Barrister Sama Francis Wins Life Time Newspaper Man of the Year, Kan Elroy, Moh Sylvester, Bob Achu Win Big

PRESS RELEASE

(Life Time Newspaper Achievement Awards)

Within the frame work of 2013/2014 Life Time achievement awards, the general public is hereby informed that the following personalities, organizations and institutions were voted for Our Annual Lifetime Achievement Awards.For more info: 75 45 90 43, 75 19 55 81, 94 04 66 14 or by Email:lifetimepublication@yahoo.com

1)    Man of The Year: Barrister Sama Francis

2)    Politician of The Year: Kan Elroy Moses

3)    Anti Corruption Crusader of the Year: Moh Sylvester

4)    Peace Crusader of the Year: Ntumfor Nico Halle

5)    Personality of the Year: Shey Musa Nfor

6)    Transparency Award: Fonkam Azu’u

7)    Service to Humanity Award: SHUMAS

8)    Mayor of the Year: Choh Issa Buba

9)    Most Performing Council: Santa, Ndop, Batibo

10) Best Managed Insurance Company: ZENITHE INSURANCE

11) Most Reliable Micro Finance Establishment: BAPCCUL

12) Architect of The Year: Robert Mbanga Achu

13) Best Researcher in Modern Traditional Medicine: Dr. Fru Richard

14) Best Micro Finance Overseer; CAMCCUL

15) Best Road Construction Company: SOGEA SATOM

16) Best Building Construction Company: CJ CONSTRUCTION

17) Economic Operator of the Year: Dr Nkwenti Ignatius

18) Senator of the Year: Rt Hon.Simon Achidi Achu

19) Nursery/Primary School of the Year: PLEDGE

20) Polytechnic Of The Year: HIBUMS

21) Manager Of The Year: Muluh Gregory

22) Accountant Of The Year: Awah Ndoh Richard

23) Best Transport Company: MOGHAMO

24) Administrator Of The Year

25) Best Restaurant: WHITE HOUSE

26) Best Lay Private Technical College: COTECC

27) Best Public Technical College: GTHS Fundong

28) Best Health Service Award: Presbyterian Eye Services

29) Cleanest Prisons Award: FUNDONG PRISONS

30) Best General Manager In Micro Finance: Director, Rural Investment Credit

31) The most proverbial and reconciliatory administrator

32) Most result-oriented divisional delegate

33) Most prominent construction company of the year

 

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

Position Statement on Trans-border Insecurity and Boko Haram Activities

PRESS RELEASE

Union of North West Human Rights Organizations-UNOWRURO

POSITION STATEMENT ON TRANS-BORDER INSECURITY AND BOKO HARAM ACTIVITIES 

The recent abduction of over 200 innocent Nigerian female students from the Chibok Secondary School; the continuous deprivation of their basic human rights, especially the right to religion and education; the tacit reaction and lack of commitment from the international community; and the threat to security and peace in countries neighboring Nigeria especially Cameroon, has become a preoccupying issue to the Cameroonian Civil Society in general and the Union of North West Human Rights Organizations in particular. Informed by the United Nations Charter whereby over 189 member states are signatory and inspired by Article 55 and 56 which state in their preambles that: ‘With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, member states …. pledge themselves to take joint and separate action in co-operation with the Organization for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55’, the Union of North west Human Rights Organizations meeting in an extraordinary session in Bamenda this Tuesday May 13, 2014, accuses the international community of betraying their commitments to stamping out terrorism and cross-border insecurity, especially when innocent girls become soft targets.

That the international community has since 2009 stood by and watched Boko Haram activities top to a degree with thousands of people losing their lives and that this Islamic extremist group’s activities is receiving financial and intelligence support from international networks cutting across countries, is the more worrisome to the Union of North West Human Rights Organizations.

The Union of North West Human Rights Organizations which is made up of well-meaning Humana Rights Organizations and CBOs is the more concerned given that the activities of Boko haram are not only diabolical in their nature, inescapable in their reach, but more dangerously, overwhelming in their dimension. The trans-border insecurity brought by it has not only been felt in the Far North of Cameroon but also in nearby Baworo in Menchum division. As if this is not enough, their consistent attempts to us Cameroonian soil as a ‘Safe Haven’ is likely to create visible cracks in the new-found smooth relations between Cameroon and Nigerian government. This likely erosion of confidence could dampen the benefits Cameroonians in general and North Westerners in particular would have drawn from the Green Tree Accord with the resultant passage of the Bamenda-Ekok-Enugu road. No Cameroonian committed to the attainment of the MDGs could be indifferent to the kidnapping of the over 200 Nigerian girls given that girls in communities along borders with Nigeria could be scared of going to school for fear of the unknown.

