World Habitat Day 2023: What Stakes for Mbengwi, Momo?

H.E Célestine Ketcha Courtes, Cameroon's Minister of Housing and Urban Development 

In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, remind the world that we all have the power and responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.

World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme "Shelter is My Right". Since then till date, commemorative activities have continued to take place annually to mark the day but for the COVID-19 pandemic period that caused a global shutdown thus halting its observance.

Every year, World Habitat Day is celebrated in a host city, where members of UN Habitat and others give speeches and presentations, reflecting on and highlighting the issues faced by people across the world. There is usually a particular focus on urban areas and the homeless. 

Activities marking the commemoration of this year's edition were organised at the international level by the U.N in Zangilan and Baku from the 29th to the 1st of October 2023 under the theme  "Resilient Urban Economies: Cities as Drivers of Growth and Recovery."

Antonio Guterres, U.N Secretary General

According to the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, "Building greater resilience and better protecting vulnerable populations requires far greater investments in sustainable infrastructure, early warning systems, and affordable, adequate housing for all." He adds that "At the same time, we must work to improve access to electricity, water, sanitation, transport, and other basic services–while investing in education, skills development, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship."

In Cameroon, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, led by Her Excellency Minister Célestine Ketcha Courtes held a series of activities in Garoua, North Region including speeches, round table discussions, press conference and prize award for the cleanest city in Cameroon, won by the Garoua II council, a whooping amount of 100.000.000 (one hundred million) Francs. 

Speaking on state media at the end of commemorative activities in Garoua, minister Célestine Ketcha said "When the environment is clean, it's a matter of health and people are happy to stay in a clean place." It has been announced that the 2024 edition of the day will be celebrated in Ebolowa, South Region. 

Anyang Gordin Bah, Momo Division Delegate, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development 

In the Momo Divisional Headquarters, Mbengwi, no activities were carried out to mark this year's World Habitat Day. However, the Divisional Delegate of Housing and Urban Development, Anyang Gordin Bah talking to Mbengwi Online on phone said "On such a day, what we usually do is to sensitise the public and also reflect on how to improve on the urbanisation and beautification of our towns"

Though the erection of houses in the municipality hasn't been following any orderly pattern, Mbengwi still remains relatively beautiful with environmental friendly trees planted along its envisaged commercial avenue, solar street lights and modern standard houses mostly in the Government Residential Area (GR.A). The realisation of the lofty plans the delegation had for all the five subdivisions in Momo division have been hampered by the ongoing Anglophone Crisis. 

The U.N scribe has this year called on all to pledge to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements for all people, everywhere. He says "local action is vital, and global cooperation indispensable."

Mɨchi Əbeŋ Organising Committee Sets the Ball Rolling for the Second Edition

Organising Committee Members During the 1st Edition of the Festival 

Organising Committee Members of Mɨchi Əbeŋ have  set the ball rolling in the build up to the second edition of the festival to take place in March 2024. With barely about half a year to go, discussions have been engaged on how to make the second edition better than the first.

Meeting in the Guneku Palace on Sunday 10 September 2023, the committee members discussed at length beginning with a flash back into the past pioneer edition and projection of the forthcoming one. On the former, they looked through the videos of the various Mukonge dances that were performed during the first edition and made a selection of some distinct dancers, singers, drummers and xylophonists from each of the groups. 

From inception, at the end of the Mukonge Dance Competition that took place in the palace of Guneku on Saturday 15 April 2023, two master dance group were to be formed comprising of selected members from each of the competing groups that stood out distinct in the performance of their roles, one for the elderly and the other for youths only.

Having done the selection, the next phase now will be to bring these members together to begin practicing so that each time a Mukonge Dance Group is needed anywhere in and out of the country for animation, they will be the ones to represent the entire Meta clan since they'll be like an embodiment of the entire clan. Furthermore, discussions during the meeting later drifted to projecting into the next edition who's main focus will be a Kwem Dance Competition. 

It was resolved that the competition will be open to all interested Kwem Dance Groups nationwide upon payment of a registration fee of 5.000F. A deadline for registration will be communicated and only those that complied with the registration modalities will be eligible to compete. According to plans, the 2024 edition of the festival will be staged for 3 days; Thursday for the singing of childbirth songs (Ngwa) otherwise known as "Mbolo", Friday for carvings, weavings and other craftworks, then Saturday for the dance competition. 

The initiator and promoter of Mɨchi Əbeŋ, H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Ticha of Guneku has instructed the organising committee members to leave no stone unturned in making sure the festival this year establishes new records and breaks old ones. Apart from the festival, the main objective is to see Meta people go back to their originality in speaking their mother tongue, cooking and eating their local delicacies, dressing traditionally, singing and dancing their traditional songs not just occasionally but as a daily routine.

C.N.Y.C Mbengwi takes from MECUDA U.S.A, Gives to Tobho Youths' Association

 

In the midst of the ongoing Anglophone Crisis the rate of rural urban migration especially among youths has drastically increased. Many are those who've left their villages in quest of education, greener pastures, better living conditions and security. However, like a Meta saying goes, "not all of the ants will ever leave their hill".  Some have stayed back, braving the odds amidst the crisis to make ends meet. 

