I am Prepared to Serve My Country in Whatever Capacity-Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh

Culled from The Advocate

The President of The Fomunyoh Foundation, Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh has declared that he is ready to serve his country in any capacity. The international consultant on democracy and peace made the declaration during a free and independent presentation in Buea, a meeting organized  at the private residence of a Buea based Human Rights activist and legal mind, Barrister Agbor Balla. Present to listen to the various free and independent presentations were lawyers, journalists, civil society leaders, human rights activists and refined politicians like Ben Muna.

But hopes were dashed when he (Ta Nformi Cameroon) dribbled his fans without declaring his intentions to contest in the upcoming Presidential elections. Those who thought that he was going to declare his political affiliation or candidature were taken aback. Apparently, Fomunyoh’s silence on the issue of his candidacy is yet to quell the speculation that seems to be growing leaps and bounds as 2018 draws nearer, and many Cameroonians take personal initiatives to reserve domain names, create Fomunyh fan clubs and join online groups in an effort to persuade and pressure him to step forward and get into the Presidential race.

However, in responding to questions raised in the hall in pertaining to his interest or intention towards the top job, he responded that “I am prepared to serve my country in whatever capacity”. This declaration ushered a mixed reaction giving the impression that those who turned out were not very satisfied with his responds. Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh however continued by adding that “I feel I was born in this country for a purpose and any right thinking Cameroonian like me who has benefitted from the community must give back. I have found so much interest in the younger generation, despite the darkness, the sun will finally rise. There is hope that such a time will come, you can count on me to make my own contribution to build the nation and I will do that with a lot of honour”.

Harping on the democratic process in Cameroon, Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh traced the historical perspective of Cameroon’s democracy as far back as 1972, then 1982, then 1992 where there was a competitive election which he believed had a point difference of 3 or 4%. He continued that he is aware of the accumulation of grievances at the time and that “we should play from the position of strength. If we project ourselves, the data would be different, we should be asking for an equal opportunity. Instead of demanding for some key ministries, we should be the ones appointing ministers”. He added that if in 1992 Ni John Fru Ndi could come close to win, then 30 years after, we should not shy away the responsibility of governing our country; we should govern not because we are Anglophones but because we are capable of doing it; that is what I mean by speaking from a position of strength”.

He also said that there is the need for the separation of power which does not allow the executive overpowering the judiciary and the legislative, decentralization and other topical issues such as the imposition of government delegates as well as individual and collective responsibilities that should be handled by the constitution.

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

NUDP National Youth President, Ndansi Elvis Meets US President

 With Inputs Courtesy of CameroonWatch

The National President of the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP, Ndansi Elvis and 24 other young enterprising Cameroonians will be received by United States President, Barrack Obama. They were selected to take part in the 2016 edition of the Young African leaders’ initiative, YALI, an initiative of US President, Barack Obama, otherwise known as the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African leaders. The delegation headed by Ndansi Elvis left the country today June 17, 2016 for a six-week sojourn in different cities across America that will take them to the White House.

It worth mentioning that Ndansi Elvis is also founder and ExecutiveDirector of Unite for Health Foundation, a not-for-profit making organization that provide health services to the underserved population with branches in Yaounde and Bamenda.  To Ndansi Elvis Nukam, the fellowship program will enhance his skills as an entrepreneur and astute young politician. Harping on the importance of the fellowship program, he emphasized that “Obama’s idea behind YALI is to bring forth a new generation of African leaders who believe in themselves and who can be able to provide solutions to African problems” he concluded.

What You Need to Know About YALI

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders which began in 2014 is the flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) that empowers young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.

 In 2016, the Fellowship will provide 1,000 outstanding young leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa with the opportunity to hone their skills at a U.S. higher education institution with support for professional development after they return home.

The Fellows, who are between the ages of 25 and 35, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries. In 2015, Fellows represented all 49 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fifty percent of Fellows were women; and for 76 percent of Fellows, it was their first experience spending substantial time in the United States.

To note that Each Mandela Washington Fellow takes part in a six-week academic and leadership Institute at a U.S. university or college in one of three tracks: Business and Entrepreneurship, Civic Leadership, or Public Management.

Upon returning to their home countries, YALI organisers say, Fellows are expected to continue to build the skills they have developed during their time in the United States through support from U.S. embassies, four Regional Leadership Centers, the YALI Network, and customized programming from USAID and affiliated partners.