As our thoughts and compassion go to the kidnapped innocent girls and their parents especially because of the physical and psychological torture they currently go through, we acknowledge the actions being undertaken  by countries  like the United States, Britain, France and the others to see to it that these young girls are freed unhurt. We would like to urge the United Nations as the leader of the international community to without further delay sees into it that Article 55 and 56 of the U.N Charter are implemented in order that these children be rescued.

Furthermore, we call on countries especially in West and Central Africa to do all in their favour to address issues of class difference and extreme poverty, improve governance and the role of law-which activities can greatly reduce extremism. We particularly encourage the Cameroon government to take a bold step and implement Article 66 of the 1996 Constitution on the disclosure of assets in line with the prescriptions of the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime, UNODC.

Finally, as a socially responsible Union, we call on Cameroonians of all works of life especially those living in border areas, to increase vigilance at individual and community level and to immediately report to Forces of Law and Order any suspected and strange faces in our neighborhood.

                                                 Chongsi Joseph Ayeah

List of Organizations:

1.       Center for Human Rights Peace and Advocacy-CHRAPA

2.       Nkumu Fed Fed

3.       Community Education and Development Service-CEDS

4.       Women in Action against Gender Based Violence-WACameroon

5.       Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development-CAGEAD

6.       A Common Future

7.       Health Development Consultancy Services-HEDECS

8.       Community Human Rights and Advocacy Center-CHRAC

9.       Community Initiative for Sustainable Development-COMINSUD

10.   MBOSCUDA

11.   Society for Initiative in Rural Development and Environment Protection-SIRDEP

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

Saving Abducted Schoolgirls: International Community Accused of Betrayal

By Fai Cassian Ndi

The Union of North West Human Rights Organization-UNOWRURO has called on the United Nations to without further delay implement Article 55 and 56 of the UN Charter to rescue the 276 Nigerian girls abducted by militants of the Islamic Sect-Boko Haram. In a Press statement issued today, May 13, 204, the Union of North West Human Rights Organization accuses the international community of betraying their commitments to stamping out terrorism and cross-border insecurity. They expressed their discontentment at the fact that innocent girls have become the target of terrorism. Talking to journalists in Bamenda at the CHRAPA Hall after the extraordinary session in a press briefing, the President of UNOWRURO, Chongsi Joseph Ayeah said it is pathetic that since 2009, the international community has stood by and watched Boko Haram perpetrating its activities with thousands of innocent people losing their lives. UNOWRORO Press statement also frowns at the fact that Boko Haram activities are receiving financial and intelligence support from international networks.

Harping on the trans-border insecurity brought by Boko Haram in the Northern Region of Cameroon, and Bawuro in the North West Region, the Human Rights activists decried that the occurrence may create cracks in the new found relationship between Cameroon and Nigeria. They called on Cameroonians to be more vigilant and report the presence of any suspect to the appropriate quarters. “As a socially responsible Union, we call on Cameroonians of all works of life especially those living in border areas, to increase vigilance at individual and community level and to immediately report to Forces of Law and Order any suspected and strange faces in our neighborhood” the release states.

In reaction to the worries raised by journalists, North West Human Rights activists used the opportunity to congratulated Cameroon security agents for uncovering two explosive devices recently. “If you meet any of them, give a kola nut because they are proofing their worth. Those devices are not made here. It means they came from somewhere. I think they should be applauded”, Chongsi Joseph Ayeah, the Union President emphasized. On his part, Fonso Michael said that reiterated that “balancing and filling the gap between the poor and the rich by the government can adequately address the issue of terrorism in the world.

However, public opinion is aghast that the UN has been very adamant on the abduction of the Nigerian school girl. “Was it by holding a paper on the chest that the West and USA fought against Osama Ben Laden, Ghadafi, and or Sadam Hussien?” street commentators have been wondering. Another school of thought holds that the #Bring Back Our Girls” campaign even though is creating awareness, could equally be a form of escapism.

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

Knowledge for Children Gets New Country Director

PRESS RELEASE

Kumbo, North-West Region, 12 May 2014

New Dutch Country Director for Knowledge for Children Cameroon.