The Tobho Youths' Association has been relatively active during the Anglophone Crisis period and has been outstanding in its activities. After having noticed them as a seriously committed youth group, the Mbengwi Communal Bureau of the Cameroon National Youth Council (C.N.Y.C) that came into office in December 2022 went sourcing for funding to reach out to them. 

The Vice Treasurer of CNYC Mbengwi Handing Over Credit Union Passbook to Financial Secretary of Tobho Youths' Association 

The President of CNYC Mbengwi Symbolically Handing Over a Bag of Feed to the President of Tobho Youths Association 

It was in the course of the search that the youth council came in contact with MECUDA U.S.A, submitted to them a project which they accepted to fund it's realisation. On Tuesday September 26th 2023, members of the Tobho Youths' Association, the Cameroon National Youth Council, Mbengwi Communal Bureau and other personalities met in Tobho quarter popularly known as Back Mbon in the Ku fondom for the donation exercise of the agricultural package that comprised of three piglets, twenty bags of feed and a credit union account for better management of the association's finances especially those to be generated from the piggery project. 

Teboh Julius Achu is the president of the Tobho Youths' Association. Speaking to Mbengwi Online, he said "I really want to thank MECUDA USA for this piggery project and equally the Cameroon National Youth Council. We the Tobho youths are so happy because I think we are the first to benefit from this type of project." He will then go on to encourage other youth groups to copy their example. To him, the way they associate,  constantly hold meetings and create activities like cleaning of their quarter are some of the things other association's should copy from them so that tomorrow, such assistance can also get to them. 

Ndetan Nji Cyprain, President, C.N.YC Mbengwi 

Tacho David, Quarterhead, Tobho

The brief ceremony was characterised by speeches, a symbolic handing over and visitation to the pig fence. Pa Tacho David is the quarterhead of Tobho. As one of the elderly persons that witnessed the ceremony, he said "I really want to thank MECUDA USA for giving the Tobho youths this opportunity to have these piglets and the coordinators that connected the Tobho quarter youths to the project. I've cautioned them to handle these pigs carefully and to feed them in a way that when the donors see it they'll admire and be happy they did something better for them."

Prior to the donation exercise, a Memorandum of Understanding had been signed some weeks back between the youth council and the beneficiary youth group with one of its terms being that upon delivery, two piglets will be given back to the Cameroon National Youth Council Mbengwi for onward donation to another youth association. But why the choice of Tobho youths as beneficiary? A question Mbengwi Online posed to Ndetan Nji Cyprain, the President of the Mbengwi Communal Bureau of the Cameroon National Youth Council. 

"Several factors were considered before choosing them" he commenced. "They are hardworking, united and influential" he continued. To him, after about six or seven years into the crisis, most of the youths' associations in Mbengwi have been very dormant but the Tobho youth have remained alive, shinning the limelight for other youth associations in the subdivision to follow. 

Quizzed about what the council has in the pipeline after this major realisation, he responded that "We still plan moving to other youth associations to impact them or we continue looking for funding." He thinks with the successful realisation of the Tobho Youths' Association Piggery Project, other youth associations will sit up so as to stand a chance of also benefiting. 

Ngwe Obed, MECUDA Home Branch President

As to defining the modus operandi of the Cameroon National Youth Council, he disclosed that it's not a political group but rather a bureau that's in charge of controlling youth associations in the subdivision. "You cannot just dive into one association without passing through the national youth council because we are there, we know who is who and what they're doing. We are like a main bridge that links funders to the beneficiaries which are the youth associations" he ended.

MECUDA USA has stood out distinct as the leading diaspora branch in terms of realising concrete projects back home that greatly impact the lives of humanity. Hardly will half a year go by without their name being mentioned for having done one or two things here and there. It is for this reason that the home branch president of the Meta Cultural and Development Association, Ngwe Obed was invited to witness the donation ceremony. In giving his appraisal, he said "What MECUDA USA has done today is a light to the youths here back at home. It is very encouraging because other youths will learn from what those of Tobho gained today."

He furthered that what MECUDA USA has done is in line with the vision of the President General of MECUDA, Professor Njoh Oliver, that of empowering all the branches to support development in the villages back home. "If other branches can support the home with such activities then MECUDA will be lively" he ended. 

It is hoped that in at most three months from date of handing over, at least two of the piglets will be pregnant. With the successful realisation of the Tobho Youths' Association Piggery Project sponsored by MECUDA USA under the leadership of Madam Musoro Olive as president through the Cameroon National Youth Council Mbengwi Communal Bureau of 2023, the question now is, who next?

Birthday Celebration: Withgodep Foundation's Executive Director Reaches Out to Some Special Persons

The Executive Director of Withgodep Foundation, Seta Withgodep Wiertz has reached out to 53 year old Madam Nengang Regina of Zang Tembeng village in the Tondig Zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi. Ma Regi as she's fondly called has been visually impaired for 13 years now and to make ends meet she manages her life by selling cooked food by the roadside at Tonzang, near the famous bar/provision store known as Facebook.

