Nigerian Consul-General Designated Goodwill Ambassador of CHRDA as Empowerment Center is Inaugurated

Nigerian Consul-General, Ibrahim M. Bashir (standing with mic) accepts to serve as CHRDA Goodwill Ambassador

By Christopher Ambe

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) , headquartered in Buea(Cameroon), which recently  launched a report that alleges that crimes against humanity have been committed during the three-year   Angloplone crisis  ,has inaugurated  its  empowerment center for internally displaced people(IDPs).

At the crowd-pulling launching of the center, last December 18, in Buea, His Excellency, the Consul-General of Nigeria for the Northwest and Southwest regions, Ibrahim Mohammed Bashir, was named the Center’s goodwill ambassador.

More than half a million people are internally displaced and over 30 thousand people are seeking asylum in neighboring Nigeria because of the Anglophone crisis. Over 2000 deaths have also been reported and property destroyed is estimated in billions of Fcfa.

For now, the empower center has over 30 sewing machines and will soon admit the pioneer batch of IDPs for training on tailoring. The center too is planning to extend training to other skills such as computer designing, handicraft and farming.

The CEO of CHRDA,Barrister  Felix Agbor Nkongho  in  publicly presenting  His Excellency Ibrahim Mohammed Bashir as the Center’s Goodwill Ambassador, said” [this seasoned Nigerian diplomat] has what it takes to be the light of the center.”

Humbly accepting the position, amid deafening applause from the audience, Ambassador Bashir replied: “I must assure you that the responsibility bestowed on me,I would live up to it and even beyond.”

For her part, Mrs. Beryl Panje, Southwest Regional Delegate for Women’s Empowerment and the Family hailed CHRDA for the brilliant initiative, adding that her ministry  would  support  the center when need be. “The doors of the Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family are open to CHRDA… we would be your partner, to empower the underprivileged, to fight poverty and hunger”

She advised prospective trainees to make maximum use of the opportunity that would be accorded them.

“IDP is not a status. One day peace will return and you will regain you original localities”, she cautioned.

Family photo after inauguration of CHRDA Empowerment Centre.

The CEO of CHRDA led invitees to   see for themselves the facilities of the empower center and to know learn more about CHRDA, which is based in Boduma-Buea. 

CHRDA goals includes: enhancing the promotion and respect for Human rights and the rule of law; promoting democracy and good governance; working with stakeholders to improve human rights situation, and  providing legal assistance to victims of human rights violations at national and international forums.

CHRDA has nine departments viz:1) Human Rights 2) Gender 3) Legal 4)Access to Justice and rule of Law 5)Governance 6)Conflict Prevention and Resolution 7) Humanitarian 8)Vocational Training and 9) Communication