 


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

Meet the Rising Musical Icon Zimonnova in New Single

Zimonnova

Nothing is so exciting than to present a rising musical star. Let me introduce you to Zimonnova one of the promising artists whose music will soon hit the chart. That said the stages are by no means an unfamiliar area for the new artist. Known by his real names as Simon Nganteh, this young artist who draws his inspiration from practical happenings around him has once again hit the chart with a new single, “Mukulah”.

Musically speaking, Zimonnova moves in between the polished and structured, and the edgy and audaciously bold sounds of RnB/pop music. His meticulous hub on the romantic bubble of his songs, combined with his talented vocal, has resulted in his music being great..

This young talented Cameroonian RnB/Pop artist who hails from Wi(mbum) land in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region in Cameroon. His music entirely describes practical happenings of life and he mixes his mother tongue, Limbum and English.

Zimonnova is a teacher by profession, a songwriter, a recording and performing artist. He has worked with Producer 2Le of Bahood Records, who produced his first hit song titled "aisha' and Godema Records, where his song "wedding day" was produced. “At the age of 11, I got into music, inspired by backstreet boys, and as time went on, I was completely touched and inspired by the wimbum drums”. Listening to his music is as inspiring and motivational listening to a public speaker.  His new single "mukulah" to be released being an example of the wimbumusic. Yet he says “I haven't released an album ever since I started I have released only 2 singles which are "Aisha" "wedding day" . There is also "mukulah" which is still to be released and all this song are under title "About Time"

Talking about young talented musicians in the North West Region without mentioning Zamonnova is like writing an essay with an introduction.

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

Meet the Rising Musical Icon Zimonnova in New Single

Zimonnova

Nothing is so exciting than to present a rising musical star. Let me introduce you to Zimonnova one of the promising artists whose music will soon hit the chart. That said the stages are by no means an unfamiliar area for the new artist. Known by his real names as Simon Nganteh, this young artist who draws his inspiration from practical happenings around him has once again hit the chart with a new single, “Mukulah”.

Musically speaking, Zimonnova moves in between the polished and structured, and the edgy and audaciously bold sounds of RnB/pop music. His meticulous hub on the romantic bubble of his songs, combined with his talented vocal, has resulted in his music being great..

This young talented Cameroonian RnB/Pop artist who hails from Wi(mbum) land in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region in Cameroon. His music entirely describes practical happenings of life and he mixes his mother tongue, Limbum and English.

Zimonnova is a teacher by profession, a songwriter, a recording and performing artist. He has worked with Producer 2Le of Bahood Records, who produced his first hit song titled "aisha' and Godema Records, where his song "wedding day" was produced. “At the age of 11, I got into music, inspired by backstreet boys, and as time went on, I was completely touched and inspired by the wimbum drums”. Listening to his music is as inspiring and motivational listening to a public speaker.  His new single "mukulah" to be released being an example of the wimbumusic. Yet he says “I haven't released an album ever since I started I have released only 2 singles which are "Aisha" "wedding day" . There is also "mukulah" which is still to be released and all this song are under title "About Time"

Talking about young talented musicians in the North West Region without mentioning Zamonnova is like writing an essay with an introduction.

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

Looking Glass: After Keshi, Another Former Super Eagles Coach Amodu Shuaibu Is Dead

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the shocking death of a former Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu at the age of 58.

Shuaibu Amodu
Shuaibu Amodu, 58 had shockingly passed away merely 3 days after the death of former Super Eagles international and coach, Stephen Keshi.
The bad news that has sent more fears down the spines of the NFF and other authorities in the Nigerian football circle was broken by the NFF through its official Twitter page.
Amodu has managed a number of club sides in Nigeria, such as BCC Lions, El-Kanemi Warriors, and Shooting Stars; he also managed Orlando Pirates in South Africa.
He first managed the Nigerian national team from April 2001 to February 2002. Amodu later stated that his dismissal was "unfair" and also said that, a month later, he had yet to receive a formal letter confirming his dismissal.
He was re-appointed manager in April 2008. In December 2009 the Nigeria Football Federation stated that Amodu was under pressure, and in January 2010 there was speculation about his future. He was sacked in February 2010.
Amodu was appointed technical director of Nigeria's national teams in May 2013.
He was re-appointed Nigeria manager in October 2014, replacing Stephen Keshi. It was his fifth spell in charge of the country. Keshi returned to the role two weeks later but was fired in July 2015 and Amodu took over the Eagles again temporarily. He was replaced by Sunday Oliseh on a permanent basis later that month.
The Nigerian Football Federation announced his death in the morning of June 11, 2016.