On Monday 28 August 2023, Seta clocked another year old and to mark his birthday this year, he decided to reach out to some randomly selected persons as beneficiaries of his love, care and concern. Ma Regi was offered the biggest package worth 71.000F that is a bag of rice, flower and a jug of vegetable oil plus 20.000F cash. Coincidentally and interestingly, Madam Regina also celebrated her 53rd birthday a week before Seta's and thus she shares same birth month with him.

Madam Nengang Regina 

Madam Nengang Regina With an Envelope of 20.000F in Addition to the Bag of Rice, Flower and Tin of Groundnut Oil

Taken unaware by the surprise, she went down on her knees and was quickly held back up and almost in tears, she thanked Seta Withgodep Wiertz wishing he never lacks. The gifts came just in time when she was already wondering what becomes of her small business in the days ahead as she was running out of stock due to limited capital.

Chiato Leonardo is a 21 year old student that had his GCE Advanced Level Certificate this year 2023, passing in 4 papers. The youngster is renowned in Mbengwi for peddling groundnuts, pears, bananas, plums. On daily basis, he crisscrosses quarters with a fully loaded tray on his head. He always catches customer's attentions firstly with the way he dresses and secondly the way he markets his products orally. Many at times clients buy from him just because of his convincing language power making one feel like if you don't consume his groundnut or plum or banana or pear, then your missing a lot.

Chiato alias the Groundnut Boy relocated to continue schooling in Yaounde due to the Anglophone Crisis and comes to Mbengwi every long term holiday to hustle. Having noticed his uniqueness and focus in life,  he was offered an envelop of 50.000F from Seta. "In fact, I'm really surprised till I don't know what to say as I wasn't expecting this. From the bottom of my heart I say thank you very much and I pray that wherever you got this money from to give me, may God replenish it. This means a lot to me." These were the words that came out of his mouth in appreciation to the donor.

Chiato Leonardo (on the right) Recieving 50.000F from the Coordinator of Withgodep Foundation Activities in the NW Region

Chiato Leonardo Hustling at the Mbon Motor Park in Mbengwi

He will later disclose that due to limited finance, he may likely not continue school this year to pursue his dream of being a trained fashion designer. He had seen a private university in Yaounde that offers training in this specialty and the fees is about 400.000F which he can't afford for now. Consequently he will spend this year out hustling so that by the next academic year, he would've saved some reasonable amount of money that can help him return to school.

The third beneficiary of Seta's 2023 birthday reach out is a Douala based business guy and musician, native of Ngyen-Mbo, Mbengwi. He has been selling dresses and shoes for years now in a small container but not without the challenges of urban life. At first, the council cleared off his small container from Ancien Route, Bonaberi as part of keeping the streets clean. He managed to secure another small space elsewhere but of recent, thieves made their way into the structure and swept away everything.

The youngster whose girlfriend recently put to birth saw his life crumbling to zero and a thousand thoughts ran through his mind as depression was beginning to set in. Faced with this predicament, he opened up to Seta on what he was facing in life and in respond, a little token of 50.000F was also forwarded to him via Mobile Money to help him restart from somewhere.

Seta Withgodep Wiertz, Birthday Celebrant

Seta Withgodep Wiertz the Executive Director of Withgodep Foundation

The birthday reach out by the Executive Director of Withgodep Foundation came barely some weeks after the successful staging of the Soccer for Hope Tournament, maiden edition whose final pitting Tondig FC against Mile 1920 FC played on Sunday 30th July 2023 went down into the annals of history as the highest crowd puller in this crisis period in Mbengwi. It is estimated that at least 5.000 fans where on the Mbengwi Municipal Stadium that fateful last Sunday of July to watch that crucial match that ended in favour of Tondig at penalties shout-outs.

Seta Withgodep Wiertz is a humanitarian, musician, diplomat, traditional title holder and influential youth. Reaching out to humanity is part and parcel of his life eversince he was young. He is Cameroon country representative of some international brands and institutions like S.T.A.M.P.S based in Germany, Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, Director of Humanitarian Affairs for Ex Animo based in Germany just to name these few. He also runs another organisation known as A Better World and an orphanage in his native Ka'ajik quarter somewhere in the Bome zone of the Meta clan not far from the Mbengwi monastery.

At press time, we learnt that through his influence, Bernard, one of the sons he has raised at his orphanage since 2011 succeeded to fly to Germany early September 2023 to study electrical engineering. He goes to meet Paul, another child raised at the Orphanage and sent to Germany last year 2022 to study import and export management. Before Bernard and Paul, Fobang Macmillan who was also raised at the orphanage had flown to Finland where he's been pursuing studies in ICT. 

Bernard in Germany

 

Mayor, M.P & Minister Show Concern for the Deplorable Roads and Water Crisis in Mbengwi

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Giving High 5 From the Steering as Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Observes 

The deplorable road network of Mbengwi has been worsened by heavy downpour and as a resultant effect, the main pipe supplying the basic utility, water to the municipality was punctured in Tonmukomo, a roadside settlement area towards Njindom village.

