Cameroon: FECA -DC Donates 100 Desks to 4 Buea Primary Schools

By Christopher Ambe Shu
Four Government-owned Primary Schools in Buea Subdivision-Cameroon -which are poorly quipped, were on February 22, 2010 happy recipients of one-hundred wooden desks from Fako Elements’ Cultural Association (FECA), Washington DC in USA
The four beneficiaries are Government School (GS) Bokwaongo, GS Lysoka, GS Bwasa-Likombe and GS Great Soppo.

Each school received 25 desks, which would no doubt improve pupils’ sitting positions and learning.

A three- person FECA DC delegation, led by Efesoa Vekima, handed over the desks at a joint ceremony that took place at GS Bokwaongo.

FECA DC president , Iya Eposi Rahel Njie ,due to some commitment could not come for ceremony

The head -teachers of the beneficiary Schools were all present at the ceremony including the Inspector for Basic Education in Buea , Mrs. Lifongo Elisabeth, who, in her capacity as Basic Education boss of the subdidvison, received the desks from the FECA DC delegation that included Junior Molombe and Doreen Efeti.

In his speech, Efesoa Vekima said FECA DC recently decided to assist schools in Fako Division and immediately thought of beginning with the supply of desks to four needy schools in Buea.

More schools and their needs would be identified for future assistance, he told the audience at the ceremony.

“This donation is a small step we have taken to help schools back home. But in the future we will do more...” Efesoa said. “This is the start of a partnership between FECA DC and Schools in FAKO”
For her Part, Inspector for Basic Education, Mrs. Lifongo Elisabeth, lauded FECA DC for the initiative, underscoring the importance of education in the development of any society.
She called for the judicious use of the gifts and other school property.

Moved by the cleanliness of G S Bokwaongo, Mrs. Lifongo commended Joan Nalova Mukoto, head teacher of the school, and appealed to other head-teachers to follow in her footsteps.

The Mayor of Buea,Charles Mbella Moki,also had kinds words for FECA DC.

“Our Community is very proud to have been chosen by FECA DC for this donation. When you have people come all the way from Washington DC, then we should be very happy,” Mbell Moki said.

“FECA DC has our community at heart; these are people who have not forgotten their roots”

The mayor promised to contact FECA DC so that “you can do more things for us”.

He reaffirmed his commitment to assist schools in the municipality.

Pupils of the four beneficiary schools treated the FECA Delegation and the audience in general to cultural dances and choral songs

Cameroon OIC to Sign New Protocol Agreement to Get more Funds for Training

By Christopher Ambe Shu
New vocations such as Textile and Fashion Design (dress-making), Agriculture, Weaving and Handicraft will soon go operational at the Cameroon Opportunities Industrialization Center, (COIC)-Buea if an expected new protocol agreement between the Center and the Cameroon Government is signed, officials have told reporters.

At a press conference, which held on February 15, 2010 on campus in Buea, organized by COIC officials, it emerged that the expected protocol will be signed in the near future.

“We expect in the next several weeks to have a new Protocol Agreement signed between us OIC and the Government. This Protocol Agreement would infuse more funds into our establishment and with more funds we hope to embark on a number of new vocations like dress-maikng, agriculture, weaving and handicraft”, said Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad,COIC Board Chairman ,during the press conference which was attended by journalists of both the Public and Independent Media.

He noted that with more funds scholarships may be offered to some trainees and capacity of instructors further enhanced

COIC Buea, an affiliate of OIC International with headquarters in Philadelphia, USA, was established in 1986 as a non –profit, community-based skills training Program.

It has since its inception trained in its regular and outreach courses some 48.000 people and job-placed 11,000 of them.

As at now it offers training in the following areas: Pre-Vocational Training:*Feeder.

Vocational/Technical Training: * Auto Mechanics/Motor Electricity * Building Construction * Hotel Catering & Management * Information & Communication Technology *Metal Fabrication, Welding and Spraying & Wood Work.

COIC depends largely on Government subvention which for the past five years has been at 150 millionFCFA per year, according to Barrister Elad.

