Donga Mantung: Here is the Untold Success Story of Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund

 How DOMASF Rekindled Back to School and Hard work 

As part of efforts to reawaken back to school in the entire Donga Mantung Division and equally reward excellence and hard work, the Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund-DOMASF is entering into records for outstanding achievements. Launched in August 2019 at the eve of back to school with the sum of FCFA 18 million, DOMASF has reached out to thousands in it's drive to build human resources and encourage education, ignite excellence and hardwork. The success story of DOMASF is one worth emulating. 

During the official launching of DOMASF during the 2019 back to school, its initiator and promoter, Dr, Fuh Calistus Gentry said the scheme was put in place to mobilize communities to send children to school, support Parent Teachers Association to recruit teachers and to honour, encourage and reward excellence. 

Last week, over 200 students and pupils from the Five Sub Divisions that make up Donga Mantung Division received scholarships ranging from FCFA 25.000 to FCFA 150.000. In addition to the awards of excellence, school bags and exercise books were distributed to the needy to instill back to school. The coordinator of the scholarship fund, Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu, says DOMASF has created a huge impact in the entire Donga Mantung since it was launched on August 19, 2019 at the eve of back to school. In a retrospective, Tarlishi Oliver says in 2019 back to school campaign, over 1000 students and pupils (mostly Internal Displaced) benefited from school fees allocations and didactic materials. According to Tarlishi Oliver, each sub division received funds to sensitize parents and guardians to send their children to school. More so, Tarlishi Oliver also revealed that 38 Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) received FCFA 200.000 support from the scheme to recruit teachers in areas where they were lacking. Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, DOMASF also included in its programme, the distribution of covid 19 kits to instill government measures to combat the spread of the virus with schools milieu. Face masks and hand-washing buckets 

On October 7, the coordination embarked on the last phase of the distribution of scholarships to high performance students and pupils at the 2020 official examinations. Three centers were chosen to host the distribution of scholarships, GBHS Misaje hosted students and pupils from Misaje Sub Division, Government School Ako for Ako Sub Division while GS Ntumbaw for students and pupils from Nwa sub Division, Nkambe Central and Ndu Sub Division respectively. The prizes handed over to laureates for their performance in the various official examinations ranged from FCFA 25.000 to FCFA 150.000. The Pupils and students were rewarded following their excellent performance in the First School Leaving Certificate, CAP, General Certificate of Education (Ordinary and Advanced Level). Beside the scores that were awarded, schools bags and didactic materials were also shared to basic and secondary education schools of the subdivision. Considering the new normal to instill government measures to fight the COVID 19 pandemic, anti COVID 19 materials were also shared to schools. 

Education Stakeholders, Pupils and Students Applaud Dr. Fuh Calistus in Misaje 

 Parents, teachers, students, pupils and local administrators of Misaje Sub Division have canonized Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry for his initiative to support education in Donga Mantung Division. H.E. Dr. Fuh Calistus received the applause during the official launching of the third phase of the Donga Mantung scholarship Fund, which is aimed at encouraging meritocracy and back to school in the entire division took place at GBHS Misaje under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Misaje, Tchayah Thomas. 

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony, the Divisional Officer for expressed gratitude and thanks to the promoter of the Donga Mantung Scholarship for the timely gesture that will go a long way to boost back to school and instill hard-work, excellence and meritocracy.  He said Dr. Fuh Calistus has never failed to extend a hand of fellowship to the needy. Tchayah Thomas reiterated that the scholarship distributed to students and pupils is an additional impetus in Misaje sub Division. 

Sammy Mgbatta Nforkemba exploded that the scholarship distributed to students and pupils is just an iceberg of what Minister Fuh Calistus has been doing for many years. Sammy Mgbatta said the initiative to boost the resource base of the sub Division has enabled many children to enter into professional schools. It is the best in terms of human investments he added. Harping on the 2020/2021, the mayor of Misaje was optimistic that this year is going to be the brightest in the entire sub division as compared to the last four years. 

In Misaje sub Division, students and pupils who performed well in the last official examinations were rewarded. Nine students, and three pupils , who had the best results in the entire sub division received scholarships ranging from FCFA 150.000 to FCFA 25.000. About 200 others were handed school bags and didactic materials. 

Euphoria in Ako

When DOMASF delegation stormed Ako Sub Division on October 8, with goodies to encourage back to school and reward excellence, the euphoria was at its peak. Prospects as to whether schools will resume this year were high. The massive turn out by education stakeholders to witness the distribution of scholarships to distinguished pupils in the 2020 First School Leaving Certificate examination, Common Entrance and didactic materials was described as the highest crowd pulling event in the passed four years. Fuh Calistus was canonized for promoting education and encouraging back to school. The Divisional Officer for Ako, Mbingno Abraham reminded parents to make sure that they send children to school. He applauded DOMASF and its promoter for the timely gesture which will go a long way to boost back to school. 

Before proceeding to the distribution of scholarships to the over 16 pupils and didactic materials to over 100 need students and pupils, the mayor of Ako Council, Nkanya Nkwai Godlove was categorical in reminding the population that education is fundamental to all children and its a human right. He reiterated the call earlier made by the Divisional Officer for parents to send their children to school. The 16 beneficiaries received scholarships ranging from FCFA 50.000 to FCFA 25.000 per pupil. The timely support by DOMASF will boost latest initiatives by the Divisional Officer and mayor who have been to Kuta area and Tumboh to sensitize villagers to send children to school. 

