Sisterspeak237 Rewards Budding Talents In Cameroon Journalism

Bamenda, Cameroon—Sisterspeak237, a blog born out of a desire to bring to an open space engaging discussions about women’s issues in Cameroon and Africa has rewarded some nine pupil journalists who emerged best in its pioneer national story telling contest.

Laureates pose with initiator, members of the jury

The award ceremony at the CBC Centre in Nkwen Bamenda on Friday May 6 was the culmination of activities by the blog and award concept owner, Comfort Mussa to mark the 2016 edition of the World Press Freedom.

Through the award which the initiator promised to make it an annual feature, Sisterspeak237 hopes to reignite the passion for journalism, encourage journalists to pursue stories that are not often told in mainstream media, “and most importantly, contribute to uplifting of professional and ethical standards of journalism in Cameroon.”

The jury had received over 35 entries from students who contested in three categories.

“We had to listen to, read, and watch the entries. Thematic focus for the contest included Women issues, Agriculture and Social Inclusion,” Omer Songwe, chairperson of the board of judges explained as he announced the nine best entries-three per category.

“Sisterspeak237 and its partners will mentor the winners and give feedback to all those who submitted articles,” he promised.

The Laureates

Described by organizers as the topmost award of the contest, Ngwe Bertine of the Higher Institute for Business and Management Sciences (HIBMS), Bamenda emerged first in the social inclusion category. She was followed by Teno Cynthia of National Polytechnic Bambui in the second place and Bafon Colette; a visually impaired student of HIBMS came third.

The initiator of the Story Telling Contest, Comfort Mussa said the social inclusion category was so dear to her, in part because she has close friends and family members who are persons with disabilities.

“Persons with disabilities are underrepresented in most spheres and their stories are rarely told. Even when their stories are told, often times the language used, stigmatizes the people with disabilities,” Mussa said.

In the Women’s issues category, Nformi Sandre of HIBMS Bamenda won the first prize and was respectively followed in the second and third positions by Awasiri Promise Forsuh and Atah Carol Moh of National Polytechnic Bambui.

Hon Lucas Tasi hands second prize to Atah Carol 

“I dedicate to award to all the women. Life holds more than what you see, so don’t give up,” Atah Carol said.

The winners Commy Mussa said will receive mentorship from Sisterspeak. “They will also have the opportunity to pitch and report stories for Tiptopstars.”

In the Agriculture category, Nsoseka Andrew of the University of Buea grabbed the first prize while Chrysantus Ndikum of HIBMS Bamenda and Num Rogers of National Polytechnic Bambui respectively won second and third prizes respectively.

Lifetime Achievement

The laureates in all categories backed home cash and material prizes from Sisterspeak237 and its partners.

Olive Shang's grand daughter, Ingrid (middle) receives her grand Ma's award

Winners of the social inclusion category were also offered one week internship with the Socio Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEEP).

Retired veteran journalist, Olive Shang was recognized with a ‘Lifetime Achievement award.’ She has made an outstanding lifetime contribution to journalism in Cameroon and used the media to amplify the voices of the voiceless, the jury announced.

“It was a wonderful and enriching experience for me and jury members,” the chairperson of the jury said.

Report by Ndi Eugene Ndi, photos by Sisterspeak237

MTN Launches Young Graduate Program In Cameroon

Douala, Cameroon—MTN Cameroon has announced the launch of its “MTN Young Graduate Programme” which targets young, brilliant and ambitious university and higher professional school graduates.

Some graduates at #MTNDigitalVillage in Yaounde on May 17

The objective of this 3-year programme is to attract and develop young talented graduates to constitute a pool of future leaders, a release from the company on Thursday said.

The document mailed to our newsroom by the Communications Manager of MTN Cameroon, Massey Njiti Bongang said further that the company will develop graduates in different specialties to address MTN’s business needs across its global footprint.

All “MTN Young Graduates” will be required to participate in various high-impact, formal and on-the-job development activities during the first 24 months, with a view to ensuring formal integration with existing talent and leadership pipelines by year end.

Subsidiary of the South African MTN Group, MTN Cameroon is a provider of communication and payment solutions, present in Cameroon since February 2000.