See a screenshot of the tweets by NFF:

 

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

Looking Glass: List of World's Highest Paid Athletes 2016...Mayweather is Dethroned

 In the latest Forbes' List of world's highest paid athletes 2016, former top earner, Floyd Mayweather has been dethroned by another another outstanding superstar.

Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo

Two athletes have dominated the top of Forbes’ annual look at the highest-earners in sports over the past decade and a half: Golfer Tiger Woods landed the No. 1 spot 12 times, while boxer Floyd Mayweather ranked first three of the past four years.

 But with Mayweather hanging up his gloves and Woods hampered by injuries, there is an opening at the top. Filling the gap is the biggest star in the biggest sport on the planet. This year, soccer icon, Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $88 million over the past 12 months from salary, bonuses and endorsements. Ronaldo is only the second team athlete after Michael Jordan to rank as the top-paid since Forbes began tracking athlete earnings in 1990.

 It is a good time to be a world-class athlete in a popular team sport. TV money is fueling massive increases in player salaries across baseball, basketball, football and soccer. The cutoff for the top 100 athletes is $20.8 million, up $2 million over last year.

 Ronaldo’s Real Madrid contract is worth more than $50 million a year in salary and bonus and runs through 2018. He triggered one of those seven-figure bonuses by leading Real to the Champions League title when he found the back of the net on the clinching penalty kick.

 The three-time FIFA player of the year is a marketing juggernaut earning $32 million off the pitch by our count. He kicked off a contract extension with Nike NKE +1.06% last year worth $13 million a year (Nike is partnered with 50 members of the top 100). Other Ronaldo endorsement partners include Tag Heuer, Herbalife , Pokerstars, Clear Shampoo and more. He has his own line of suits, cologne, shirts, shoes, underwear and hotels under construction.

 Ronaldo’s massive social media presence is a boon to marketers, encompassing 215 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. He posted 255 times on social media promoting a brand over the last year. Those posts generated $176 million in media value, according to Hookit, which tracks sponsorship value in social and digital media.

 Fellow global soccer superstar Lionel Messi ranks No. 2 with earnings of $81.4 million. Messi earned bonuses from Barcelona and chief sponsor Adidas when he racked up his fifth FIFA player of the year award in January. Messi’s total earnings from sponsors were $28 million. His Adidas pact is worth more than $10 million annually, and he also has endorsement relationships with Huawei, Tata Motors , PepsiCo PEP +0.67% (Gatorade and Lay’s brands), Gillette and Electronic Arts EA -1.31%.

 Our earnings figures include salaries, prize money and bonuses paid out between June 1, 2015, and June 1, 2016. Endorsement incomes are an estimate of sponsorships, appearance fees and licensing incomes for the same 12 month period based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders. We do not deduct for taxes or agents’ fees and we don’t include investment income (click here for a more detailed methodology and the numbers behind the top 100).

 The 100 top-earning athletes hail from 23 countries and compete in 10 sports, with Americans (65) and baseball players (26) the most numerous. Over the last 12 months, they banked a cumulative $3.15 billion, 29% of which came from endorsements and appearances.

 The NBA’s LeBron James ranks third with total earnings of $77.2 million and leads 18 basketball players on the list. Nike signed James to the first lifetime contract in the company’s 44-year history at the end of 2015 (Michael Jordan is presumed to have a lifetime deal in all but name). Sales of James’ signature shoes are down over the past 12 months, but if sales rebound and the four-time MVP can move product after his NBA days are over, the contract will likely pay out more than $1 billion.

 King James has gone Hollywood with his SpringHill Entertainment production company and multi-platform media company Uninterrupted, which got a $15.8 investment in December from Time Warner TWX +0.36%. James made his big-screen debut in the summer of 2015 in the movie Trainwreck. James is also set to star in the sequel to the 1996 Jordan movie-vehicle Space Jam.