Consequently, Mbengwi central town has been without water for over a week. August being a month of heavy rainfall, many inhabitants have been relying on rain water as it is common to see buckets, jugs, gallons and all sorts of containers outside each time it pours from the skies to collect the liquid that will then be used for cooking, drinking and cleaning. 

A few households have other secondary sources like wells, boreholes, streams and community water. Worried about the predicament that has befallen the already suffering population, the mayor of the municipality, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam and the Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia have been putting their  heads together to prevent the bad situation from getting worse. 

Truck Loaded with Stones for Road Maintenance in Mbemi

Loading Stones in Truck for Road Maintenance

On Thursday August 17 2023, the M.P "smuggled" herself into Mbengwi to meet the mayor and both dressed in boots, helmet and jacket after having hired trucks and a front head loader, descended to the field for intervention. In G.R.A Mbengwi, the duo sat throughout the process of loading laterite into the trucks for onward dumping at various bad potions on various roads across the subdivision. 

Speaking to Mbengwi Online onboard the front head loader from the site in G.R.A, mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam said "This is a sign of togetherness. We have come to the field today to see that our roads are maintained" He went on to give the itinerary they're following. "Today, we've decided to maintain the road via Zem to Mbemi, Tad and also the pipeline in Njindom then help our drivers also working on the road Ngyen-Mbo - Bali." In clarifying that this will be a routine exercise, he said "We thought it wise to tackle these areas. Next time we're also going to chose some other roads that are not also in good condition and maintain them. This is just the beginning."

When we took our recording devices to the M.P seated on the steering of the front head loader, she began by saying "We want to continuously thank our mother, Her Excellency Mbah Acha Rose Fomundam, Minister of Supreme State Audit. If you see the mayor and myself here, it is because we are working in synergy with our mother. In fact, she's the brain behind all of these."

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Smiling from the Steering

Foo Ngang went on to add that "We don't go to the field without informing ourselves. We work together because they say unity is strength and that is our strength here in Meta. As elites, we work together, communicate in order to avoid duplications." She continued to thank the minister wishing God continues to bless her because sometimes the projects sent to Mbengwi and Momo are gotten through her because she liaises with her colleagues to facilitate the granting of such projects. 

On a rather sad note this time around, the M.P said "We still want to cry. We are regretting. The caterpillars that were damaged in Acha, we are suffering because by now, the road to Acha, Njikwa ought to have been completed."

Information obtained from the duo further stated that allocations had been given for the road from Hospital Roundabout in Bamenda passing through Mbengwi to Njikwa, Ngie, Widikum, Batibo but unfortunately things didn't work out for the materialisation of this giant divisional project.

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia and Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam Supervising the Work on the Field

"We use this opportunity to call on our children disturbing us not to work in alleviating poverty from our people to stop it. Let's work together as one in seeing how we can improve the economic situation of our municipality, improve on the state of our people that are mere farmers and cooperate with us to improve on our road network" she ended. 

The politicians were on the field all day long right into the night and not even the heavy rain that fell that day could deter their determination to do what they had planned to do. Around 7:30pm, the fearless M.P and mayor descended to 3-Corners Mbemi where the villagers had also come out during the day to maintain their roads. Here, they met some of the locals in a bar sipping some palm wine and shared with them. The mayor will later drive the M.P to the Mbon motor park from where she boarded a public transport car back to Bamenda at almost 8pm. 

At press time, clean portable water is now flowing from taps in Mbengwi, barely a day after Camwater technicians, Mbengwi council workers, the mayor and M.P were on the field. The timely intervention came like a stitch in time that saves nine.  As the population heaves a sigh of relief with the coming back of water, the road situation continues to be worsened following the almost daily heavy downpour that's been characterising the month of August.

Close to 1.000 Spectators Watched the Launching of Soccer for Hope Tournament

Family Photo 

Many observers say if not of the heavy down pour that didn't however in anyway succeed to mar the occasion, the number of spectators, close to 1.000 that answered present on the Mbengwi Municipal Stadium on Sunday July 2nd 2023 to watch the opening matches of the maiden edition of the Soccer for Hope Tournament organised by Withgodep Foundation and international partners would've doubled. 

In the opening encounter whose kick off was done by the National Secretary General of the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA), Fobang Roland Achu accompanied by Rev. Fr. Ngu Emmanuel of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Njindom, Mukomo Roland of God's Time Enterprise, Mbengwi, H.R.H Fon Eujige Solomon of Kobenyang village and Tayong Emmanuel Njoh, head of the organising committee, Njembeng F.C beat Bessi Fomukong hands down by 5 goals to 0. The same score line situation was recorded at the end of the second match played same day during which Tondig F.C also beat Mbemi F.C by 5 goals to 0.

Organising Committee Member Brandishing the Tournament's Roll up 

Mbemi F.C, Sponsored by Abu Dhabi House G.R.A Mbengwi 

Despite the unavoidable absence of the Executive Director of Withgodep Foundation, Seta Withgodep Wiertz from the launching ceremony, a resounding success of the event was still recorded and echoes have been going far and wide, in and out of the country. Speaking before the commencement of the second half of the second match, the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam said "I want to thank the organisers of this competition. They've made us to know that those opportunities that we've been missing in the past can still come into the limelight. These are the type of activities that I want in our municipality."