“I Gave My Life To The Lord,”—Enoh Eyong

Yaoundé, Cameroon—Cameroon midfielder and assistant captain of the national soccer team, Enoh Eyong has revealed though he didn’t grow up in a Christian home, he gave his life to the Lord. In an exclusive interview Ollie Baines, Co-founder of Cross The Line, the former Fulham and Ajax midfielder talks about his football career and Christian life. Read on

Enoh: "I gave my life to the Lord"

What was it like growing up and playing football in your home country of Cameroon?

“Growing up and playing football in Cameroon was very exciting, because as a kid I used to watch the likes of Rodger Miller & Samuel Eto’o, so football for every young person was a common reference. Kids would be playing football everywhere, in the house, on the roads, in schools, every boy and girl was playing football everywhere! I didn’t get serious about football until I was at college, then I was focused on it.”

Fast forward a few years and you’ve made a move to play for Ajax, was that your big career move?

“Yes, I would say that was my big career move to Ajax in 2008, I was playing in South Africa and before that I was in Cyprus and then before that I was in Cameroon. So my journey from Cameroon to Holland was definitely a big one, a big step for me and a huge platform. It was a big test for me because I wasn’t used to the platform. Ajax are a big European club who play Champions League football and with a huge history. It was surprising and exciting, but it was great.”

What was it like to be managed by Marco Van Basten?

“I remember when I came from Cape Town for a trial, I didn’t really know who the manager was and I was shocked Van Basten was the trainer. When you see the player he was and just the kind of goals he scored and now seeing him in the flesh was so exciting. I was able to work with him for 10 days in Amsterdam. For me, I was excited because the Lord said, “I will take you to many places to share the good news” and I was excited because he had taken me to Amsterdam and even if I have just 1 day, I will tell 1 person about Jesus and go back. It was a child-like excitement, I wanted to take everything in and to work with Van Basten was a true honour for me.”

Whilst at Ajax, you moved to Fulham. How did you enjoy your stint in the Premier League?

“Playing at Ajax, I saw a lot of Premier League football and I really wanted the opportunity. I loved the league, I loved the way football was played, it was a league I knew I could do well in. God willingly, in 2013, I was contacted by my former Ajax manager, Martin Jol who said, did I want to have an experience of the Premier League? Of course, I said yes and I loved it. It was a great year. Obviously I joined on loan and there had to be an agreement between Ajax and Fulham over a transfer which didn’t get well, so I ended back at Ajax.”

What’s been your career highlight?

“I think I’d have to give a spiritually focused answer to this. I’ve been given a platform to share the love of Jesus Christ wherever I go. There’s been a lot of opportunities that the Lord has given me in my career. I remember going to the 2010 World Cup Finals with Cameroon which as a player was amazing, but also for another reason. There was a DVD being made on the World Cup called “The Hand of God”. They were interviewing a number of players who believed in Jesus. For me, I didn’t just want to be a part of it and talk, I wanted to do as much as possible. So they came to my house, filmed how I lived, how I trained, how I evangelised on the streets in Cameroon and they also took videos of me praying with my team-mates. I wanted it to be something that was real for people to see. I wanted them to see a practical life of a footballer living his life for Jesus. So this was a great platform for me to share my faith. We also did another film session at the Brazil 2014 World Cup where I met with other Christian players like Kaka and it was made into 300 languages to be shared. So I am thankful the Lord permitted me to play in the World Cup Finals, but also to give me a platform to share my faith.

In terms of career, it was in 2010/2011, Ajax hadn’t won the League in 7 years and I was a apart of the team who won it and it was just phenomenal.”

Best XI

GK – Carlos Kamini

RB – Geremi

CB – Nickolas Nkoulou

CB – Jan Vertonghen

LB – Thomas Vermaelen

CM – Jean Makoun

CM – Eyong Enoh

CM- Alexander Song

ST- Samuel Eto’o

ST – Dimitar Berbatov

ST- Luiz Suarez

Best player you’ve ever palyed with?