GS Ntumbaw Hosts Scholarships Award Ceremony for Nwa, Ndu and Nkambe Central

There was trumpet blast at Government School Ntumbaw where students, pupils and other stakeholders from Ndu, Nwa and Nkambe Central sub divisions gathered to receive rewards for their outstanding performances. Considering the magnitude of the event, the award to laureates from the three sub Divisions took place under the patronage of the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Nkwenti Simon Doh. Addressing stakeholders, the SDO epitomized Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for constantly extending a hand of fellowship to the needy. He said Minister Calistus Gentrys efforts are worthy of emulation by the elites. While calling on the parents in Ndu and Nwa sub Division to send their children to school, the SDO warned teachers who have been sitting on the fence ever since to resume work. 

In his welcome speech, the mayor of Ndu council, Abdou Borno Kanfom, reechoed the clarion call for parents in Ndu sub Division to send their kids to school. The mayor of Ndu said education is the best thing anyone can ever offer to a child and congratulated Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry for his initiative to build the future of youths. Over 40 students and 100 pupils received scholarship grants ranging from FCFA 150.000 to FCFA 25.000 while didactic materials were also shared as well as covid 19 kits. .

It should be recalled that last year, secondary schools were not functional in Ndu and Nwa sub Division. At least in the primary education section, some schools were functional in Nwa while Ndu was blank. This year, some schools in Ndu sub Division and Nwa have already opened their doors. This is due to the sensitizations done by the administration and the mayors of the two municipalities who equally received DOMASF support last year. 

That Day of the official launching of DOMASF 

The Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung, Nkwenti Simon Doh 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. And as DOMASF ended the 18 million francs scheme, no mago mago acts were recorded.

SDO for Donga Mantung

Madame Ajara, the then 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.

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

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

Ako Sub Division: DOMASF Sprays Scholarships to Outstanding Pupils

Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund, DOMASF, has confirmed its ability to promote Excellence and Meritocracy in Donga Mantung Division. Today October 8, 2020, education stakeholders witnessed the distribution scholarships to distinguished pupils at the First School Leaving Certificate and other basic needs to the needy to encourage back to school. Today's ceremony which took place under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Ako Sub Division, Mbingno Abraham was described as the biggest crowd puller since 2016. 

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, promoter of the fund was canonized by the popualtion for his effort to peomote and encourage education. The mayor of Ako, Nkanya Nkwai Godlove couldn't be indifferent to express thank to Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for the timely gesture. Before proceeding to the distribution of scholarships to the laureates, Nkanya  Nkwai Godlove was categorical in reminding the population that education is the foundation of all human being beings and a fondamental right for children. He reiterated the call earlier made by the Divisional Officer made earlier calling on the population to send their kids to school.

16 Pupils received cash prizes for excellent performance in FSLC  ranging from 25000 to 50000frs and School bags and didactic materials where shared to basic and secondary education schools of the subdivision to boast back to school. This was done in context with government barrier measures to fight against COVID 19 and the  distribution of anti COVID 19 materials grace the ceremony. This is the last part of the 18 million scholarship fund for 2019/2020 Academic year. Worthy to note that no secondary school in Ako Sub Division wrote any official examination due to the ongoing crisis. 

It should be recalled that the Divisional Officer for Ako and Mayor of Ako have been on back to school sensitization campaigns to rekindle parents to send their children to school. The sensitization campaigns took them to Kuta area and Tumboh recently where they called on parents and guardians to send their children to school.

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

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

DOMASF Sprays Scholarships in Ako

Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund, DOMASF, has confirmed its ability to promote Excellence and Meritocracy in Donga Mantung Division. Today October 8, 2020, education stakeholders witnessed the distribution scholarships to distinguished pupils at the First School Leaving Certificate and other basic needs to the needy to encourage back to school. Today's ceremony which took place under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Ako Sub Division, Mbingno Abraham was described as the biggest crowd puller since 2016. 

Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, promoter of the fund was canonized by the popualtion for his effort to peomote and encourage education. The mayor of Ako, Nkanya Nkwai Godlove couldn't be indifferent to express thank to Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for the timely gesture. Before proceeding to the distribution of scholarships to the laureates, Nkanya  Nkwai Godlove was categorical in reminding the population that education is the foundation of all human being beings and a fondamental right for children. He reiterated the call earlier made by the Divisional Officer made earlier calling on the population to send their kids to school.

16 Pupils received cash prizes for excellent performance in FSLC  ranging from 25000 to 50000frs and School bags and didactic materials where shared to basic and secondary education schools of the subdivision to boast back to school. This was done in context with government barrier measures to fight against COVID 19 and the  distribution of anti COVID 19 materials grace the ceremony. This is the last part of the 18 million scholarship fund for 2019/2020 Academic year. Worthy to note that no secondary school in Ako Sub Division wrote any official examination due to the ongoing crisis 

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

Back2School: Dr. Fuh Calistus Encourages Excellence, Rewards Merits

There was euphoria and fanfare at GBHS Misaje as stakeholders of the education family, administrators, parents, guardians, students and pupils turned out massively to witness the distribution of scholarships to meritorious pupils and students. 

The entire Misaje Sub Division used the event to canonize Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry for his initiative to support education in Donga Mantung Division. Today's event which marked the official launching of the third phase of the Donga Mantung scholarship Fund, which is aimed at encouraging meritocracy and back to school in the entire division took place at GBHS Misaje under the patronage of the Divisional Officer for Misaje, Tchayah Thomas. 

