It's not a common occurrence to see politicians, traditionalists and God's servants rallying together for a common course void of projecting their titles, seeking for notice and credit. Sunday April 24th 2022 shall thus forever be remembered as one of those rare days some Meta Fons, preachers of the gospel, politicians and the population at large minimised their various, differences, inclinations and maximised the true spirit of oneness by rallying behind a common goal, development. This was during the inauguration and handing over ceremony of the renovated Abbi Bridge by a group of Meta sons and daughters drawn from within and without Cameroon that go by the name, Bongob Meta International (B.M.I) to the beneficiary population, the Meta people.
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| Family Photo on Abbi Bridge |
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| Abbi Bridge After |
In February 2022, the project to renovate the Abbi Bridge was conceived and funds raised to realise it. Just within a month, the bridge underwent transformation as its sides were renovated with balusters, two solar street lights and a sign board. This is what was handed to the Mbengwi Council through the Fons who first poured some libations wishing for protection of every road user crossing on the bridge before cutting a symbolic ribbon to declare it officially opened for use.The very brief but greatly significant event had in attendance Rev. Foncham Ezekiel, former Mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Tebe Beatrice, former Member of Parliament for Momo East constituency, Mbengwi, Hon. Edna Enih Mbah, the Fon of Njimetu, Chenam, Bessi Fomukong and Wumnemburg, some quarter heads and notables of Ku Fondom, the Kwem dance group of Ku, B.M.I volunteers, workers that renovated the bridge and other members of the public that also came to witness the historic event.
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| H.R.H Mukoum, Fon of Chenam |
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| Abbi Bridge Before |
The Fon of Chenam, H.R.H Mukoum testified this is something that has never happened in Meta land. Speaking on behalf of the Fons, he confessed they are very grateful for the work done by B.M.I on the Abbi Bridge, wishing that others wishing to do similar things in Meta don't relent their efforts. To him, "Some people may look at this to be small but the impact it's going to create is huge."
Amongst the major beneficiaries of the renovated bridge are drivers. Chick David, former president of Mbengwi Driver's Union witnessed the handing over ceremony and had this remark to make "On behalf of the driver's, I'll say we are very happy because the bridge had dilapidated to a level where what's been done with it now was seriously needed. It now looks attractive such that any visitor doesn't even need to be told about it since the sign board says it all. What B.M.I has done has made us transporters to be proud of our Meta land, giving a positive impression to non natives who would obviously know that there's cooperation amongst us the Meta people."
As a proposal on where next B.M.I can intervene, Chick David suggested that they should concentrate their next efforts on the roads; not that all roads be fixed but that a particular very bad portion can be identified on any major road within the municipality and repaired. The renovation of the Abbi bridge was successfully carried out thanks to collaboration between B.M.I and the Mbengwi Council considering that such a project could never have been executed without the consent and approval of the council.
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| Chick David, Former President, Mbengwi Driver's Union |
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| Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, Mayor, Mbengwi Council |
It is for this reason that the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam was present to receive the renovated bridge. Talking to Mbengwi Online at the close of the ceremony, he said "In fact, I was overwhelmed with the activity of today; the handing over of the bridge to the council who's main objective is development for the Meta people and so when issues like this come up, we have no option than to okay them." Then he went on to say "If some people opt to help the council in one aspect of development, why not give them the way? That's just what we did and today we are receiving a magnificent Abbi Bridge that's been rehabilitated." He ended by congratulating Bongob Meta International for what they've done and appealing to other organisations of Meta origin to also emulate what B.M.I has done so that Meta by the year 2030 should be a place to be.
Created in May 2019 by Mr. Walters Chamfor Ndi, former President General of MECUDA U.S.A, Bongob Meta International first came into being as MECUDA International. The appellation "MECUDA" in its name sparked a conflict with the umbrella cultural and development association of the Meta people and to put an end to the name squabble, the new name Bongob Meta International was adopted. However, both B.M.I and MECUDA have been working in close collaboration to foster development in Meta land. The founder/coordinator of B.M.I is in MECUDA same as the past and present President General of MECUDA are in B.M.I alongside other EXCO members.
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| Walters Ndi, Coordinator of Bongob Meta International |
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| Fobang Roland Achu, B.M.I Lead Volunteer |
Fobang Roland Achu doubles as the current national Secretary General of MECUDA and B.M.I lead volunteer in Mbengwi. B.M.I executes it's projects on the ground by the use of volunteers it randomly picks from the crowd. Some of those they've been using include Ngwe Obed of Chenam, Munya Ephraim of Mbemi, Ngu Franklin of Ngwokwong, Fongoh p. Ayeh of Mbengbu, Dieudonne Fombang of Ku, Tebe Beatrice of Tuanyang just to name these few. As outlined by the lead volunteer, B.M.I's successfully executed projects include visit to Meta refugees in Nigeria with material donations for their economic empowerment on the 7th of July 2019. Thereafter, it's biggest ever project to economically empower some chosen palaces in Meta was also carried out in several phases and the last one is still pending. In December 2021, B.M.I organised a Christmas Tournament in Mbengwi aimed at rekindling hope in Meta. The trophy was lifted up by Bome F.C after defeating Tondig F.C at post match penalties during a crucial final that was played on Thursday December 23rd 2021 on P.S Mile 19 field. The renovation and handing over of the Abbi bridge is thus its latest success story recorded in impacting lives back home.
The B.M.I lead volunteer opined that they chose to renovate the bridge because "The first impression is a lasting impression." He added that "Even if roads aren't good in Meta and as others have taken advantage to be degrading us, we remain a very strong and committed people that have decided to give a good image to people entering and or leaving Mbengwi subdivision, Meta land." On one side of the signboard planted at the bridge reads WELCOME TO ABBI BRIDGE & WATER FALL, META and on the other side, GOODBYE FROM ABBI BRIDGE & WATER FALL, META. Both are also inscribed in the Meta language. B.M.I spent close to 3 million francs to renovate the Abbi Bridge and more than half of this cost was borne by the coordinator of the group on behalf of some of his late family members.
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