“No question of a doubt, it would be Samuel Eto’o. He is phenomenal. He always scores goals, no matter where he plays. Spain, Russia, Turkey; wherever he is, he is a goal scoring machine.”

Enoh and Eto'o Celebrate goal

Tell us how you become a Christian

“I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. My parents didn’t go to church and nor did any of my siblings. I grew up in a normal African home. There was no religious set up for a Sunday. I grew up as a young man knowing that there was a God, but I just never had experienced him or encountered his love. It took me right until the time I was at high school, there was this guy speaking to a few students and I remember just being struck by his voice. I stopped and listened to him speak for an hour and a half and I just couldn’t leave. I just listened to him speak about the love of God and the second he finished speaking, I just felt the Lord God come all over me and I had to surrender to him. Even though I was doing well in school, I had a comfortable home, I had food and water, I could dress properly; inside I knew there was a hunger for something in my soul, but I never knew how to get it. Until that day, when the Gospel came to me, that was the day that I knew that was the only thing that could quench that thirst. That day in the year 2000, I gave my life to the Lord.”

How do you use your career to spread the message of the Gospel?

“In Cameroon, most people believe that it is impossible for you to be a Christian and be a footballer. You would have to believe in some sort of witchcraft, to play football and have a faith. Parents would pull their children out of football because they believed they would die or something, it was that serious. So when I became a Christian, I began to pray. I was not sure what I was going to do. I will never forget the day when the Lord said, “I am going to use you as an example to the world, to be a Christian in the world of football”. So that was one of the objectives God said to me. People think you can’t be a committed Christian in football because of all the temptations around. All the gambling and drinking, women and clubbing, people don’t think it’s possible. The next thing is, God told me I had to let go of the “idol” of football. I remember, there were some days where I had to contemplate whether to go and play football or go to church. One day I left the house to play football with some friends, I was walking past my Church when God said, “You’re going to have to let go of this idol of football first, then I can use you”. That was the day I stopped worshipping football. I watched, played and thought about football so much, until that day when I started filling it with God. The third thing, is the life I live as a footballer. Being different is important, I get players asking me, “why are you like this? Why don’t you curse? How do you do it?”. So through peoples questioning, I can talk about my faith to them. I can tell them that God is more than willing to change their lives in the same way that he has done for me.”

Favourite Bible Verse?

“People give you their testimonies according their background and the environment they came from. For me, you couldn’t be a Christian and be a footballer. There was such persecution there. I was worried that I had a problem, because I wanted to be a Christian footballer, so I asked God, “do I have a problem?” and he said “no”. So I then asked him, “Ok, if I don’t have a problem, then speak to me through your word” and I was shown Colossians chapter 1 which brought me liberty, it says this, “All things were made for him and by him” – that gave the boldness to know that God gave me the chance and gift to use football for his glory.”

What does the future hold for Eyong Enoh?

“John chapter 3 talks about the how God gives us a picture of our future and our end, but it does not give us details of the in-between. That is where we need to have faith. God showed me a picture that I will be preaching the Gospel to many people. He is using football as a vehicle in me to tell others about Christ and that is just the beginning. Who knows where he will lead me, every-day is a new opportunity and even if I bring one person to faith, I will be excited about that day.”

Culled from Cross The Line, original interview here.

MTN Resolutely Committed To Fostering Cameroon’s Digital Economy

Yaoundé, Cameroon—Leading telecom operator, MTN Cameroon is showcasing its digital innovations at the Yaounde Digital Village; the company’s exhibition stand at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications’ android exhibition running from May 16-19,  2016 at the National Museum in the Cameroon capital.

Visitors at #MTNDigitalVillage in Yaounde

The event has been organised on the sidelines of the international conference dubbed “Invest in Cameroon, a land of attractiveness” taking place in the Central African nation from May 17-18.

“With a surface area of 200m², the #MTNDigitalVillage is presenting the company’s Business solutions for startups, SMEs, multinationals and Mobile Money” the company said in a statement on Monday.