He went on to encourage all not to give up hope especially as he's learnt many persons are now of the opinion that their educational future in Mbengwi is bleak following the blocking of the main roads into and out of the municipality and allegations that the administration will force schools to function on Mondays and compel children to wear uniforms come September. As a result, parents are making plans to get their children out to go pursue studies elsewhere. 

"I want to assure you that where there's a will there's a way. Even if the roads are blocked for the nearest one year we are still going to survive in Mbengwi and so please my dearest children don't be discouraged. I tell you God is going to fight our fight for us" he assured. 

The ceremony was animated by a bike caravan, horse display and traditional dance by the Mukonge Dance Group of Barakwe. More beauty was added to the event with the coming in of some institutions and companies as sponsors of some teams like Mbemi FC that's being sponsored by Abbu Dhabi Guest House located in G.R.A Mbengwi and Tondig FC that's being sponsored by ANS Immigration, an International Travel company specialised in facilitating immigration into Canada. The duo have supplied a set of jerseys to their respective teams with their brand names printed on them. 

Some Prominent Business Persons in Mbengwi Watching the Matches

Some Members of Organising Committee 

According to the fixtures, 8 teams placed into 2 poles are competing in the tournament expected to last for a month. Matches have been programmed to be played on Fridays and Sundays, two matches per day. On Friday June 7, Bome will play against Mile 18 while Mile 1920 takes on Mile 17 marking the end of play for the first round. Cash prizes of at least 1 million francs will be distributed to winners, participants and distinguished players, officials on the day of the final expected to end with a red carpet night at Abbi Fall Resort. 

The Soccer for Hope Tournament though being an initiative of Withgodep Foundation is sponsored by foreign partners like FTBLBOOTS, 90PLUSX, EX-AMINO and the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy. As revealed to Mbengwi Online by the Executive Director of the foundation, the goal is that at the end of the tournament, at least one promising young player will be sponsored to go out of the country, precisely to Germany (where most of the international partners of the tournament are based) to undergo more professional training in football. As such, the Soccer for Hope Tournament is not just about playing football. It's about realising a dream. 

MECUDA U.S.A Supports Young Girls in Mbengwi to Bleed With Pride

Young Girls Brandishing their Menstrual Kits from MECUDA USA through HOBET.

On Tuesday June 6th 2023, young girls drawn from the Tondig zone of the Meta clan rallied in the Barakwe village hall for a one day Workshop on Gender Based Violence, Comprehensive Sexual Education and Menstruation. They came from Zem, Njindom, Wumnembug, Zang Tembeng, Sang and other neighbouring villages.

In a brief welcome address, Bah Christopher, the Barakwe Traditional Council Chairman speaking on behalf of the entire village thanked the brains behind the workshop for choosing Barakwe, the Rainbow Village as venue. He assured them that the villagers are always welcoming and anytime they may still have such workshops, their modern standard village hall will always be readily available to accommodate even hundreds of attendees.

Participants at the Workshop 

Practical Session on Production of Menstrual Bracelet 

A series of presentations were then done plus a a question and answer session. There was also experience sharing and playing of games at the end of which some of the attendees spoke to Mbengwi Online.

Abbey Antoinette Endah came all the way from Njinmocho to attend the workshop. She testified she's learnt a lot, some of which are things she knew before and others she just heard of them for the first time. She appreciated MECUDA USA for the good work done through HOBET. 

On her part, Fomumbod Prisca Ndum from Zang Tembeng affirmed she's learnt more about menstrual hygiene, gender based violence and many other things. "I also thank HOBET and MECUDA USA for the enriching knowledge they've given to us plus our kits" she furthered. 

Quizzed on how the knowledge she's gained will help her, Sakwe Louisline from Zem responded that "I've learnt how to calculate my menstrual circle which I'm obviously going to put it into practice. I've also learnt how to safe someone that's been through violence especially rape." She ended by thanking MECUDA USA for the support they've provided to them wishing God blesses them all.

Family Photo

Abbey Antoinette 

Fomumbod Prisca

Sakwe Louisline 

Tembeng Eli-anne is the founder of Hope for a Better Tomorrow (HOBET), the organisation MECUDA USA used to realise their project on the ground. When Mbengwi Online cornered her at the end of the workshop, we first wanted to know if the organisation's objectives were attained and she responded in the affirmative, adding that despite the current sociopolitical/economic situation in Mbengwi, the young girls still braved the odds to come for the training. "We are happy with MECUDA USA for trusting HOBET to carry out this activity in communities of Meta and we are convinced more of such opportunities will still come to make young girls in our communities happy" said Eli-anne.

To her, menstruation is a very big problem because nowadays, prices of pads have doubled, coupled with the ongoing crisis, leading to a lot of economic hardship. "These young girls aren't just unable to afford pads but there's also no portable water" she revealed. In her opinion, the training and kits she brought came in just at the right time to reach out to more young girls, educate and sensitise them to be able to not just cope with the situation but also understand that menstruation is part of every woman's life.

