IVFCam Boss Receives Performance Award for 20 Years of Service to Humanity

 By FEN Lenjo

The prestigious Cameroon Performance Award CPA has been conferred on Mrs Anne Stella Fomumbod, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of  InterFaith Vision Foundation, Cameroon. This was done on Saturday the 19th of December 2020 in recognition of 20 years of  work  at the service of Humanity.

Anne Stella Fomumbod and the media.

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According to facts made available by the Organising Committee of Cameroon Performance Awards, InterFaith Vision Foundation Cameroon from when it was founded by Mrs Anne Stella Fomumbod till date has remained steadfast in it’s efforts to protect the Rights of the Woman and to increase the participation of women in decision making. Through the efforts of IVFCam, Laws Protecting the Rights of Women in Cameroon have been passed. A case in point is the “Metta Charter on Widowhood.” Together with dedicated individuals like the Programmes Manager Nigel Mbaya Fomumbod, IVFCam has stayed on course unperturbed focusing on the promotion of Gender Equity and Participation through the Promotion of Human Rights and Democracy at the Grassroots and Advocating for the Protection of Women’s Rights.

IVFCam partners and collaborators recognised for work done with IVFCam by CEO.

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Speaking within the confines of Faith Tower at Ntarikon in Bamenda, the National Coordinator of CPA Mr Francis Ekongang Nzante said “the Founder, CEO of Interfaith Vision Foundation Cameroon started her selfless Service to Humanity some 20 years ago, reason for which she is being recognized by Cameroon Performance Awards CPA. When she created her initiative it was called Aid International Christian Women of Vision. The name was changed to Interfaith Vision Foundation Cameroon in 2008. In keeping with it’s mission, IVFCam has been working hard to make sure that wealth and health are made available to the needy and the vulnerable through Feasible and Realistic Actions of Charity and Human Development with an aim of promoting Gender Equity and participation in Development issues with the ultimate goal of improving the Living Standards of the needy and Vulnerable Persons and Communities. While her Programmes with IVFCam are focused on Charity, Development and Humanitarian Activities, her strategy has been that of Synergy with Organisations and Communities. In this manner, she mobilises, networks, capacitates and empowers these Community Partners for full participation. The consistency of her activities for twenty years could not go unnoticed by Cameroon Performance Award.”

CEO in the heart of Keynote address while Programmes Manager looks on

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The Founder and CEO of IVFCam Anne Stella Fomumbod reacting after the conferment of the award on her during the occasion which also marked the 20th Anniversary of Interfaith Vision Foundation Cameroon said this was not only a recognition of what they had been doing over the years but also an encouragement to continue serving humanity and transforming the lives of needy individuals and Communities. IVFCam she intimated was now working not only with Communities in Cameroon but had created an international network in some African countries and the United States of America.

She also seized the occasion to present Awards to some hard working collaborators who had accompanied her as she worked for humanity all over the years.

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Deputy National Coordinator of DDRC Procures Jobs for Hundreds of Ex-fighters

 

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

The Deputy National Coordinator of the DDRC, Disarmament Demobilisation and Reintergration Committee, Colonel Professor Francis Ekosso Lysonge has procured jobs for Hundreds of Ex-Separatist fighters. He made this declaration recently in Buea while visiting the Buea DDR Center.

Speaking to a crowd of Ex-fighters in the presence of the Regiongal Coordinator of DDRC in the Southwest Region, the Deputy National Coordinator said he had brought both good news and bad news. 

Hear him, “two months ago when I came to Buea I promised you people that I was going to work out something for you guys. What I promised to do has been done. The project has been acknowledged by President  Paul Biya. I have brought with me some documents indicating that the project in Tiko will begin soon. This means that any person amongst you who is prepared to work will have work to do.”

The only bad news he said was the fact that the Ex-fighters would have to stay at the center for two more months. He assured them that in the month of February at least a hundred and twenty-five of them would be employed.  

He said he met the Minister of Defense and complained to him that in DDR Centers, there were Ex-fighters who could drive and as such needed Driving Licenses and National Identification Cards. He said the services of those who had driving skills would also be in  great demand. 

Despite his short stay in office, the Deputy DDRC National Coordinator has reached out to some fighters still in the bushes. During his Buea visit, he gave his mobile telephone number publicly to Ex-fighters at the center and urged them to send the number to fighters who were still in the bushes. He further appealed to the Ex-fighters to also advise those still in the bushes to come out and go to DDR Centers. 

He said while their anger maybe justified, staying in the bush eternally was never going to provide solutions to their problems. 

