, “there is no social justice and when social justice is absent, there can be no decent work”. He used the chance also condemn the fact that some municipal treasurers are exploiting the current crisis to concentrate on their private businesses, maltreating workers and even depriving some workers of their hard earned salaries for no good reasons.

Addressing workers and trade unionists, the Senior Divisional officer for Donga Mantung on his part called on employers to make sure that workers are protected as vector of social justice and decent work in Cameroon. Mr. Simon Nkwenti called on employers to make sure that they provide health security for workers. He reminded workers that decent work can only take place in non-violence environment. Talking to the Press, the SDO for Donga Mantung expressed joy for the turnout and the merriment from workers despite the socio-political crisis rocking some of their enterprises and staying afloat. “We want to appreciate their efforts in celebrating their day and showing the world that Donga Mantung in spite of the crisis is still able to practice social dialogue in order to continue to make the enterprises and the industries function”. 

 The March for Peace of Misaje Achaba's Union that Ignited Hope on Labour Day 

Misaje Achaba’s Union March for Peace, Say Every Life Matters

Achaba riders from Misaje have expressed their desire to see peace returning to the North West and the South West Regions. The achaba riders in what their leaders described as “every life matters campaign” said the reason why they travelled to Nkambe was to show their attachment to peace and mutual co-existence. To them, their presence is to call for peace because “one single life lost is a great lost to the nation, region, division, sub division, village and family”. The more than 100 achaba riders who travelled to Nkambe to participate in this year’s international labour day were unanimous that Peace, Peace, Peace and Peace  is the only way for a decent working environment. “We are here today because we believe that there can be no decent work even in our villages. We stand for peace and we are calling on the powers that be to hear us. We are not for acts of violence and the killings because every life is important and matters”, one of their leaders told us. There was fanfare and euphoria as the over 100 riders settled for a drink. After the drink, the caravan took off for Misaje.  From the hills of Bansobi, the horns of the bikes echoed into the low lands of Kamane, Kidoung, Nkanchi and vibrated into the hills of Kibo, Chunghe and Bebekette as they approached Misaje town. When the caravan finally stormed Misaje, the entire town turned into a beehive of activities. Accompanying the noise from the running motor engines and the numerous from bike horns were voices chanting “We want peace in Cameroon”.

It is worth mentioning last March 24, 2019 Misaje marched for peace. The entire sub division echoed that more than ever, there is a need to promote and preserve national unity and in a peaceful and serene atmosphere. There was a clarion call for values of peace and dialogue as ingredient to patriotism, law abiding of living together.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Taylor Guitars Plants Trees in Cameroon

one of the ebony trees planted in Donga Mantung of the North West Region

Planting a tree nowadays they say is the greatest gift that anyone can give to humanity due to the phenomenon of climate change and global warming. The Ebony Project, an initiative of the US based Taylor Guitars has kick-started a tree planting project in Cameroon aimed at encouraging greater sustainability. It should be recalled that in 2011, Taylor Guitars took its biggest step to teamed up with the Spanish luthier supply company Madinter to purchase an ebony sawmill in Cameroon, thus becoming the world’s largest legal producer of legal ebony.

As part of the Ebony Project, Taylor has overseen the planting of ebony trees in Cameroon, including a recent batch of 1,500 and an equal number of fruit seedlings, at strategic spots in the dense rainforest. It is projected that an estimated 13,500 ebony trees are planned to be planted by the end of 2020. “The first trees were planted two years ago, and more were planted last year, Taylor says. “This year was incredibly rewarding, as we saw that the survival rate of the previously planted ebony was high, and that the plants had grown considerably. And this year’s plants are even stronger and heartier. Our confidence is high. The involved communities are happy. Honestly, it feels good.” Agroforestry farmers have applauded this initiative. To them, the project will go a long way to improve their standards of living as well as encourage the sustainable management of forest resources. To local government officials, the project is a laudable given that it will curb unemployment and stimulate tree planting in communities.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Climate Change: Hunger Feared as Prolonged Dry Season Hits Farming Community

 By Nfor B

effects of prolonged dry season on maize and vegetables

In recent years, many regions in Cameroon have witnessed sever changes, ranging from heavy down pour in some localities resulting to flood to prolonged dry season in others. The North West Region and especially Donga Mantung Division have not been left out of these drastic changes. There is abundant reason for the population of Donga Mantung who in a majority rely only on their farms to fear the worst . In the Nkambe plateau (Ndu and Nkambe) for example, the rain fell earlier and farmers planted as early as February 25, 2019 as compared to the previous years. This year, the rain fell too early than it has been the case and no one predicted it was a bad signal.