Speaking at the official handing over ceremony, the Divisional Officer for expressed gratitude and thanks to the promoter of the Donga Mantung Scholarship for the timely gesture that will go a long way to boost back to school and instill hard-work, excellence and meritocracy.  He said Dr. Fuh Calistus has never failed to extend a hand of fellowship to the needy. Tchayah Thomas reiterated that the scholarship distributed to students and pupils is an additional impetus in Misaje sub Division. The prizes are magnificent, ranging from 25.000 Frs to FCFA 150.000 frs. This can only come from someone who has the love for children He concluded that back to school started on a very good foot in Misaje with massive turn out of teachers, students and pupils on the first day of school reopening. 

On his part the Mayor of Misaje council, Sammy Mgbatta Nforkemba said that the scholarship distributed to students and pupils is just an iceberg of what Minister Fuh Calistus has been doing for many years. Sammy Mgbatta said the initiative to boost the resource base of the sub Division has enabled many children to enter into professional schools. It is the best in terms of human investments he added. Harping on the 2020/2021, the mayor of Misaje was optimistic that this year is going to be the brightest in the entire sub division as compared to the last four years.

Award of Excellence: 

The prizes handed over to laureates for their performance in the various official examinations ranges from FCFA 25.000 to FCFA 150.000. The Pupils and students were rewarded following their excellent performance in the First School Leaving Certificate, CAP, General Certificate of Education (Ordinary and Advanced Level). Beside the scores that were awarded, schools bags and didactic materials were also shared to basic and secondary education schools of the subdivision. Considering the new normal to instill government measures to fight the COVID 19 pandemic, anti COVID 19 materials were also shared to schools. Teachers, students, pupils also used the occasion to applaud Dr. Fuh Calistus for promoting and encouraging education in Donga Mantung Division. 

Assessing the distribution of the scholarship to meritorious pupils and students, Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu, the Divisional Delegate for Donga Mantung Division who doubles as Coordinator of the scholarship Fund disclosed that it is since 2007 that Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry initiated and has been sponsoring this initiative to build the human resource base in Misaje and Donga Mantung at large. He continued that the impact of the scholarship has been tremendous. Today, we can count numbers in professional institutions and other institutions. We duff our hats to Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry for this FCFA 18 million which was modernized to sensitize and mobilize communities to send their children to school as well as support school PTAs to recruit teachers. To Tarlishi Oliver, the euphoria demonstrated by students and pupils at the award ceremony was the mark of celebrating the man who has the children at heart. 

Ebale Divine, one of the laureates expressed thanks and gratitude to donor for the timely support. He said the award will encourage him to work more in school.

It should be noted that total sum of FCFA18 million scholarship funds was earmarked for 2019/2020 Academic year. His Excellency Dr Fuh Calistus Gentry has promised to come up with another scheme to improve on the livelihoods of the youths in Donga Mantung Division. 

NAMES OF LAUREATES FOR THE AWARD OF  SCHOLARSHIP TO MERITORIOUS STUDENTS/PUPILS BY DONGA MANTUNG SCHOLARSHIP FUND (DOMASF) DONATED BY DR FUH CALISTUS GENTRY TODAY WEDNESDAY THE 07th OF OCTOBER 2020 IN  MISAJE SUB DIVISION.

a) ADVANCED LEVEL

1st Prize. 

Che Robert Nyowike of GBHS Misaje

2nd prize. 

 Nsah Faith Kinji of GHS Chunghe

3rd prize  Hassan Terence of GBHS Misaje,

b)ORDINARY LEVELS

1st prize .

 Tume Ephraim of GBHS Misaje 

2nd prize. 

Jeng Karys of GBHS Misaje 

3rd prize.

 Koji Brian of GHS Chinghe 

c) CAP 

1st prize 

 Ngong Ephraim, Assez Bien

2nd prize.

 Mbori William. Assez Bien

3rd prize

Nji Gilfort.Passable.

    NB .No candidate for Advanced level in Technical.

d)  FSLC.

1st prize

Mbuh Collete of G.S Akweto 

2nd prize

Mapo Violine of Community School Bakichineh 

3rd prize

Gwendoline Lameh of GS Dumbu

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

Back2School: Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund to Distribute FCFA Millions to Encourage Meritocracy

PRESS RELEASE

FINAL PHASE OF THE 18 MILLIONS DONGA MANTUNG SCHOLARSHIP FUND (DOMASF) DONATED BY DR. FUH CALISTUS GENTRY

This phase shall be awarded based on meritocracy. Final year deserving pupils/students shall be awarded financial prizes ranging from 150.000frs for A-levels General and Technical to 50.000frs for first prize of FSLC. This will enable them to continue their education. 

Best results to be rewarded  will stem  from First School leaving to Ordinary and  Advanced  levels Certificate examinations  in  Grammar, Commercial, Vocational and Technical.

The magnanimity of our benefactor has pushed him to add to these cash prizes, a huge consignment of didactics materials to be share to the underprivileged and needy children to boast their morals of an enthusiastic back to school this 2020/2021 academic year.

The program of this phase runs as follows:

1. Wednesday 7 October, 2020 in Misaje precisely at GBHS Misaje. The event shall be presided over by the Divisional officer of Misaje Sub Division in the presence of DD of Secondary Education who doubles as the Divisional Coordinator of DOMASF, Mayor of Misaje Council, amongst other dignitaries.

2. Thursday 8 October, 2020: Ako at GBHS Ako campus, to be presided over by the Divisional officer for Ako Sub Division, DD Secondary Education DM, Mayor of Ako Council as well as the education family of Ako and other officials.