Ms. Esly van Dam from the Netherlands starts her service as the new country director for Knowledge for Children Cameroon today. Knowledge for Children is a Dutch-Cameroonian NGO working on improving the quality of primary education in the rural areas of the North-West and Adamawa Regions in Cameroon. This is needed as many children finish primary school without being able to read or write well.
One of the main issues in rural schools in the region is a lack of textbooks. Knowledge for Children is donating textbooks to schools. ‘What makes Knowledge for Children unique, is that the school, the P.T.A. and the community have to contribute to the project’, explains Ms. Van Dam. ‘The schools have to fund their own book fund. When the Knowledge for Children project is finished after three years, the schools and PTAs will be able to continue the maintenance and purchase of new books. To achieve this, parents are trained on the importance of education and learn how to keep the school and head master accountable for the quality of education in their school’. Also, Knowledge for Children is training teachers. Many rural primary school teachers are not well trained. By training them in teaching methods, focussing on literacy, results of pupils will improve. This improved capacity of teachers is also enabling teachers and pupils to benefit more from the books.
A third project in the schools is the health project. In participating schools, ‘health clubs’ are formed by pupils from the higher grades. Knowledge for Children trains these pupils on malaria, HIV and aids and general hygiene. The club members also receive training on peer education, enabling them to train their peers.
Ms. Van Dam will be leading the Knowledge for Children team for at least one year. She says: ‘Food is not so much of a problem in the rural areas of the North-West Region. But money for education is not readily available. Schools lack many things; there are not enough classrooms, teachers and didactic materials. I am very grateful and happy to be able to contribute, together with my Cameroonian colleagues, to the quality of education in the North-West Region. It is my goal to give children in the rural areas here the same opportunities as I had as a child in the rural areas of the Netherlands’.
Knowledge for Children is depending on donations. Any support is very welcome through our current account with Banque Atlantique Kumbo;

Knowledge for Children Knowledge for Children was founded in 2005 by the Dutch Arnold Roozenbeek and the Cameroonian ex-education inspector Maimo Jacob Shiynyuy. What started as donating some books to a few schools, is now an NGO with seven paid staff members and 132 primary schools in the region. Our unique co-financing system is making sure that the project is supported by the entire community and ensures sustainability after the Knowledge for Children project is finished in the school. For redaction use only, not for publication More information can be obtained from:
Ms. Esly van Dam (Country Director Knowledge for Children Cameroon) (237)53 083390 

or esly.kforc@gmail.com.
Mr. Maimo Jacob Shiynyuy (Board chairman Knowledge for Children Cameroon); 

7764 2630 / 95717378 or maimojacobs.kforc@gmail.com.

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

Organization Lapses Mar GIZ Workshop on Transfer of German-Trained Experts

A workshop organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur internationale Zusammenarbeit-Giz has left development experts wondering whether Cameroon will grasp the most essential in perspective to put into proper use the expertise of returning German trained experts to make significant contribution in order to sustain development process in Cameroon. Dr. Didier Djoumessi, Cameroon Coordinator for the Migration for Development Programme while addressing a handful of participants at Azam Hotel in Bamenda on May 9-10, 2014, revealed that the programme expects to stimulate the participation of German trained experts in promoting local development in order for Cameroon to achieve its vision of becoming an emerging nation by 2035. However, the poor turn-out left development experts themselves with many unreciprocated questions.  Nonetheless, the workshop aimed at reinforcing the network of German-trained Cameroonians and presenting their know-how to regional and local authorities may not generate the expected results when judged from the caliber of participants. The question as to whether mayors and regional delegations of ministries were informed about this very important programme abound high. This is so because of the 34 councils in North West, only 03 were represented by their mayors, which were the mayors Babessi, Jakiri and Mbengwi. More so, no regional delegate showed up at the workshop. Observers were quick to point accusing fingers at poor organization and mobilization adding that these are indicators of a preliminary syndrome of a collapsed venture. The fact that no mayor in Mezam Division was spotted at this workshop further compounded the above predictions.

However, a school of thought holds that this project which falls within the framework of global migration could have been one of the key elements for the development of nations, but it may collapse at birth as it lead organization in Cameroon may not pursuit with the goal. With close to 17.000 Cameroonians living in Germany, among which are more than 6.000 students, the project would have achieved its objectives if stakeholders were informed.

This programme which according to what we gathered is an initiative of the Center for International Migration and Development code named “Migrant for Development Programme,” seeks to link German-trained experts to the South (Cameroon involved) to sustain their development. The programme as indicated in the project document was developed based on the ever-growing numbers of Cameroonians trained in Germany who are not linked to potential employers. Apart, the programme has as components: Migrant organization as a bridge and Migrants as entrepreneurs. According to the Center for International Migration and Development-CIM, returning experts who have acquired their professional skills in Germany have an important role to play for the development of their various countries of origin. This is so because it is hoped that when they are integrated professionally, they can be able to make sustainable contribution to the economic, technological and social development of their countries. The programme as presented to the handful of participants also supports the professional integration of university graduates and experienced experts trained in Germany who are interested in returning to their various countries. Yet doubts have been casted on whether the project will achieve its aim in promoting international migration as a factor in development, promote sustainable transfer of know-how and or create a win-win situation when the main stakeholders are not informed.

 

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