“Even me standing here talking to you. I am also angry. This is because of what some Cameroonians are doing encouraging you to stay in the bushes. These Cameroonians doing this are not out of the country. They are here with us in the country. They deserve to be punished for brainwashing you and sending you into the bushes to lose you’re lives. 

As long as I am with the DDRC, this problem will come to an end and your lives will change. As this year draws to an end and the new year sets in all of you will leave this place for brighter futures. The only people we will find here are those presently still in the bushes.”

In a self effacing manner the Deputy National Coordinator of DDRC said he was just a simple poor boy like those fighters in the bush but said he determined to change his life by stubbornly pursuing his education at all odds. He called on them to have the same attitude towards life. Either going to school or learning a trade. 

Using personal experience as an example he said he had to work at building sites pushing materials on wheel barrows, he learned mechanics and did small jobs to pay his way through school. He said he knew how most of them felt and can understand why some of them usually feel afraid dropping their arms to come to DDR Centres.

“I promise you that you will be safe and that no person will harm you. Any person who attempts to harm you for taking the correct decision will not go free. Now that I am at this level after hard work, if you are under my protection and someone attempts to harm you, then I will have no option but to crush them.”

Acknowledging that there were  problems related to the safety of Ex-fighters, he said this was due to issues related to accurate identification. In this vein he said matriculation numbers for Ex-fighters were being established and that with this, all identification problems would be taken care of. After the Buea visit, Colonel Professor Francis Ekosso Lysonge headed for Bamenda where he met with Ex-fighters at the DDR Center in the Northwest Region.

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Dr Taiga Inaugurates New CDENO Main Office in Bamenda.

 

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Dr. Taiga, the Minister of Livestock, Fishery and Animal Industry has inaugurated the newly constructed Main Office of CDENO, the Northwest Livestock Development Fund in Bamenda. This inauguration exercise took place on Thursday December 18th. 

The Minister during this brief working visit to Bamenda also visited some projects presently being carried out by the Regional Services of the Ministry of Livestock, Fishery and Animal Industry in the North West Region. The main project visited was the Hatchery which according to the Director of CDENO Mbah Shuppong Michael was going to greatly boost the production of Day-old-chicks in the North West Region.

Minister Receives Flower Bouquet on arrival at Ceremonial Ground accompanied by Governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique..

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Speaking during the Inaugural Ceremony, the Minister said the structure was meant to boost the image of CDENO and also called on the staff and stakeholders to make good use of the structure. He said enhancing the activities of Livestock Breeders was a sure way to alleviate poverty and recalled that a large number of animals had been vaccinated in the Region in the year that was just rounding up.

The Minister flanked here by Governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique and Mr Mbah Shuppong Michael, Director of CDENO

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Meantime, Ndoh David, the Deputy City Mayor in his welcome address said the giant structure was going to give a facelift to the city adding that the Hatchery in Bamenda was a welcome facility for people involved in poultry. 

Mbah Shuppong Michael, the Director of CDENO said the capacity of the new building could host the facility for the next 40 years. “We took into consideration the expectations of the Northwest Livestock Development Fund, since this structure will be reorganised very soon and will extend to other areas because it is already classified among the fifth category of Parastatals in this country. When a place is growing, you have prospects that you have to meet up with as you are growing.”

Mr Mbah Shuppong Michael further said that there was now an innovation which was rare in the Region referring to the production of Day-old-chicks. These he said were formerly brought in from the West and Littoral Regions. “The North West will have an opportunity of producing them on the spot and a building like this will boost the moral of the staff and certainly the quantity and quality of the services of the Livestock Breeders.”

Meantime, Nchunka Stephen Nchang, the General Manager of the “Urban and Rural Development Foundation” (URUDEF Construction), the company that executed the construction of the new CDENO main office in Bamenda said the structure was executed in two faces. Phase one he said was in 2019 while the Second Phase was in November  2020.

“What is happening here today is an Administrative procedure. The technical handing over was already done and I am here today because the project owner is happy with what I did and called me to be here.”

The new L shaped building is a one floor story building with 18 office rooms equipped with air conditions, 10 equipped modern toilets, one strong room built with reinforced concrete, one canteen, one conference hall and a double car park. The structure is equally equipped with both internal and external security cameras and a high speed internet facility as well as an intelcom connection in most of the offices, Nchunka Stephen Nchang intimated.

Mr Nchunka Stephen Nchang, GM URUDEF Construction

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URUDEV Construction Company Mr Nchunka Stephen  Nchang said was an old company that had been involved in major construction projects. He mentioned the Faculty of Health Sciences in the University of Bamenda as one of the projects so far realised by URUDEV Construction Company. He said it was an old construction Company that had partnered with structures like HELVETAS Cameroon covering their projects in the Northwest, Southwest and West Regions.