3. Friday 9 October, 2020 at Ndu, for the Sub Divisions of Nkambe Central, Nwa and Ndu it self. This event shall be presided over by the SDO for Donga Mantung at the GBHS Ndu Campus.

It is worth mentioning that at the end of this final phase, a total amount of 18 Millions would have been spent for the education of the Youths of Donga Mantung.

The respective Inspectors of Basic Education, Principals of Colleges, Head teachers, students and Pupils of the Sub Divisions are called upon to get set and put in place every aspect that shall lead to the success of this event in the various locations.

The entire population of Donga Mantung Division is requested to give education a chance by sending children to school.

We count on the active participation of  all stakeholders to come on board for a continuous call for an effective back to school.                               

COORDINATOR DOMASF,

 TARLISHI OLIVER YINYU.

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

2020 GCE Results Released?

Fake news circulating  on social media have made rounds that the 2020 GCE results are out. The information which has not been signed by any official shows great performance in the general certificate of education,  Cameroon GCE results 2020. According to the unsigned statistics, a total number of 115723 candidates registered for the examination while 98015 effectively wrote the examination nationwide. 

 It further states that 66.846 passed recording a percentage pass rate of 74.24% registering a 11.97% percentage improvement in the general performance of the examination as compared to last year. 

However this information still to be confirmed given that of late numberous fake results and statistics have been circulated on social media. 

     • Advance level general = 79.56%

     • Advance level technical (ATC) = 85.24%

      • Ordinary level general 63.14%

              

     However, expectations are high that the results will be officially published before Monday 5 , 2020 

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

2020 GCE Results Soon

Expectations are high as students await the 2020 examination results. However, there was pandemonium last Monday as fake news circulated on social media that the Cameroon GCE Board had release results. Classified sources say results may not be released before October 2, 2020. This is so following an announcement from the University of Buea extending the date for admission. Notwithstanding, GCE results will be published before October 5, 2020 given that schools will resume on that day. 

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

This Is What Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry told CRTV Programme "Inside The Presidency"-A Must Read Interview

Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, has said Anglophones in the North West and South West regions are more concerned with the advantages they will reap from the Special Status than taking part in illegal protests around the country. Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry made the statement on CRTV programme, Inside The Presidency.

Harping on the upcoming regional elections, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry reiterated that expectations are high among Anglophones especially as president Biya in his wisdom has thought that Anglophones have a cultural identity which they cherish. Here below is the Exclusive interview

Your Excellency, what is your take on the Congolese foreign minister’s description of President Paul Biya as the Wiseman of Africa and the Library of the sub region?

He is absolutely correct in his description of President Paul Biya as the Wiseman of Africa and the Library of the sub region. Many others have hailed the President of the Republic as a visionary leader who has shown himself on the international scene as a peace maker. The peaceful resolution of the dispute over the oil- rich Bakassi peninsular is just one of the many crisis that have projected President Biya as the Wiseman of Africa. Many are politicians but those who are called to lead the nation are few.

What is your take on calls for demonstrations that have as major objective to undermine republican institutions?

First of all, I think the motive behind such calls is not genuine. How can a political party which took part in the 2018 presidential election be claiming today that demonstrations are intended to protest against the electoral system and the crisis in the North West and South West regions? Kamto took part in the presidential election under these same circumstances he is today claiming to be protesting against. We need to put in place a structure, the regional structure which I strongly believe will be the guarantor of peace, especially in the North West and South West regions. There is of course no gainsaying the fact that Cameroonians have been waiting for regional election and the putting in place of Regional Councils. To begin with, you cannot have a president who was overwhelmingly voted for by Cameroonians and you get up one day to call for an uprising against him and the state institutions he incarnates. Let me remind Mr. Kamto that over 70% of Cameroonians voted for President Paul Biya at the 2018 presidential election. In a country, there are pessimists and optimists. The pessimist is going to say there is wind, the optimist will say let there be a change, but the leader says he will adjust the sail.

A leader after voted into office automatically becomes the president of the entire nation. That is what makes President Biya the visionary leader we have known him to be. Ernest Benz says: “Politics is a game of looking for trouble. Find it even where it does not even exist. And putting out the wrong ways to solve the problem and at the end using the wrong diagnosis”. If you march for an issue that affects the rights of an individual, it can be understood. But calling for demonstrations against somebody who was democratically and overwhelmingly elected by Cameroonians is nothing else than insurrection. My advice to Cameroonians is that they should ignore such diabolic calls coming from politicians who have lost touch with reality.

What is your advice to the people of the North West and South West regions in the face of these unwarranted calls for insurrection?

North Westerners and South Westerners are just from the field to select their candidates for the December 6, 2020 regional elections. I think this is what is more important to them at this material moment. I don’t see any Anglophone in his or her right senses taking part in any political party demonstration against state institutions and the president of the Republic. They are rather more concerned about the Special Status the Head of State has given them and the many advantages that Special Status will offer them. They are facing the challenge of putting in place a regional executive that will finish what it is already being done. That is their preoccupation for now. As soon as the lists are published, we want to get our regions move, we want to see the House of Chiefs move, we want to see the place for which we stand as cultural identity being sorted out in this nation. The people of the North West and South West regions, even under very challenging security, still went out to vote because they know that if you leave a vacuum, it creates more problems than solve it. After voting at the 2018 presidential election, senatorial election, the 2020 municipal and parliamentary elections under insecurity, I don’t see any Anglophone ever heeding any call from a political party to embark on a senseless and fruitless demonstration.

Mr. Minister, how did you receive news of the convening of the Electoral College for the country’s first ever regional election?