Comprehensive Sexual Education is still a taboo subject in most African homes. Words like sex, vagina and penis are still considered immoral. Parents still hold strong to the archaic view that talking about sex to a child is a taboo and that it rather "spoils" the child. These and more of such wrong believes necessitated a presentation on the subject.

As to what parents should do to their children with regards comprehensive sexual education, Eli-anne said "The communication needs to begin because these adolescent boys and girls  need this education to be able to interact with their peers well." She added that "There are social ills we don't want to see in our communities and this can only be possible when we communicate with them the right way and make them comfortable to talk to us."

Lastly, on her expectations from all the trained participants, the HOBET founder said "We are hopeful that with this they'll be able to calculate their menstrual period, premarital sex and unplanned pregnancies will reduce in our communities because we've not just given them menstrual kits but have also educated them on how to calculate their menstrual period. We've given them the importance of speaking out and we've also spoken to them on how to interact in their communities, identify and report cases of gender based violence"

Before departing home, each of the girls was gifted a menstrual kit comprised of pads, pants, towels and soap. HOBET is an organisation dedicated to empowering vulnerable women and girls to cope and build resilience in the face of the devastating changing climate change and riding gender based violence threatening their livelihood and survival. 

This they accomplish through indigenous/scientific knowledge/experience sharing, counseling, psychosocial support, training, education, mentorship and enhancing access to resources/opportunities with goal to see an Africa where women and girls are exceptionally empowered, resilient, safe from all kinds of abuse and participate in family and community development.  

2020 to 2023, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia's Scoreboard as M.P for Mbengwi

2020 to 2023, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia's Scoreboard as M.P for Mbengwi 

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben, M.P, Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi
📷: Nat. Ass. Website

Honourable Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia is the Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi, a position she gained through the ballot box after the March 22nd 2020 parliamentary elections rerun  in Momo division. When the government of Cameroon on February 9th 2020 organised twin elections, that is municipal and legislative, in the Momo East Constituency, Foo Ngang Prodencia was presented as candidate of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (C.P.D.M) party that finally gained control of the Mbengwi Council in 2013, a municipality that had hitherto been a stronghold of the opposition, the Social Democratic Front (S.D.F) party eversince the introduction of multipartism in the 90s.

Prodencia as such came in as challenger to the then S.D.F Member of Parliament for Mbengwi, Hon. Edena Enih Mbah who had just completed her first mandate and was seeking for re-election for a second term. When the elections were first conducted on February 9th 2020, the results from Momo East and West Constituencies were proclaimed in favour of the C.P.D.M. Disgruntled, the S.D.F filed in petitions at the constitutional council citing instances of electoral malpractices and unfavourable conditions for the smooth running of the civic exercise. 

Foo Ngang Prodencia Casting Her Vote During the Parliamentary Elections Rerun on Sunday March 22nd 2020 in the Mbengwi Council Hall

The first results were thus cancelled and a rerun called for. Fortunately for the previous victors and unfortunately for the vanquished, the constitutional council still proclaimed the final results in favour of the C.P.D.M in the two constituencies that make up Momo Division after the rerun. That is how Foo Ngang Prodencia became Member of Parliament for Mbengwi. She will later move to Yaoundé to be conferred her attributes comprised of an insignia and a Green-Red-Yellow sash. Now fully in charge as new M.P of Momo East, she will then afterwards get down to work in her constituency.

Mbengwi Online in this special report revisits the field actions she's undertaken eversince becoming M.P in a bit to improve on the livelihoods of her constituents. On Wednesday April 8 2020, in the Mbengwi High Court, she witnessed the swearing in ceremony of Ndangsa Kennedy Akam that had also been voted on Tuesday February 25th 2020 as new mayor of the Mbengwi Council. Two days after, that is on February 28, he was kidnapped by separatist fighters and kept incommunicado for a month. He was later  released on March 30th and as such, a special swearing in ceremony was organised for him on Wednesday April 8th 2020.

Hon. Foo Ngang Prodencia at the Swearing in Ceremony of Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam 

The M.P at the end of the swearing in ceremony gave a piece of advice to the new mayor that "He should be committed, dedicated and above all be disciplined. He should watch his family, friends and entourage because he's now expected to serve the people irrespective of those who voted for or against him"

When the global outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease, COVID-19 was announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and measures to contain its spread being implemented worldwide, the M.P for Mbengwi couldn't be indifferent. On Saturday May 2nd 2020, she donated a consignment of anti COVID-19 kits, precisely tap buckets  worth 500.000F to the Mbengwi council. The items, 50 tap buckets of 50 litres each and 50 wash hand bowls were recieved by the mayor himself. In addition to her package, the MP also handed a carton of face masks worth 1.800.000F sent by a friend of hers, a certain Pascal Dissock that she contacted to support the initiative.

Mbengwi sons and daughters worldwide after having pulled material and financial resources together, organised an anti COVID-19 campaign dubbed METACREC meaning Meta Anti COVID-19 Response Challenge that was launched at the Mbon motor park, Mile 18 Mbengwi on Thursday May 7th 2020 during which buckets and bowls for hand washing, sanitisers, face masks and cartons of soap were distributed to hundreds of persons. Present at the ceremony was Hon. Foo Ngang Prodencia and it presented an opportunity for her to make her first public address to her constituents since gaining her new office. The buckets and facemasks she had donated to the council were then distributed at this event. 