 Equally, as a leading enabler of the growth of Cameroon’s digital economy, MTN is also offering visibility to young Cameroonian digital stakeholders on its stand such as CloudBank, Camtrack, AgriHub, TheFarmTech, LiveU, Kiro’o Games, Kwizii, CamairDroneBoy, the statement mailed to our newsroom by Massey Njiti Bongang, Corporate Communications Manager of MTN Cameroon added.

“As an innovative African digital services provider, MTN is resolutely committed to fortressing the digital economy in Cameroon and growing its ecosystem in partnership with the government,” Georges Mpoudi, General Manager of MTN Business said of the company’s participation at the event.

He said the company also believes in the potential of local talent and promotes young digital entrepreneurs to develop content and applications that respond to the growing needs of the Cameroonian people.

“We are proud to be a major driver of this digital transformation through the provision of infrastructure like the WACS optical fibre landing station, 4G technology, as well as innovative products and services which are revolutionising the way Cameroonians work, play and live. This, while enhancing the competiveness of local businesses and unlocking the potential of the country as a digital hub in the Central African sub-region”.

In addition to the exhibition, MTN promises project fairs, digital animations, ICT training workshops and B to B meetings at the 3-day Digital Village.

Cameroon Nursing Mothers Embrace Fight Against Malnutrition, Anaemia

Garoua, Cameroon—Somewhere in the small Lade Gore village, 64 km from Garoua, chief town of Cameroon’s Far North region, Yvette Goulo sits on a small stool between two huts with grass roofs. She and Maxime Vondou, her robust 2 and a half years son are surrounded by 11 nursing mothers fondling their babies in their arms. Their babies are about 6months old or younger.

Yvette Goulo stands up to emphasis a point

Goulo tells them how vital it is to feed new born babies exclusively with breast milk until they are 6months old. Vondou is her fourth child and his older siblings are as healthy as he is.

It is on this basis that she was chosen to be a member of support teams created to sensitise women in their communities on proper child feeding and hygiene.

This, within the framework of an on-going implementation of the pilot phase of a UNICEF programme against malnutrition and anemia in children between the ages of 6 to 23 months and coupled with the promotion of proper feeding for younger children.

The program is known as the ‘Programme de Fortification Almentaire a Domicile et de Promotion de l’Alimentation du Nourisson et du Jeune Enfant’ in French.

Guiyasse Diane, one of the nursing mothers at the sensitisation meeting with Goulo, tells this reporter that she doesn’t miss a chance to listen to her.

 “This is my first child and he is five months old. I want him to be as healthy as the children of the Light Mother (the nickname given to exemplary mothers chosen to sensitise others)

Like her son, 9000 other children of ages between 0-6 months have been targeted in four health districts; Pitoa, Bibeni, Golombe and Ngong heath districts in the North and South regions.

Andre Temnga, Chief of the Bibemi Integrated Health District says the implementation of the programme in his district is satisfactory. “One good thing is that the communities are engaged, they have a sense of belonging to the initiative.  They are sensitised by people in their community.”

Temnga says, just as it is done in other participating districts, the target mothers or guardians are in regular contact with support teams and action team members, otherwise known as community health agents; and there is a cordial relation between them, he adds.

A total of 160 health agents and 1,297 community health agents have been trained so far to impart knowledge on nursing mothers in the target districts.

Keyou Pascal, 26-year-old community health agent in Bibemi tells this reporter after a session with nursing mothers that: “We had a few problems at the beginning, but now everything is fine. Some of the problems stemmed from the fact that some men did not want their women to attend sensitisation meetings for undisclosed reasons; but we managed to convince them.”

Five Star Pap

Keyou says he usually goes out to meet parents accompanied by 33-year old Wadjalle. They both testify they were only able to convince people in the community because they are known to be part of them.

Keyou says: “We had cultures which forbade children from consuming certain nutritive foods like eggs and fish and there was also a misconception that the first breast milk of every woman who just put to birth was poisonous and had to be milked and thrown away.

“Now women in our community call the first milk ‘the baby’s vaccine’. Certain detrimental beliefs and cultural practices are being abandoned” says Wadjelle. He also told us that this positive change facilitated the acceptability of what they call “Five Star Pap”.