 The new Nike pact and TV vehicles pushed James’ off-court earnings up $10 million to $54 million. His NBA salary is headed for a bump next year, too, with the league’s salary cap about to explode thanks to the start of the NBA’s new $24 billion TV contract next year, triple the prior deal annually. James can opt out of his existing Cleveland Cavaliers deal and secure a pact starting around $31 million.

 Roger Federer is the top-earning athlete in an individual sport with $67.8 million over the past 12 months. He leads a group of seven tennis players, including Serb Novak Djokovic, who lands in the top 10 for the first time at No. 6 with $55.8 million.

 It has been four years since Federer captured his 17th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2012, but he remains the top player off the court with $60 million from endorsements and appearance fees. Federer generated millions from playing four matches in the Indian Premier Tennis League in December. His endorsement portfolio is filled with long-term deals with global brands like Nike, Rolex , Mercedes-Benz and Credit Suisse.

 The top two earners on Forbes’ 2015 athletes list both took big cuts after their record paydays. Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao earned $300 million and $160 million, respectively, for the 12 months ending in June 2015 after their bout in May 2015 produced the first $600 million night in the history of sports. Both fought once over the last 12 months and claim they are now retired. Mayweather ranks No. 16 with earnings of $44 million, while Pacquiao lands at No. 63 with $24 million.

 Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are the only two women to make the cut for the second straight year, but the tennis stars flip-flopped spots thanks to new endorsements for Williams and bonuses from her historic three Grand Slam 2015, while Sharapova has been sidelined most the year after a failed drug test. Williams earned $28.9 million (No. 40) and Sharapova ranks No. 88 with earnings of $21.9 million, off nearly $8 million (click here for more on the world’s highest-paid female athletes).

 

The top 10 list is as follows:

 

1. Cristiano Ronaldo - football ($88m/£60.6m)

 

2. Lionel Messi - football ($81.4m/£56.1m)

 

3. LeBron James - basketball ($77.2m/£53.2m)

 

4. Roger Federer - tennis ($67.8m/£46.7m)

 

5. Kevin Durant - basketball (£56.2m/£38.7m)

 

6. Novak Djokovic - tennis ($55.8m/£38.46m)

 

7. Cam Newton - American football ($53.1m/£36.6m)

 

8. Phil Mickelson - golf ($52.9m/£36.46m)

 

9. Jordan Spieth - golf ($52.8m/£36.39m)

 

10. Kobe Bryant - basketball ($50m/£34.46m).

 

See the full list HERE

 

Forbes

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

Boko Haram Terrorists Now Trapped in Sambisa Forest Nigeria Military Says

 The Nigerian military has made a new revelation about the deadly Boko Haram sect in their base in Sambisa Forest.

 

Nigerian Soldiers

 The Nigerian military has revealed that the feared enclave of the Boko Haram, Sambisa Forest, has been demystified and the insurgent group still trapped in the hideouts cannot come out to launch attack on the rest of the nation.

 The military made this revelation on Wednesday.

 Addressing a press conference to highlight the successes of the Nigerian troops against the Boko Haram insurgents in recent weeks, the Commander of the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East (Operation Lafiya Dole), Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the forest is completely surrounded by the Nigerian troops and there is no escape for any insurgents still holed up there.

 Irabor said it has become impossible for the insurgents still holed up in the Sambisa Forest to get out or for them to have access to civilization to get any supply.

 He said the soldiers are only waiting for the insurgents holed up in the forest to surrender as life has become unbearable for them.

 He said if they do not come out soon enough, the troops would move further into the forest to level it.

 He however assured that there is no escape for any insurgent still trapped within the forest as the troops have taken positions at all access routes leading into and out of the forest.

 Further details later

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

Looking Glass: How Stephen Keshi Will be Remembered

Nigerians woke up to the super-shocking news of Stephen Keshi's death earlier today and the one thing that is clear to all is that the man will never be forgotten.

 The death of the former Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi came as a huge shock and has thrown the football world into a state of mourning.

 54-year-old Stephen Keshi passed away in the wee hours of today June 8, 2016, according to his relatives and close associates.

 One of his close friends revealed that “He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of illness, but we suspect he never got over the death of his wife.”

 Although Nigerians have continued to react to the loss, below are five things the ‘Big Boss’ will be remembered for.