Hon. Foo Ngang Prodencia at Handing Over of COVID-19 Items to the Population in Mbon Park through METACREC

On Thursday July 2nd 2020 at the Momo Senior Divisional Officer's Office, a glimpse of care and concern was shown to the inmates of the Mbengwi Principal Prison, physically challenged persons of the Christaldelphian School for the Blind and Handicapped, House of Hope Orphanage, A Better World Children's Home and Global Frontiers Orphanage, all in Mbengwi Central Subdivision by the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Supreme State Audit, Her Excellency Mbah Acha Rose née Fomundam. On special assignment to hand over the items that were made up of food stuffs and anti COVID-19 kits and seating in as personal representative of the minister was Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben.

When Foo Ngang became M.P, she pledged to dedicate her mandate for the economic empowerment of youths in her constituency. It is in this light that she on Thursday 28 January 2021   organised a one day training workshop on the management of day old chicks in the Mbengwi Council Hall, bringing together hundreds of the earmarked beneficiaries, the Divisional Officer of Mbengwi, Mayor of Mbengwi alongside the delegate of livestock who schooled participants on broiler rearing and aspects of managing day old chicks like heating, feeding, watering, hygiene and health management among other technicalities.

Training Workshop in the Mbengwi Council Hall for Potential Recipients of Day Old Chicks 

After the training, she will then proceed to distribute poultry inputs and at least a thousand day old chicks to  hundreds farmers in her constituency made up of youths, internally displaced and vulnerable persons. This activity was carried out on Saturday February 6th 2021 at the Mbon motor park, Mile 18. The second phase of the donation exercise took place on Wednesday August 18 2021 in the Mbengwi Council Hall during which earmarked farmers, skilled labourers and institutions were donated items like three thousand  day old chicks, rain boots, bags of feed, helmets and spades, shovels, polythene bags and cash prizes to some teachers and pupils who excelled in the First School Leaving Certificate examination thus uplifting the division to the prestigious position of number 1 in the regional rankings and number 2 in Common Entrance examination.

In addition, a power generator was offered to butchers in the Mbon market to counter incessant power cuts, a water pump and grass cutting machine to the Mbengwi council for the cleaning of administrative buildings, public spaces and promotion of market gardening in the Abbi valley, another mower  to G.B.H.S Mbengwi for maintenance of hygiene on campus amongst other items. The M.P was represented at this donation ceremony by her alternate, Ndang Walters.

Hon. Foo Ngang Handing Over Day Old Chicks to Beneficiaries at Mbon Park

It should be noted that prior to this donation exercise, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia had necessitated the disbursement of fifty one million four hundred thousand (51.400.000) Francs from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education (MINJEC) to some fifty eight (58) youths in the Momo East Constituency who were selected as beneficiaries of the triennial plan otherwise known as the Three Years Special Youth Plan instituted by president Paul Biya in 2015 to accelerate the socioeconomic integration of young boys and girls between the ages of 15 to 30. In the entire N.W region, Mbengwi had the highest number of beneficiaries and the highest amount thanks to the political "Messism" of Foo Ngang Prodencia who, like Lionel Messi masters how to dribble pass her way into the net, scoring goals that give victory to her constituency.

On Saturday August 21st 2021, members of Bedtime Melodies Fan Club, a youth group in Mbengwi visited their peers of Sang Community for socialisation during which they donated the sum of 100.000F to support the Sang youths in the construction of their community hall. The financial support was obtained by the club from the M.P, Hon. Foo Ngang after appealing to her for help to do the reach out.

Ndetan Nji Cyprian, President Sang Youths Union Thanking the M.P for the Financial Support for their Hall Project (Behind Him)

Still in 2021, the Mbengwi people's representative in Cameroon's  National Assembly again succeeded to lobby for the rehabilitation of the Mbemi water scheme by the state. Towards the completion of the project, she on Wednesday October 13 2021 rallied members of the committee to manage the water for a training exercise at the Momo Divisional Delegation of Water Resources and Energy on the technicalities of how to go about managing the scheme. After the training, they were later installed into office in the village and handed some tools that they shall be using for maintenance purposes. The installation of the committee members and handing over of the project to the villagers took place on Monday November 1st 2021. 

Speaking to Mbengwi Online on phone, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia that's also the National Vice President of the Mbemi Development and Cultural Association (MBEDECA) said it was thanks to Minister Mbah Acha Rose of the Supreme State Control that used the influence of her high office to secure the water rehabilitation project for the Mbemi people from Yaounde. She added that as development influencers in the subdivision, they expect more and more villages to come up to them with development projects that will go a long way to improve on the livelihoods of the Meta people upon realisation.