Of course, like every patriotic Cameroonian, I was very overwhelmed. Many people kept asking when is going to happen. And so the announcement came especially to us politicians from the North West and South West regions as a great relieve because we need these structures to be in place. It is going to accompany the measures we have been taking on the ground.

What are the stakes in these elections?

The stakes are quite high. I was very impressed with the desire of candidates from all shades of society, former members of government and former general managers. They all believe that they have a role to play in rebuilding and taking part in the development of their regions with the putting in place of the Regional Councils and the House of Chiefs. The enthusiasm and expectations are very high among Anglophones of all social backgrounds. I talk like one just back from the field. It came at the right time and I am sure that we will be starting the New Year 2021 with something very special that the president has given and has made it work.

As an Anglophone elite, how is the advent of regions determinant?

 It is very determinant because when people want to put technology as a lead word, whether you call it federalism, whether you call it decentralisation or what- ever name, what matters is the content. For us in the North West and South West regions, we want to say the president in his wisdom has thought that Anglophones have a cultural identity which they cherish. He has said it even on international scene and that he wants to allow that evolve in the most orderly manner. To me as an individual, it is something that will create a new awareness and a new diversity in this nation, which is unique in Africa. This will only come to make Cameroon a new kind of breed where colonial past is going to be a melting pot to create some- thing that does not exist in Africa.

How will the putting in place of Regional Councils accelerate Cameroon’s decentralisation process?

 We are going to see vibrant young people, especially the ones that my party (the CPDM) set out for, with the putting in place of Regional Councils. In doing the selection of our candidates for the December 6 Regional Election, we reserved a sizable quota for women and the for the youth. We are going to see the whole fabric of society, enthusiastic to take the destiny of their regions into their own hands. They are going to be at the centre of key decisions regarding the development of their regions. We are going to will a new kind of power, which if we leave Yaounde and go down, we will lis- ten to them. They will be running things and we only fit our ideas to theirs because it is their region. They will automatically have the destiny of their people in their hands. The enthusiasm with which the announcement of the Regional Election was received by especially Anglophones, tells it already the difference the put- ting in place and functioning of Regional Councils will make with regards to the development of the North West and South West regions. There is of course, no gainsaying the fact that Regional Election is coming as the last phase of the democratic process which H.E President Biya started instituting in this nation in four phases. How would the coming of Regional Councils help in resolving the conflicts in the North West and South West regions? We have a national government. We have had a government right down at the level of the councils. There was this vacuum in the bill, which is the Regional Council and the conflict we have is not linked to the councils, not linked to a division, it is linked to a region. I believe that with the coming of these structures, it is going to fill the vacuum in Buea and Bamenda where we will have responsible men from all facets; especially given that every subdivision will be represented in these Regional Councils. They will bring to the table the uniqueness of the problems in their council areas and divisions with the mastery of these problems that we, the contemporaries to these regions don’t have. Remember that members of the Regional Councils will be coming from the base. They have lived with these problems and will be coming to give the assurance that the president has kept to his words. The president has responded to everything since this crisis started. We are going to see the very people responding. They have the mastery of each subdivision and division and equally master the pressing development needs of these areas.

Much has been said about the Special Status for the two English-speaking regions. What in your opinion will this make Anglophone regions different from the eight other regions?

Like I said, even in the United Kingdom, power is divulged into different entities. You don’t call it the Federal Republic of Great Britain. It has a nomenclature so many people are basing on, those who talk on federation and the rest. But this is a devolution of power to the base, which allows each region to handle things according the pressing needs of their people. It is going to be a kind of quasi government that has been created with Commissioners taking charge of different the development needs of their areas. The Chairman of the Region and the House of Chiefs will both be handling different issues that affect their regions. I think this is a starting point, a great move and I believe that those who are sincere, will know that this is a move in the right direction and that it can only make life better in the North West and South West regions. It can only meet the aspirations of people who by their Anglo-Saxon nature like a lot of self- governance. This, of course, is what Anglophones have have been clamouring for. Just the very fact that these two regions will have their House of Chiefs give it the Special Status I have been talking about. Remember the nostalgia the peo- ple of these two regions grew up with. That is why they clamoured for this. And for those who want the word Federalism, it is the content and not the name that matters. The North West and South West regions are going to have the House of Chiefs and these chiefs are going to look at issues that concern and reflect their traditional values. We are living a rebirth of what people had looked up to and I think from next year, this country would breathe some good air that would attract the attention of other African countries.

You talked about the enthusiasm that was manifested by potential candidates for the Regional Election. Who do you think should be the idle candidates for these positions?

I won’t fix idealism to candidature. There is a minimum requirement. Those who want to go into the Regional Council should be literate enough to stand up and listen to issues concerning this nation. You need a minimum qualification to read the basic texts that are given for interpretation just like it obtains in both the Lower and Upper Houses of parliament. You should be able to read and write to have a good mastery of how things work out in this country. Notwithstanding this, what I saw in the diversity of candidates, former regional delegates, divisional delegates, former parliamentarians, and former members of government gave to understanding that the candidates who would take part in this election are people of mettle. These are people who have worked and retired back to the regions, they have lived the current crisis in the North West and South West regions, they have lived the national life of this country and would be bringing in this wealth of experience for the development of these two regions.

You of the CPDM, the party in power, how was the selection done within your party itself? What were you concerned about?

Within our party, we were concerned about women being represented, 30 percent, we were concerned about the youth representation, we were concerned about people with diverse opinion, people with diverse experiences and the fact that our selection was broad-based, people came in from all shades of life, no restrictions. At the end of the day, it was the people on the ground who decided the kind of candidates whose names they forwarded for investiture.