1. Leading Nigeria to win AFCON 2013 

Stephen Keshi led the Super Eagles to win the 2013 African Cup of Nations in South Africa. Nigerian appeared at the 29th edition of the tournament as minnows. 

 The team began the competition on a rather poor note with 1 – 1 draws against Burkina Faso and Zambia respectively, in their opening two games at the tournament. Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 2 – 0 in their final group game to proceed to the quarter final stage against the star-studded Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.

 An Emmanuel Emenike freekick with a Sunday Mba strike gave the Keshi-led team a 2 – 1 win over the Ivorians. Nigeria defeated Mali in the semis and overcame Burkina Faso in the final to win the tournament for a third time. This feat confirmed Keshi as the second person to win the AFCON tournament as a player and coash, having also won it in 1994 as a player.

2. Stephen Keshi assisted many African players to move to Europe 

 Keshi played alongside Austin Eguavoen in California as the backbone of the defence for the short-lived Sacramento Scorpions. Chidi Nwanu, Odertey Lamptey, Okechukwu Ajah, Philip Osondu all played in Belgium with the influence of the ‘Big Boss’.

 Keshi also discovered many great players including Justice Christopher, Dele Ayenugba and Sunday Mba. 

3. The issues that led to his sack as the Super Eagles coach

 It would be recalled that in 2002 Keshi was assistant to Shuaibu Amodu when Nigeria qualified for the World Cup, but the pair were sacked and replaced by Adegboye Onigbinde before the showpiece in South Korea and Japan.

 The ex-international was re-appointed in 2011 and won the AFCON in 2013. He led the team reach the second round of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Keshi’s Super Eagles lost 2 – 0 to Le Blues of France in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the following day, the coach controversially announced his resignation, saying certain people were trying to “sabotage” him.

 By 2015, Keshi’s contract expired and citing lack to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives, the gaffer was relieved of his job.

4. First African coach to successfully qualify two African nations (Nigeria and Togo) to the World Cup Finals 

 The Big Boss led the Togolese national football team to an unprecedented qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

 Having secured Togo’s unlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach Otto Pfister prior to the World Cup finals, after Togo showed a dismal performance and failed to advance to the knock-out stage in 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

 There was also a reported row with the Hawks captain Emmanuel Adebayor.

5. Passion for the Super Eagles 

 He was a key player of the Nigerian national team and appeared at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, played in five African Cup of Nations championships and was a part of the team when they won the 1994 African Cup of Nations.

 Despite being a defender, Keshi scored 9 goals for the national team in his 64 caps between 1982 and 1984. Having finished professional playing career, he got special coaching education in the USA and was appointed to manage the Super Eagles on three different occasions, which he later won in 2013.

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

Former Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi is Dead

 Former Super Eagles Coach and one time defender of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is dead.

 A tweet on the Nigeria Football Federation's handle, @thenff, says the legend died in the early hours of today (Wednesday).

Also Ademola Olajire, an Assistant Director of Communications in the Nigeria Football Federation, said that Keshi died after he was rushed to an hospital in Benin after complaining of his legs. He said that Keshi had problems with his legs and that he could not stand for long.

 More so, Valere Hounandinou, an Assistant Coach to Keshi, confirmed to Vanguard that "last week Stephen Keshi complained to him that he was having irregular heart beats and he advised him to go the hospital".
The former international football player and coach, lost his wife, Kate, last year after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Keshi has coached the national teams of Togo and Mali, qualifying the former to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In his last job with Nigeria, he won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

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

Ta Nformi Dr Christopher Fomunyoh Rounds Up Cameroon Wide Humanitarian Tour

In slightly above one year the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), has gone to all of Cameroon’s ten regions. From the Far North Region in early 2015, he has been crisscrossing various localities in the other regions doing what it seems are his preferred passions; humanitarian actions and encouraging civil society initiatives.

And his presence in Ebolowa, in the South Region on June 6, 2016 completed the circle when Insitut Catholique Bonneau had more text books added to their library by TFF. Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh expressed regrets at the dilapidated state of this institution that was very renowned in the past years.

Earlier, the TFF president made courtesy stops at the governor of the South Region Felix Nguele Nguele and the Legion Commander of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Anne BELLA NKOTTO, who happens to be the lone female in that position in the country. A brief stop at the Divisional Officer of Mbalmayo ended the South lap of the trip.