“Our budget which is under 300 million FCFA also has funds from a number of activities and projects the Center is engaged in. We depend a lot on the Government and our gratitude to Government must always be stressed, for without Government Support we would have no funds to run our operations”

The press conference was basically to present the figures raised for Haiti victims, to let the Press know about transparency and accountability at COIC as well as the vision, direction and impact of OIC on the Community.

Barrister Elad, COIC Board Chair was co-assisted in answering questions from reporters by nearly all COIC Heads of Departments.

Barrister Elad justified how COIC raised and transferred 2.4 million FCFA to victims of the recent Haiti earth quake. He revealed that it was the Parent OIC in the USA that asked COIC to join in the Haiti Relief Effort

It emerged at the press conference that the judicial Police and Gendarmes were not yet through with investigations into the April 27,2009 burglary which COIC suffered, losing about 20 Million FCFA. “These investigations are at various levels and I would not like to jeopardize what is happening by commenting on what the Law and Order Officials are doing”, the Board chair told reporters

On why salaries of staff have not be paid for the past two months, officals said all would be well immediately they received subvention from the Government because salaries of are taken care of by the subvention the State gives to the Center. But AdoLf Ngundu, COIC Director added that if the delay in the disbursement funds was becoming unbearable, then they would mobilize resources elsewhere to pay salaries

Cameroon Dr.Namanga Ngongi Assists Needy Buea Health Facilities

* Donates to Muea Health Centre & Electrifies Bonakanda Health Center. *

By Chrsitopher Ambe Shu

Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi, President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with residence in Kenya last February 8,came to the assistance of two Buea Health facilities by making material donation to one and supplying electric energy to the other, drawing applause from the beneficiary populations.

Muea Health Center, one of the beneficiaries of Dr. Ngongi’s generosity, was a happy recipient of gifts which included: thirty(30) Cupboards, twenty(20) mattassses,thirty(30) bed sheets and Thirty(30) pillow Cases.
The other beneficiary was the Bonakanda Integrated Health Center, which Dr. Ngongi got electrified, for the first, since the center was built several years ago.
The assistance to both government health centers that are used by a total population of about 20.000 people was-in monetary terms, valued at about two million FCFA.

During the donation ceremony at the Muea Health Center, Mr.Youndjeu Joseph, Chairman of the health facility, its Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mrs. Moki Bridget and Dr. Manjo Maltida, District Medical Officer for Buea, as well as the traditional ruler of Upper Muea Chief David Molinge, in different speeches, all expressed happiness that Dr. Ngongi chose their center for assistance.
“We sincerely thank Dr. Ngongi for these gifts, especially as they have come when we are in real need,” noted Dr Manjo. “We now know that we have a health partner in the name of Dr.Ngongi.”

She said the gifts would certainly improve health care delivery in the area, adding that they would be judiciously used only for the intended purpose.

Dr Manjo called for more community assistance to the health facility.

” People like Dr. Ngongi will never be forgotten in this locality. I think Dr. Ngongi is God-send”
For his part,the Divisional Officer (DO) for Buea, Kwemo Simon, lauded Dr.Ngongi, who is a Fako Elite working out Cameroon for always thinking about his compatriots back home.

Dr Ngongi’s spirit of sharing, Kwemo stressed, should be emulated by many others for the betterment of humanity.

The DO said he had first known Dr. Ngongi as a strong sport promoter, and was happier that, today he has become a philanthropist/humanitarian. Kwemo wished Dr. Ngongi God‘s protection.
In his speech at the ceremony, Dr. Ngongi stressed the need for sharing with the needy, adding that it is morally right for anyone to do that. He said he would not hesitate to give assistance where need be if he had the means and or resources
He wished that Muea Health Center be raised to a full –fledged hospital so that it could better cater for the health concerns of residents.

From Muea,Dr Ngongi moved to the Bonakanda Integrated Health Center where he officially handed the electrification project to health officials. He was particularly received by the District Medical Officer for Buea, Dr. Manjo Maltilda.

With the Bonakanda Integrated Health Center now electrified, another problem begging for quick attention is the lack of pipe borne water there.