Recounting challenges encountered during the execution of the project, he mentioned difficulties in payment when bills were presented coupled with pressure from project owners which he said were regular problems that contractors encountered in Cameroon.

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MINAC NW and Cameroon Performance Awards throw weight behind Promotion of Local Culture

 

By FEN 

The Regional Delegation of Arts and Culture in the North West Region in collaboration with the Cameroon Performance Awards CPA recently engaged in an ambitious project which is to identify and encourage promoters of culture in the North West Region of Cameroon.

The talents that were identified came from domains like Traditional Fashion and Design, Films immersed in the Culture of the Region, Traditional music as well as Gospel Music tinted by sounds from the Region.

 The artists identified included Amstrong Fombi 

 Recognised for his efforts as a Cultural Promoter. Armstrong Fombi aka King Armstrong is the Founder of Fombillion Infinity,an organisation that promotes culture through the encouragement of artistic talents in the North West Region of Cameroon.

Fokumlah Magloire Babila on his part was recognised for his efforts in the domain of Traditional Music in the North West Region. He has been actively involved in the promotion of the Culture of the North West Region through Music.

 

Still in the domain of music,  Atangche Zita was recognised for her efforts in the promotion of culture through Music. She is the Chief Executive Officer of “New Breed Africa Foundation.” She is involved in the promotion of culture through Awards and Musical Shows. “Nsankwi”, one of her music tracks remains a landmark piece depicting the lamentations of a land in perils.

The second lady in the prestigious group of creative artists was Evelyne Biy Korduf, recognised for her efforts in the promotion of culture through the design of Traditional wears inspired by the Culture of the North West Region. She gives Traditional Colour to weddings and other similar occasions and in this manner has contributed meaningfully in the promotion of culture through her craft. “Biy Eve's Craft and Design” an outfit that she runs is also involved in manual embroidery using dominantly local material.

Still in the domain of Fashion and Design, Prisco Ndiko was recognised for the promotion of the culture of the North West Region through Modeling, Fashion and Design and Beauty Contests. He runs a group called SHOSA Empire, the medium through Which his Cultural Promotional Activities are carried out. 

 Samson Vugar Visimbi was recognised for his efforts in the promotion of the culture of the North  West Region through the domain of Film and Theatre. As an actor, a Theatre Coach, a Producer cum Director, Writer and  promoter of Theatre for Children and young people, he has produced seventy five Radio Plays, two films and acted in over 50 films.

Mfikela Solomon Festus who  was equally recognised for the promotion of Arts and Culture in the North West Region made his debut in the year 2000.  Over the years he developed a unique style on the guitar that blends folk, classic and at times jazz into a rythm of its own called "shimihti". 

Because of his uniqueness in style playing solo with a simple guitar and voice, he won the first prize in "concours de la chanson” in Kumbo playing with a band in 2002.

He released a major album in December 2003 entitled "Tarawonin" a song which like many others in the same  album  was highly appreciated and has repeatedly been played over many radio stations in Cameroon.

Because of his creativity, he has been guest in TV and Radio programs such as “Morning safari” with David Chuye , “Wake up show” with late Becky Ndive, “Radioscopie d'un artiste” with Bingono , “Cultural Outlook” with Suzan Bamu on CRTV National Radio.

On the National Television he has twice been guest on the weekly slot “Tamtam weekend” , “Monday show” and “Hello”.  In all these outings his talent did not fail to catch the attention of the host , audience and viewers.

He has succeeded in giving a modern touch to his native music "Njang" and hopes by this to raise it to a rhythm that would be appreciated nationally and  internationally!

 Mokum Tambi Charles on his part was recognised for his promotion of Arts and Culture of the North West Region through the medium of  Gospel  and Circula Music. 

He made his debut in 1988 with the Military Band in Yaounde.

Released his first album "let peace reign in Africa and the world" in 2002 and followed up with a second album “Lift Jesus Higher” in 2005.

As an engaged prolific artist, he released “No to Terrorism” in 2010. “God you too much” in 2014 and in 2016 he released “Na peace we need” and a hit single titled “Chop my money”.

He is the President of the Association of Cameroon Artist for Peace (ACAP).

Last but not the least was Shusi Elvis, recognised for the promotion of culture through the medium of Gospel Music.  “Dream World Music” an outfit that he runs is a private organization dedicated to the growth and development of Gospel Music in Cameroon. 

The organization through training, recording and promotion of talents is striving to promote the Gospel Music Industry in Cameroon.