On Friday April 29th 2022, "Mami Minister" as Mbah Acha Rose is fondly called this time around sent Honourable Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben to the Gutah zone of the Meta Clan. This was the first time the M.P ever ventured going to such an outskirt area from Mbengwi central town since she was elected in February 2020. It was at the once  famous but now little known Presbyterian General Hospital, Acha-Tugi that hundreds of villagers drawn mostly from Njaah, Ngwokwong, Tugi and Sanyere rallied to receive the visiting delegation that came to appreciate the people for the intervention they made to rescue the medical doctor and administrator of Acha-Tugi hospital when they were kidnapped in February 2022. 

The items brought by the M.P, made up of 22 bags of rice, 20 bags of fertilizer, 20 bags of salt, 250kg of maize seeds, 100 packets of tea leaves, 50 packets of sugar, 40 plastic kettles, 2 cartons of vegetable oil and sachet tomatoes, all of these amounting to the sum of about 1.5 million Francs according to the parliamentarian were distributed to the beneficiary population, both Mbororos and Meta natives that rallied at the hospital. 

Hon. Foo Ngang Prodencia in Acha Tugi

On Thursday December 15 2022, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia in the company of the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, the President General of the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA) Prof. Njoh Oliver, medical personnel from the Mbengwi District Hospital among others visited the Kob Integrated Health Centre where she donated medical equipments worth 8 million francs to the health institution. 

From Kob, same day, she will later penetrate the Bome Valley of the Meta clan precisely to Njimetu village for the supervision of a rural electrification project she succeeded to secure for the villagers there worth over 30 million francs from the state budget. She went there to see for herself the realities on the ground and the impact the realised project was having on the lifes of the beneficiaries. Here, she was hailed by H.R.H Fon Fortu of Njimetu and his notables for having them in mind.

As an agent of development, when the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA) organised an Annual Delegates and General Meeting in Mbengwi on Thursday December 25 and Friday December 16 in the MECUDA Head Office and Mbengwi Palace esplanade respectively, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia was conspicuously present at both events to join efforts with others in mapping out the development plan for the Meta people, her constituents. 

In addition she has been actively inscribing her name on the list of contributors during MECUDA organised freewill solidarity contributions to address a developmental or  life saving issue in and out of the clan. Often, the MP gives material and or financial assistance during such initiatives. In the build up to the 2023 edition of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, she supported Bedtime Melodies Fan Club, a youth group in Mbengwi with 100.000F to help them buy menstrual kits which were distributed to participants at a menstrual hygiene workshop the group organised. 

Newspaper Report on Assistance by the M.P to Bedtime Melodies Fan Club 

In the religious domain, the M.P hasn't been indifferent to the many appeal letters that keep reaching her to sow a seed in God's vineyard. As such, she supported the Presbyterian Church Nyen congregation with 100.000frs for their project, another 100.000F for the rehabilitation of Presbyterian Church Mbemi congregation and also 100.000F to the Christian Women Fellowship (C.W.F) of the Meta Presbytery during their last rally.

In the education domain, the M.P has been providing scholarships to some undeprevileged pupils. In 2021, 10 orphans from House of Hope Orphanage, Ngyen-Mbo recieved scholarships to study at Palmer's Bilingual Nursery and Primary School free of charge for an academic year. Same year, she also paid the fees of some 5 pupils in her school that were unable to meet up with their financial obligations. P.B.N.P.S Mbengwi is one of the oldest lay private educationional establishments in the subdivision founded in 2003 by Foo Ngang Prodencia. Since then till date, the school has educated and graduated hundreds of pupils.  

Packets of Maize Seeds the M.P Distributed to Farmers in her Constituency for Planting

At the beginning of the 2023 farming season precisely in late march and early August, she donated hundreds of packets of maize seeds to farming groups in Ku, Mbemi, Sang, Njinibi, Meh and Fringyeng to boost the agricultural sector of her constituency. She will later descend to her Constituency for a two day meet the people tour to help resolve a misunderstanding that erupted between the business community of Mbengwi and the new Divisional Officer that resulted to the administrator sealing shops for respecting Monday ghost towns and consequently the rest of the other economic operators also closed up their shops in solidarity with the victims. 

The impass went on for close to a month as the D.O insisted all shops must open on Mondays collectively or remain closed collectively. Meetings upon meetings will later be held yielding to no fruitful end. When Hon. Foo Ngang Prodencia flew into Mbengwi on Wednesday May 30th, she went straight to the Mbon motor park and market accompanied by the mayor, discussing with the traders on how to break even from the stalemate. The very next day, Thursday June 1st, Foo Ngang joint the rest of the Mbengwi council executive, forces of law and order, the administration at the Mbon motor park to address the population. At the end of the dialogue session, all sealed shops were unsealed.

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia and Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam in the Mbon Market

Foo Ngang Prodencia Addressing the Population at the Mbon Park. On her Right in Suit is the D.O of Mbengwi, Ngidah Lawrence Che

Hundreds Gathered at the Mbon Park to be Addressed by the M.P, Mayor, D.O

With barely two more years to go before her first mandate ends, the Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency has been living no stone unturned to ensure she meets up to the expectations of her constituents. Elections are expected to take place in 2025 except otherwise. If she wins the confidence of the electorate, certainly she will likely be gaining a second mandate except otherwise.