How did they do that, did they contribute in the selection?

Yes, off course. The party hierarchy at the base, the Sections worked with the mayors and opinion leaders in the different council areas. We were only there to receive the opinions that they sent to us. And our criteria and everything were based on what the base selected and forwarded to us. They chose their candidates and I think that was the beauty of the CPDM selection exercise. We are going to see plurality, diversity and all kinds of people with rich experience on how this nation is governed and should be governed.

As the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, how do you think regions and council areas can make use of their natural resources to be able to improve on their sources of income?

 We just finished elaborating on the text of application, which concerns us. Our part in the presidential decree on local authorities, Section 156, which says that you have to make available non-concessionable mineral substances available. We have to transfer our powers. This means that they are minerals that you don’t need a mining concession in order to exploit it. You have sand…all those things that are limited to Cameroonians only. So, we are divulging all that power down to the councils; even if they will need our expertise in order to guide them. That also means that in the future, councils can create companies which can run a quarry that will give them revenues. These are all innovations and the spirit behind this law is to make sure that people are empowered at the base to make money. The law is there and we are wait- ing for the text of application. How will this really happen? That is where we are now. We have already sent out copies to the Ministry of Decentralisation on how this text should be elaborated. From there, it will go to the Prime Minister’s office for the text of application. At the end of the day, many people will see themselves being able to sit in their council areas and have access to the mining industry that has been divulged in their own area, which is a wealth-making and making the lives of the people better.

In other words, if a company comes to an area to tar a road, the council should be able to supply quarry materials to the company instead of the other way round?

That is not what I am saying, most of the time we have a concession reformulation which comes with clauses, which says that a country must give that company a quarry. Those are international clauses which we cannot go against. I am saying that a council on its own can create a company under the new dispensation which will carry out some activities. But if a road construction company comes without the international clause that the government has to give them a quarry, that will still be the case. We have to respect as a nation, international obligations which come with financial assistance that is given to us.

Mr. Minister, how is the situation in the North West and South West regions, one year after the Major National Dialogue?

As I said from the beginning, a leader must always be in the middle and so that the opinions can be diverse. At the Major National Dialogue, MND, people came up with different opinions. That of course, was the right step in the right direction. Today, we have so many people who have left the bushes and come out because they have understood that President Biya and his government care so much about the wellbeing of the people of the two English- speaking regions. We had so many people who never understood the consequences of what this was, but today, they have understood. They are assisting in making sure peace returns to the two regions and equally making sure that people do not create havoc on their own lives. They were seeing their lives in ruin and today, they are trying to package back their lives. Many of the recommendations of the MND are being gradually implemented with firm instructions from the Number One Cameroonian, H. E President Biya. The MND was just the right step in the right direction. It was a forum where people were given the opportunity to express their views and everybody listening to the other. People were allowed to express their views and I think this is healthy for a great nation like ours. Today, we are reaping the fruits of that frank dialogue at the MND and more fruits will come. I think it has done a lot to break down the tension that prior to the holding of the MND prevailed in the North West and South West regions. Everybody is now focused because we know the conflict in the North West and South West regions is not what the people want. Human life is precious.

What in your opinion is the way forward for the crisis in North West and South West regions?

The way forward is for all of us who come from these regions to focus on what the President of the Republic has given us-the Special Status and the many benefits that come with it. We must make sure we put all our energies behind the Regional Councils and the House of Chiefs and get down to work as one people. We equally have no choice but to support the Reconstruction Plan for the North West and South West to build back our lives and our regions. The reconstruction process of these two regions is not just about development projects but equally psychologi- cal. We need to build back our lives and get down to the centre of making this country an emerging nation. We should not be on the sidelines. Rather, we should be at the centre of making this nation a great country in Africa.

 

 

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

Back2School: Hon. Agho Oliver Donates to Pupils, Students

Hon. Agho Oliver, Member of Parliament for Bafut/ Tubah in Mezam Division of the North West Region has again made another landmark donation to the needy. Hon. Agho who has been described by impressionists as the most formidable young politician of all politicians has donated school materials to pupils and students. Ahead of the 2020 Back to School campaign, Hon. Agho storm Bafut and Tubah sub Division respectively to share with the needy. The political philanthropists according to the expressionist is being described as a cheerful giver. Before handing over the didactic material and schoolbags to beneficiaries, Hon. Agho Oliver used the occasion to underscored the need for children to be allowed to go to school. To him, education is the key to the future. 

Harping on the importance of education, Hon. Agho emphasized that "we know it already and no one understands it better than we do. There was a time children were prevented from going to school and the time have come for them to resume school". He announced that he brought 19200 exercise books, 2000 Pens, 180 mark sets, 228 rulers, 2016 erasers, 200 school bags, 2000 face masks and many other school items. 

Flanked by the administration and council executives who all applauded the young dynamic MP for his astuteness and frequent donations to the needy. Present to give the ceremony royal blessings were also the fons of Kejom Kiekum, Bambili. Infact, almost all traditional rulers were present. What was never said in speeches was said in songs as myriade of dance groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of the localities. 

It is worth mentioning that Hon. Agho Oliver had earlier this year donated bundles of zinc estimated  at over 10 million FCFA to 30 families in Bambui and Bafut. He equally donated a generator to the police on the demand of the population and before that,  had supported Muslim faithful with cartons of sugar, tea and others during the fasting period. Besides, when he visited the Lamido of Sabga, he also made a stop over at Sabga Health Center where he communed with patients on sickbed and paid all their bills. 