However, the TFF humanitarian scheme seems to be a real caravan. Without any break it was on the outskirts of the nation’s capital of Yaounde the next day. This time it was Lycee de Nkolodoum that benefited from the over 20,000 collections found in its library in Bamenda in the North West Region of Cameroon. It should be recalled that over ten institutions in the Centre Region had benefited from this generosity.

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

Ta Nformi Dr Christopher Fomunyoh Rounds Up Cameroon Wide Humanitarian Tour

In slightly above one year the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), has gone to all of Cameroon’s ten regions. From the Far North Region in early 2015, he has been crisscrossing various localities in the other regions doing what it seems are his preferred passions; humanitarian actions and encouraging civil society initiatives.
And his presence in Ebolowa, in the South Region on June 6, 2016 completed the circle when Insitut Catholique Bonneau had more text books added to their library by TFF. Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh expressed regrets at the dilapidated state of this institution that was very renowned in the past years.
Earlier, the TFF president made courtesy stops at the governor of the South Region Felix Nguele Nguele and the Legion Commander of the National Gendarmerie, Colonel Anne BELLA NKOTTO, who happens to be the lone female in that position in the country. A brief stop at the Divisional Officer of Mbalmayo ended the South lap of the trip.
However, the TFF humanitarian scheme seems to be a real caravan. Without any break it was on the outskirts of the nation’s capital of Yaounde the next day. This time it was Lycee de Nkolodoum that benefited from the over 20,000 collections found in its library in Bamenda in the North West Region of Cameroon. It should be recalled that over ten institutions in the Centre Region had benefited from this generosity.

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

PEATTU, TAC, BATU, CETTU React to Attempts by Higher Education Minister to Harmonize Educational Programmes in State Universities

HERE BELOW IS THE PRESS RELEASE IN REACTION TO ATTEMPTS BY THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO HARMONISE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN THE STATE UNIVERSITIES

 PREAMBLE
Following a joint meeting of members of the National Executive Bureaux of the Presbyterian Authority Teachers’ Trade Union (PEATTU), the Catholic Education Teachers’ Trade Union (CETTU), the Baptist Teachers’ Trade Union (BATTU) and the Teachers Association of Cameroon (TAC) on Friday 03/06/2016, the National Presidents and their closest collaborators examined the unpopular proposal to harmonise the teaching programmes in the state universities. Inter alia, the four teacher trade unions resolved to join their voices to other voices that had been earlier raised to make the following observations and come up with the following conclusions:

NOTE
That Minister Fame Ndongo had first mooted this nefarious scheme some time last year with the aim of completely scrapping the teaching of Common Law in state universities, but hostile reactions from Anglophone education stakeholders had forced him to defer the decision.
That the recent move to make Common Law only a Masters degree course confirms Anglophone fears of programmed cultural genocide with sinister implications in favour of the Francophone educational system and at the expense of its Anglophone counterpart; after all, how many students seeking only professional stability usually continue with post-graduate studies?
That the Constitution of our beloved fatherland, like the 1998 and 2001 laws of orientation for education and higher education respectively and our distinctive daily existence all lay official and practical emphasis on our bilingual, bi-cultural and bi-jural composition, with the unequivocal assertion that the existence of two educational sub-systems is sine qua non.
Consequently therefore, that the teaching and use of both Common and Civil Laws remain sine qua non fundamentals and inalienable rights in our bilingual and bi-cultural context, by virtue of the different historical backgrounds of the respective Anglophone and Francophone peoples
That high-handed attempts like these at snuffing out one system while openly displaying bias for the other are treasonable and should be punished by the laws of the land, especially given that even the Dschang, Yaounde I and Soa universities seen as Cameroonian models feature in unenviable 133rd, 144th and 166th positions in the African classification of universities.
That there is the need, given the fickleness observed in policy implementation in Cameroon to the disadvantage of the English speaking population, for teacher trade unions and civil society organisations to stay alert so as to continue to safeguard the educational and consequently the cultural heritage of the minority Anglophone community.
That they fully support the stand taken by the University of Buea and Bamenda chapters of the National Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES) deploring such sleight of hand attempts by the Minister of Higher Education at harmonising “university programmes to enhance the mobility of students from one university to another”, when the hidden agenda is to abolish the teaching of Common Law in Cameroonian Universities, so as to asphyxiate and kill the Common Law Practice in the our beloved fatherland.