But the rains disappeared and the sky immediately turned blue in colour after the rains had poured continuously for four days. Those who were hoping to see the rains back by March 15th became frustrated as April showed it ugly nose without any drop of rain. This drastic change has had varied impact on the crops as majority of the crops withered and dried off while others did not even germinate. Tantoh Godwill, a young farmer says he is afraid that he will have to replant given that more than 70 percent of the seed could not germinate due to absence of the rain and extreme heat. “The situation is very precarious and I am afraid we may witness very low yield this year. I have noticed some strange insects destroying young crops in my farm. This is very strange indeed.” Mami Adela on her part predicted that if the prolonged dry season continues to two more weeks, she may lost about 30-40% of the crops that have survived the hardship. The situation has been so pathetic that some farmers want to give off replanting while a majority is struggling to mulch the dusty farms with the hope that the rains will finally come before the month of April ends.

Climate change is real

Notwithstanding, the Divisional Delegate of Agriculture and Rural Development for Donga Mantung Division, Ncham George had earlier warned farmers against early planting due to the changing weather patterns. Farmers who ignored the advice are today pointing accusing fingers at witches and wizards while traditionalists say it is the consequences of abominable acts. However, there have been diverse interpretations and varying contradictory views with regards to the cause of the prolonged dry season. In villages, what is common on the lips of everyone is that witches and wizards went up to the sky to block the rains in order for the population to suffer. Some villagers believe that witchcraft is one of the forces behind the prolonged dry season. And they are anxiously waiting to hear that someone will confuse to that effect as is common in villages. Rumours already went wild that witches and wizards have blocked the sky with rappers.

Another school of thought holds that the absence of the rains is as a result of the curse and abominations committed in the land. “The gods are not happy and our traditional rulers need to appease them”, Nchanji Julius says. To traditionalists like Nchanji, there is the need for the chief priests of the various villages to pour libations to cleanse the land of the bad deeds and practices.

Contrary to the irrational views that are being propagated in the rural areas, some farmers still have the belief that the absence of the rains has nothing to do with witchcraft or any acts of abomination. To them, it is the consequences of climate change and global warming.

Nonetheless, no matter the speculation as to the real cause of the prolonged dry season, one thing is certain that it is going to have far reaching effects on the farmers, communities and the nation as a whole.  Consequently, the poor performance of crops will definitely lead to famine as maize is considered as the only stable food. Besides, it is the only source of revenue to many households. This is so because good harvest signifies more into the family and food availability while a poor harvest emits hunger. Not only hunger, access to potable water has also been a problem. A source at the Nkambe district hospital hinted that the number of typhoid fever cases have tripled as compared to last year. The source further revealed that children are the most affected. Some streams and even inland fish ponds have dried off and farmers have lost almost everything.

Climate change is real and contrary to what many farmers in rural areas continue to speculate. And the effects will be more drastic in rural areas given that majority of the farmers continue to think that climate change is something that is happening far off away from their localities. It is a global problem that demands collective efforts as the effects of the phenomenon continue to spread around the globe. Thank God at the time of writing this piece the sky just turned darker indicating that it may rain.        

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

In Memory of Mami Nkiwa Pauline Jeh

Our Destination is the heavens, a place far greater than we know. For some its quicker, for others the journey is slow.  And when the journey finally ends, we will find an everlasting peace. Born in 1956, Mami Pauline Jeh would be remembered as the mother of mothers, fathers and the have not. By her actions, she was named the Mother Teresa of Misaje.  Alvert Einstein once said that “The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive”. Mami Nkiwa Pauline was a woman who gave her all for the betterment of others. This could be testified by the number of persons who came to bide her farewell for she was genuinely a mother to all. She was a devoted Christian and one of the rare community leaders one can easily come across nowadays.

On March 2, 2019, she took the journey of no-returns to the heavens as she was laid to rest in Misaje. In his eulogy, Kingsley alias “delegue” wrote of her mother that “ If Roses grow in heaven, Lord, please pluck a bunch for me and place them in my mother's arms and tell her they are from me. Tell her I love her and miss her.
And when she turns to smile, Lord place a kiss on her cheeks and cuddle her for me because remembering her everyday is easy but as time goes by , the loneliness grows and creates an ache in my heart that will never go away. Fare you well Mami Nkiwa Pauline Jeh”  

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)