The back to school distribution ceremony can be described as the highest crowd pulling event ever in Bafut/Tubah in recent times. Fru Brian, one if the beneficiaries from Bafut expressed joy and gratitude to the MP for the timely donation. He promised that he will use the support for the purpose it is intended. That is, go to school and produce good results. 

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

Back to School: Hon. Agho Oliver Donates to Pupils, Students

Hon. Agho Oliver, Member of Parliament for Bafut/ Tubah in Mezam Division of the North West Region has again made another landmark donation to the needy. Hon. Agho who has been described by impressionists as the most formidable young politician of all politicians has donated school materials to pupils and students. Ahead of the 2020 Back to School campaign, Hon. Agho storm Bafut and Tubah sub Division respectively to share with the needy. The political philanthropists according to the expressionist is being described as a cheerful giver. Before handing over the didactic material and schoolbags to beneficiaries, Hon. Agho Oliver used the occasion to underscored the need for children to be allowed to go to school. To him, education is the key to the future. 

Harping on the importance of education, Hon. Agho emphasized that "we know it already and no one understands it better than we do. There was a time children were prevented from going to school and the time have come for them to resume school". He announced that he brought 19200 exercise books, 2000 Pens, 180 mark sets, 228 rulers, 2016 erasers, 200 school bags, 2000 face masks and many other school items. 

Flanked by the administration and council executives who all applauded the young dynamic MP for his astuteness and frequent donations to the needy. Present to give the ceremony royal blessings were also the fons of Kejom Kiekum, Bambili. Infact, almost all traditional rulers were present. What was never said in speeches was said in songs as myriade of dance groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of the localities. 

It is worth mentioning that Hon. Agho Oliver had earlier this year donated bundles of zinc estimated  at over 10 million FCFA to 30 families in Bambui and Bafut. He equally donated a generator to the police on the demand of the population and before that,  had supported Muslim faithful with cartons of sugar, tea and others during the fasting period. Besides, when he visited the Lamido of Sabga, he also made a stop over at Sabga Health Center where he communed with patients on sickbed and paid all their bills. 

The back to school distribution ceremony can be described as the highest crowd pulling event ever in Bafut/Tubah in recent times. Fru Brian, one if the beneficiaries from Bafut expressed joy and gratitude to the MP for the timely donation. He promised that he will use the support for the purpose it is intended. That is, go to school and produce good results. 

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

Bafut/Tubah MP Reaches out to the Population Again

The young and dynamic Parliamentarian for Bafut/Tubah has extended a hand of fellowship to the population of his constituency again by donating 4000 kilowatts  generator to Tubah police station in Bambili this July 20,2020. This would make up for the shortfall in power supply in the area that has been slowing down the process of establishing ID cards for his constituents and others in various neighbourhoods.

It should be recalled that since confirmed MP after the March 22, 2020 repeat elections, Hon. Agho Oliver has been up on all fronts trying to assuage the situation of his constituents in both Bafut and Tubah  

Already in March, he offered roofing sheets worth over 9m frs to close to 30 families in Bambui and Bafut. Thereafter, he paid a visit to the Sabga aldorate where he supported Muslim faithful with  cartoons of sugar, tea and others during the fasting period. On the sidelines, he also stopped over at Sabga health center where he settled bills of all patients found at the facility at the time of his arrival, worth over 300000. 

When government allowed schools to reopen after Temporal closure due to the outbreak of coronavirus, Hon Agho Oliver actively contributed alongside the Tubah mayor to disinfecting the University of Bamenda campus and it's satellite structures.

He has also been actively involved in contributing to the staging of public events in Bamenda, including the recent installations of Divisional officers and the holding of council sessions in council areas under his constituency

At the national level he has had an impressive participation at the just ended June session of parliament where he mad valuable contributions to the debates on bills tabled by government, including the bill on statistics and the one on realignment of 2020 budget to meet up with COVID19 exigencies.

He has been an essential element in the North West parliamentary momentum that has for the past weeks been making Public Works minister to sit at the edge of his seat in relation to the the lacklustre attitude in tarring of the Babadjou-Bamenda stretch of road

The distribution of face masks and hand sanitizers to his constituents has been his permanent forte since the outbreak the pandemic in Cameroon

Edison Fru Ndi as modern Cameroon's one-size-feet-all and resilient entrepreneur

The Colbert Factor

This reflection is inspired by the fact that unlike other businesses and entrepreneurs who saw the population of Bamenda simply as consumers of their products and who were quick to escape from Bamenda when the conflict escalated, Edison Fru Ndi, being an illustrious son of the Region deemed that it was right and just to stay besides his people, under rain, under shine.

It is the more informed by the morale in Wole Soyinka's 'The Swarm Dwellers', to the effect that it was of 'no earthly use changing one slough for another' as insecurity anywhere is insecurity everywhere and that grass is greenest where it is watered.

It is also inspired by the fact that Edison's tenacity has not only given hope to many hopeless youths from the Region who, even if they wanted to leave the Region they wouldn't have had anywhere else to go, he had not only continued to light up the lives of many but is also using his hard earned resources to keep the few remaining citizens in Bamenda free of COVID19 pandemic by providing state-of-the-art thermoflashes to key institutions in the Region.

If one were to go by statistics presented by North West Governor, Aldolphe Lele L'afrique during the 2018 International Labour Day in Bamenda, to the effect that the crisis had let to the loss of 20000 jobs and to over 100 businesses closing shop, it would go without saying that virtually every business is folding up in the Region. This can only mean that more and more people go jobless everyday. This can only mean that if more and more sons and daughters of the Region are not taking bold decisions to be resilient, the situation would have to get worse before it gets better.