HAIL
The fact which from reliable sources indicates that the Minister’s proposal was roundly deplored by the teachers of the Anglophone Universities of Buea and Bamenda.
The eminent professors who mustered courage to openly oppose their errant boss, noting that such an unprecedented move will obviously go a long way to awaken the consciences of those other top-ranking Anglophones who have always allowed party sympathies to befuddle their reasoning or been cowered into silence for fear of losing positions of influence.
The creation of the Cameroon Education Forum (CEF) that militates for the creation of two education councils, as previewed by the 1998 Law of Orientation, to take care of the two educational sub-systems within the Cameroon system, that advocates that the pedagogic chains be split in such a way that no one system can arbitrarily clog the wheels of the other.

CALL ON THE MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION
To give respect the laws of the land – the Constitution, the Laws of Orientation of 1998 and 2001, etc – so as to ensure that peace continues to reign in our beloved fatherland.
To respect the dreams and aspirations of Cameroonians by allowing the peaceful co-existence in our Higher Education institutions of those programmes that inform the different ways of life of the Cameroonian people.
To avoid provoking the patriotic and peace-loving Anglophone populations with such high-handed, biased and unpatriotic schemes, hidden agendas of cultural annihilation, because they only go to remind of the hurtful losses that these willing re-unificationists have had to sacrifice in the name of the union.

WARN
That all Anglophone pressure groups, whether directly linked to education or not, will continue to work in synergy in order to ensure that no such arbitrary, nefarious and sinister decisions with glaring insidious consequences are taken to destroy the lofty dreams that the fathers of this nation had in mind before forging the 1961 Re-unification.
That the consequences of any social unrest the result of such provocations will be burden to borne solely by these scheming fawns manipulating from high office rostrums. 

DONE IN BAMENDA THIS 03rd DAY OF MAY 2016.
The Presidents
PEATTU CEWOTU BATTUC TAC
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Lesson from Nigeria: Government Opens Special Account for Recovered Loot

The Federal Government has set up a special account to save the slush funds recovered from corrupt Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

The Federal Government has set up an account for the stolen funds it recovered in the last one year.

The Muhammadu Buhari-led government revealed on Saturday that N78, 325,354,631.82; $185,119,584.61; £3,508,355.46 and €11, 250 had been recovered from alleged looters, an amount which adds up to over N115.7bn using the official exchange rate of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The funds were said to have been recovered separately by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation; Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services.
Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, said an account had been set up for the funds.
“An account has been set up for it and at an appropriate time, what is going to be done with the money will be made public. The amount that is available in that account will be announced and what will be done with the money will be publicly announced,” he said.
The committee chairman, however, said the N1.9tn in cash and assets, which had been frozen by the Federal Government, were still under legal contention and thus could not be touched.
He added, “Regarding the funds frozen under the interim forfeiture, the Federal Government can’t touch it for now because certain cases have not been concluded and the forfeiture is interim because technically, the court can order the release to the owners if the occasion demands it but if it goes the other way, there will be a permanent forfeiture order and that is when the properties would accrue to the government and would therefore be used for the benefit of Nigerians.”

Regarding the naming of alleged looters, Sagay said there was no legal impediment in shaming alleged thieves.

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

N300m Disappeared from Senate President's Bedroom? - Bukola Saraki's Side of the Story

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Sunday said burglars stormed his country home in Ilorin, Kwara State, and carted away N12 million 2 weeks ago at an administrative quarters in the house.

 

SaharaReporters’ Story Full of Falsehood and Exaggeration

 

The report yesterday by SaharaReporters about a burglary in the Ilorin home of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki contained series of falsehood and at best an exaggeration of an incident which happened two weeks ago in which N12 million was stolen by some unknown persons inside the Administrative Office located next door to the house.

 

In a statement, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity stated that the unknown persons broke into the safe in the Administrative Office and stole the N12 million.

 

The incident had since been reported to the police and the Kwara State Police command are investigating the matter with a view to nail the culprits.

 

“There is therefore no truth in the claim by SaharaReporters that the money ran into hundreds of millions, that it was in foreign currency or that the incident happened in Dr. Saraki’s room. The amount was simply in Naira. Also, the money has nothing to do with Kwara State Government.