This interest in Gospel Music stems from his early orientation in School and more recently in the Presbyterian Church Musang congregation where he joined the Congregational Choir and became Music Director and Regional President of the Presbyterian Choirs Association for the North West Region. He is a song writer and presently has a single in the market tittled “Children of the Lord.”

The Awards were conferred by Mrs Comfort Wanje Mbonghe, the Regional Delegate of Arts and Culture for the North West Region and Mr Francis Ekongang Nzante, National Coordinator of Cameroon Performance Awards CPA.

This maiden edition was equally rendered feasible through the collaboration of the Bamenda City Council, the Bamenda I Council, Guinness Cameroon SA, and Farmer’s House as well as the direct collaboration of some elite of the Region like Honourable Emmanuel Yoyo. 

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Ekosso Lysonge Francis Poised to use Experience in Rebuilding Peace, Stability in Cameroon.

 

By Francis Ekongang Nzante

Lieutenant Colonel Ekosso Lysonge Francis, Deputy National Coordinator of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Committee, DDRC recently installed and tasked to get to work immediately, brings in about twenty years of experience working at the service of the nation, Cameroon. He was installed on Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 at the National Head Office of DDRC in Yaounde by the National Coordinator, Fai Yengo Francis.

Speaking during the installation ceremony, the National Coordinator described his deputy as a distinguished, hardworking and intelligent servant of the State, having spent over 20 years on the field in the service of the nation.

Fai Yengo Francis said the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Ekosso Lysonge Francis comes as “an added impetus to the achievements of the DDRC which is about to celebrate its 2nd anniversary and a very sure way and means to continue achieving the global and specific objectives of this specific strategic and operational structure.”

In a very optimistic tone, the erstwhile Governor said Lieutenant Colonel Ekosso Lysonge Francis was equal to the task set before him and urged him to use his operational experience to execute the activities of DDRC on the field. Hear him, “You should invest your energy and join your efforts so that together with our collaborators we should, without fear or complex and very far away from politics and all sorts of flimsy distractions, materialise the dream of an orderly reintegration of the youths who yesterday were involved in a senseless struggle against their fatherland but today have responded favourably to the fatherly hand of fellowship from the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya.”

In a brush with the media , Lt. Colonel Ekosso Francis said he was ready to serve and to carry out the tasks set before him. “We have fighters in the bush whom we want to bring out for the peace of Cameroon but we are doing a very detailed scientific analysis of it and it is not only a matter of the ex-fighters, but those who have ideological inputs into this kind of crisis from the Far North to the North West and South West. They too have to lay down their ideological arms because they are the ones who instigate it all. It is not just the children who have been fooled to lose their lives, but many people” Lt. Colonel Ekosso Francis said.

The new National Deputy Coordinator of DDRC has in the past served in several capacities with the National Defence  Force. The last post he held before his latest appointment was that of Chief of Division in the National Fire Brigade at Mimboman in Yaounde.

The Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintergration Committee was created on the 30th of November 2018 by Presidential Decree to organise, disarm, demobilise and reintegrate ex-Boko Haram fighters and armed groups in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The DDRC has centers in Mora, Buea and Bamenda. The centers have already received hundreds of excombatants and continue to do so.

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Prof Enow Orock Enonchong George Recognized for Resilience in Medical Practice.

 

By FEN Lenjo

Professor Enow Orock Enonchong George, Director of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital and erstwhile Director of the Buea Regional Hospital Annex has bagged the prestigious Cameroon Performance Award. This took place on Sunday November 22nd within the confines of his office at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital.

Speaking during the Award Event, Francis Ekongang Nzante, the National Coordinator of Cameroon Performance Awards recounted some peak moments in the professional life of Prof Enow Orock Enonchong George. Hear him. “From your earlier years of practice at the Akwaya and the Zoetele Sub Divisional Hospitals to your present position as Director of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital, it has been a trajectory of continuous hard work. Step by step you crafted your trade as Chief of Service of Pathology at the Yaounde General Hospital. You eventually became visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Buea and grew within the ranks to become Seniour Lecturer in the same establishment. 

Your appointment as Director of the Buea Regional Hospital Annex came as no surprise and gave you an opportunity to demonstrate your administrative qualities, one of which is working in collaboration with partners. With you as Director, the Hospital received four Haemodialysis Machines from Lady Grace Elone of the Elone Foundation in the UK. In Bafoussam with the challenges imposed by the COVID 19 Pandemic you have worked and continue to do so to fight the pandemic. In this race of continuous work, you have a rich record of research work.”