And getting worse means more and more youths would become frustrated. Flattening the curve requires resilient entrepreneurs like Edison Fru Ndi.

Resilience, it has been said, is the virtue that enables people to move through hardship and become better. It is for this that Edison continues to hang on believing that no one escapes pain, fear, and suffering. Yet, from pain comes wisdom, from fear comes courage, from suffering can come strength, if one has the sense of resilience. Given that to be an entrepreneur requires a special combination of boldness and humility, it is always a beautiful thing to see that one has contributed to building something that society needs. Hence, Dreamland Snack bar in Nkwen-Bamenda-an expansion of the dream Edison Fru Ndi has of Bamenda. In every venture he undertakes, Edison Fru Ndi as a real entrepreneur, looks past short-term setbacks and focuses on the long-term mission... Transforming Bamenda into a Dreamland is Edison Fru Ndi's ultimate mission.

Although Edison Fru Ndi is today's most popular guy in the city of Bamenda and even beyond, he doesn't allow that to define him as he doesn't need any of that to tell him who he is.

As one of those rare people who have been blessed with an absolutely clear view of himself, he not only does get virtually everything right, but he gets it right ahead of everyone else. 

Being one fellow who has been consistently captivating, Edison Fru Ndi is an original entrepreneurial storyteller with warmth, humour and a style and voice all his own.

As one of the few Cameroon entrepreneurs who have gone past the level of looking for money to that of money working for them, Edison Fru Ndi still believes that the way out is to drive your car rather than allow your car to drive you around. To this effect, he continues to see a car as a piece of mechanical engineering that enables one move from one place to the order for easy business transactions rather than a status symbol. While so many individuals of his standing are defined by their car, he defined his car as he continues to see it as a means to an end and not an end in itself.

Just as Zig Ziggler, one of America's great authors and motivational speaker, said of his father that although he decided to swing the Bible in order to save souls, he later realized that in saving souls he could also put food on his table, so too, Edison

Fru Ndi decided in the late 90s to make Bamenda a tourist attraction by setting up high definition restaurants and entertainment joints and only to soon realize that such services could also put food on his table. Hence, the Clarion call to all categories of visitors to Bamenda and even those who have made it within Bamenda to put their money where their mouths are. 

After doing a thorough environmental scan in the late 90s through to the early 2000s to realize that Bamenda lacked a restaurant worth it's salt and pepper,  and after overcoming initial challenges and long held conservative beliefs that a high flying restaurant could not exist past it's first anniversary in Bamenda, Edison Fru Ndi took the bull by the horns and launched his first major venture, Dreamland Restaurant, at Bamenda's Central Business District otherwise known as Commercial Avenue. The success of the venture beyond the wildest imaginations attracted and inspired many an entrepreneur who gathered up the courage and jumped into high definition restaurants in Bamenda. A new business window had opened.

Just like God on creating Adam realized suddenly, abruptly, that it was not good for a man to be alone, Edison Fru Ndi, after the initial success realized that it wasn't good for a city like Bamenda to be without an equally high definition cabaret. Hence, Dreamland Cabaret that was rated then, and prior to the visit of President Biya in 2010 in Bamenda, as the best in the CEMAC zone.

In fact, Edison Fru Ndi has a lot of stuff on his mind. From packaging sand into bags the same way cement is done, through creating a free trade zone or dry port in Bamenda or thereabouts, to transforming the erstwhile municipal stadium in Bamenda into a second main market, and looking elsewhere for a robust stadium. Edison Fru Ndi is a unique Cameeroonian mind. And in more ways than one, his entrepreneurial journey takes you inside that mind. When you come out of that mind, you'll be smiling, laughing and hodding in agreement.

At a time when people in the Region that youths once looked up to, spend time poisoning their minds on the ills of government and urging the youths to fight on, Edison Fru Ndi is rather of the opinion that the best way for youths to fight off over-dependence on noisy Yaounde is to get them fully engaged in entrepreneurial ventures. As a motivational and entrepreneurial coach, he makes an umpteenth youth in Bamenda who come around him to understand that grass is greenest where it is watered and that anyone with an entrepreneurial mind would see money even in gutters in a Bamenda that many have for long considered dry land. 

The pull of entrepreneurs Edison is painstakingly building for tomorrow's Cameroon reminds me of John Madden's account of Donald Trump. Long before Donald Trump ever thought of competing for the U.S Presidency, John Madden, football commentator and former NFL games coach recalls how he was sitting and waiting for food in a restaurant and a tall and heavily built person came in with his wife and introduced himself as Donald Trump. He then invited Donald Trump to join them on the table, and as they waited for the food, Donald Trump marveled all of them on his business acquisition plans, his views on the US economy, his engagement in building a totally new generation of American business entrepreneurs, and much more. He said Donald . had the same quick mind, and more than anything else, the same curiosity about everything. According to Madden, you would think Donald Trump would be talking all the time. Instead, he was asking questions and really listening. Since after that meeting, John Madden said, he had wished to meet Trump again, but would only hear him negotiating and buying over one multi trillion business or the other, until he was chaired into the Whitehouse, after completing the Trump Tower. The ambitions may not be the same for our own Edison Fru Ndi, but in terms of business acumen, there seems to be more in common with the two entrepreneurs.

It is this and much more that qualifies Edison Fru Ndi as the one-size-feet-all and resilient entrepreneur

The Muteff Boy's take