 

“For the umpteenth time, we need to reiterate the fact that SaharaReporters’ fixation that any money spent by Saraki or that is in his possession is from Kwara State Government is unfounded, unwarranted, lacks any basis and irresponsible. We wonder whether Saraki was such a poor man before 2003 when he was elected Governor that he could no longer own any money without SaharaReporters attributing the source to the State Government.

 

“In its usual unethical and disgraceful haste to assassinate the Character of the Senate President, SaharaReporters ignored the simple professional practice for it to contact the Police to find out the facts of the incident. It merely created its own usually fictional story and published it.

This is an online publication that cares not about its credibility or the journalism credo that facts are sacred and opinion is free.

“We call on all members of the public to ignore all the claims in the story. Dr. Saraki will allow the police to do their work and unravel the person or persons behind this theft in the Administrative Office”, he stated.

 

Signed,

Yusuph Olaniyonu

Special Adviser (Media and Pubicity) to the Senate Presiden

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

Looking Glass: What You Need to Know about GUFAYA Vocational Training Institute for the Destitute GUVOTID Nkambe

GUFAYA Vocational Training Institute for the Destitute GUVOTID Nkambe, is the citadel of profession education in Donga Mantung Divisio. On May 27, 2016 marked it 23 years of continued existence by organizing an "Open Day" to the public. Addressing invitees, the Director Abanda Marcel disclosed that GUFAYA started as a documentation centre in 1993 with just one rover type-writer yet the zeal by it founder to contribute towards changing lives has produced the tangible results that now call for celebration. He said that by 2002, GUFAYA bought her first ever computer while the number of trainees increased to 10. Though Madame GUFAYA had 10 students who were very excited to be trained on ICTs, she also needed some skills to be able to use the new device. "Luckily enough, there was a transition at the CNPS Nkambe and one very hansome young man from our brotherhood Region was the Jesus Christ in Computing" thus Mr. Mufor Francis, a computer wizard did his best to set the pace by empowering the founder on how to use the computer. This was when operating a computer in a village setup was synonymous to practicing witchcraft. Many would remember the ecstasy and jubilation that saluted the first document that was printed by the then Divisional Delegate of Agriculture. By 2013, GUFAYA had trained over 100 youths and with this success story, the vision for its transformation was tabled to the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training for approval. Fortunately, on April 19, 2014, Zackari Perevet endorsed the file for creation of the first vocational training institution in Donga Mantung Division.
It should be recalled that GUFAYA Vocational Training institute for the Destitute GUVOTID, went operational in September 2014 that same year; with 18 trainees and at the end of that academic year, the number moved to 31 trainees. Today, a total of 60 trainees are being trained in the various fields of specialization in both Level One and Two. The three departments are:
· Office Automation/Secretary-ship
This department is endowed with 10 Computers, Printers, Photocopies, and all that it takes for a secretary to be trained.
· Body Care and Hair Dressing
The trainees are trained in body care, massaging, ETC
· Catering and Hospitality Management
This department also runs an outdoor catering service that empowers trainees in active professional activities. The service is able to manage a population up to 1000. It is endowed with a gas and firewood kitchen, utensils etc.
In GUFAYA, the training of trainees is 70% practical and 30% theory. Besides, the trade subjects, students also study some general subjects like, English Language, French, Maths, Citizenship, Environmental Science, Computer Task, Computer Application (excel, Access, etc),Internet, Integration and Professional Life.
It is for this reason that Madame Ajara, Fourth Deputy Mayor of Nkambe Council was categorical that GUFAYA is a source of inspiration and the future of young girls. On his part the Asssitant Divisional Officer for Nkambe expressed gratitude to the founder Madame GUFAYA and staff for transforming lives adding that professional education is the key to self employment.
GUFAYA it is worth mentioning enjoys very good collaboration from the Divisional Delegation of Employment and Vocational Training, the Administration, SAR/SM Nkambe, GSS Nyanji. GTC Mbot and the National Youth Council.
However, Madame GUFAYA says the institution is looking forward partnering with goodwill persons to continue to empower youths in the various trades. Though contributing significantly in non-material benefits (such as social peace, democracy, tolerance, social capital, social integration)GUFAYA has not had the opportunity to benefit from any subvention or support. As the institution clocks 23, this is an opportunity for the general public to offer scholarship to some trainees and or give some donation says Abanda Marcel.

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