Harping on the unforgettable moments of his professional life Prof Enonchong recalled an operation that he carried out on the wife of a Pastor about 30 years ago in Akwaya under near impossible conditions. He described it as “Razor Blade Surgery” and went ahead to state that he was impressed that recognitions for what he has been doing were beginning to come in.

He said at the time certain paper work had to be done for the state to give him a medal in Recognition of his efforts. However he didn’t find it necessary to be applying for a medal of recognition. When good work is done, it should be Recognised and encouraged he said. “If thirty years afterwards, God has inspired you to give me this Award, then I want to express my total joy and thanks. This Award will further encourage me and I want to dedicate it to my patients. I am a Pathologist and most of my patients are cancer patients so I want to dedicate it to all cancer patients in the country.”

The self effacing Director of the Bafoussam Regional Hospital said the person who inspired him to pursue medical studies was an Uncle, Dr Benjamin Mengot who coincidentally was present at the Award Event. He took the spellbound audience that had turned out to witness the event through his tumultuous life as a student struggling to get through school despite all the odds. Next the hospital director journeyed through the early years of his practice fraught with challenges and the final thing that this reporter gleaned from it all was his Resilience. For example, Prof Enow Orock Enonchong George said it took him eight years to become the first English Speaking trained Pathologist. This is a course that normally takes 4 years he explained.

He is the first Professor of Pathology of English-speaking expression in the country and as he puts it, he was encouraged by very pathological minds like the late Professors Mbakop and Anomangu who made him to take interest in research. 

With regards to managing of health establishments, the hospital director said he has always preferred a consensual managerial policy.

“A lot of ground has been covered in the health sector though a bit haphazardly and at a pace that we the scientific minds would like to be improved upon. If you look at the training then the country has covered a lot of ground from a single medical school to eight medical schools. That is quite a lot but where we are having problems is in the training of specialists. We expect that there should be at least five centres in the country for the training of specialists” he said.

He hinted that specific universities could make arrangements for the importation of competences in the absence of specialists.

He also suggested that there should be long term planning in the domain of training of health Professionals.

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National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda

 Recognized for Transforming Private Higher Education

By FEN

The National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda has been recognized for efforts put in over the years to help in transforming the Private Higher Educational Sector in Cameroon. This recognition came in the form of an award issued by the Cameroon Performance Awards CPA recently within the confines of the School campus.

The National Coordinator of the CPA Francis Ekongang Nzante before handing over the Award described the strides so far made by National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda in the following manner: “Through the hard work of talented and dedicated individuals inspired by the indefatigable Pah Yong Francis you build an institution that today stands as the pride of Private Higher Institutions of Learning in Cameroon. The National Polytechnic University Institute formerly simply referred to as National Polytechnic Bambui played a major role in the Professionalization of Higher Education in Cameroon. Presently a national and international destination, National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda has contributed enormously in bringing respect to Higher Education in Cameroon.”

Mr Francis Nzante further said the institution had churned out professionals in wide and varied fields and in this manner had contributed enormously in the building of the Cameroonian nation. Considering that the rationale of the CPA was to encourage hard work, Performance and results Mr Francis Nzante said the story of the CPA would be incomplete if the efforts of National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda remained unrecognised. 

Present to receive the Award were the Vice Chancellor Dr Christopher Akob, the proprietor Mr Yong Jaques, the Registrar Dr Aduh Francis Ngalla among other members of staff. 

Dr Christopher Akob on reception of the Award said “This is totally in line with the vision of the founder Pah Yong Francis which was to provide Cameroonians with the necessary skills to be able to procure jobs and create job opportunities. National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda is proud to say that we are doing this to the best of our capacity. This Award has come to encourage us to continue working hard and to keep contributing towards the building of our country” Dr Akob said.

Dr Aduh Francis Ngalla on his part retrospectively said when the Cameroonian Government introduced University Reforms with an intention of decongesting the lone University of Yaounde at the time Pah Yong Francis seized the occasion and applied for the creation of the institution. 

Dr Aduh Francis Ngalla revealed that the institution was first authourised to offer Higher National Diplomas after two years of studies. Five years later, the institution was permitted to offer Bachelor Degrees under the mentorship of state Universities. National Polytechnic University Institute has through the years been working with the Universities of Buea and Dschang. Much more recently the institution signed partnership agreements with the University of Bamenda. The National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda now offer Master Degree Programmes thanks to these MOUs signed with State Universities Dr Aduh Francis Ngalla explained.

He further intimated that in 2013 the Ministry of Higher Education classified National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda as the best all round Private Higher Institution in Cameroon adding that just a year ago the institution was classified second best. “There is no doubt that Cameroon Performance Awards made the right choice” he said.

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