‘Five Star Pap’ is a feeding pattern UNICEF taught women. It provides locally enriched soft food to children above 6months.It is a mix of milled fish, groundnut, oil, fruit and millet.

VitaMin: The New Buzzword

A 2011 government survey showed 60% of children between the ages of 6 to 23 months in Cameroon suffer from anemia while a third of the 122 of 1000 children who die in the country before their fifth birthday, die of malnutrition related diseases.

Recent findings show some 40% of children in the North region suffer from chronic malnutrition or stunted growth. 68.2 % of children between six and nine month old suffer from anemia.

In a bid to hastily turn the tide, UNICEF and the public health ministry, in July 2015, began distributing micronutrients to mothers and guardians of children between 6 to 23 months to reinforce its home fortification and Vitamin A supplementation program against malnutrition and anemia.

Nursing mothers receiving packets of VitaMin micronutrients

The home fortification program involves, in addition to the Five Star Pap promotion, a door-to-door distribution of packets of a food supplement branded VitaMin- a mixture of vitamins A, B, E, C, B1, B2, B6, B12 (Vita)  and Minerals such as iron, zinc, selenium and other minerals (Min).

The free distribution of the micronutrient powder which is added into cooked food was later halted.

Beneficiary mothers like Eliane Toudoukou of Langui Pionnier, says they were told the Pitoa health district was out of stock.

Earlier in January this year the distribution resumed. Toudoukou says her 17-month old baby has grown healthier, adding two more kilograms to his weight.

After a tour of the Langui Pionnier, Loppéré, Bounguéré, Langui Mofou, Wouro Bocko, Roumdé, Wafago, Wouro Kari, and Laddé Goré areas in the Pitoa and Bibemi health districts, we observed that the new word in every mouth is VitaMin.

Gouprou Rosaline says her daughter; Garcia Hagais happier, stronger and has more appetite for food. “Even if the health district runs out of free stock, I will not hesitate to buy the micronutrients for my child if it is sold”.

Adding a sachet of VitaMin into the Five Star Pap while her child looks on from a nearby mat, Dougoula Angele tells this reporter she is confortable enriching her child’s food with the supplement because it is free of charge and more importantly because it was prescribed by health officials.

The home fortifications program targets 43,800 children in the North and South regions.

Bello Lougga, Nutritionist at the North regional delegation for public health, says the aim of the community driven UNICEF programme is to reduce the prevalence rate of acute malnutrition in the regions by 10% by 2017.

Observers say the level of success recorded so far in the implementation of the pilot phase of the programme indicates that it would make sense for government and donors to begin laying the groundwork for a nationwide implementation.

By Mbom Sixtus, on special assignment in Garoua

Diane And Louis Anye Solemnize Two-Year Relationship

Bamenda, Cameroon—The ceremonial hall of the Santa Council in the Mezam Division of the Northwest was on Saturday May 7, 2016 filled to its brim by family, friends and well-wishers who had trouped in to witness what observers later described as “the wedding of the year.”

Binwe and Anye pose with presiding mayor

It marked the beginning of life in civil union by Diane Binwe and Louis Anye. Hitherto the sealing of the union, the couple had joined the crowd amidst joyous bawls.

The couple was followed by the presiding Second Deputy Mayor of the Santa council who, after a brief counseling session, saw Binwe and Anye publicly declare their love for one another before it was authenticated by the municipal authority.

After a brief photo session, Binwe and Anye’s journey into matrimony ensued at Njong village, Mile Twelve, Santa.

The Reception

At the court yard of Middle Man Lodge, all had been put in place for the wedding reception which was chaired by Mr. Pihoh David.

Binwe, Anye and their witnesses

In a brief encouragement sermon, the Reverend Dobgima of Presbyterian Church Santa hailed the newlywed for obeying God’s command.

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house….May you live to see your children’s children,” the man of God blessed the couple.

Sharing his forty years of marital experience, the chairman of the reception urged Binwe and Anye to “always solve their problems in the bedroom.”

On behalf of the bride’s family, Mr. John Ngu, a twin, said; “I know these my children will not only give birth to twins, but triplets.”  Pa Isaac who spoke on behalf of the groom’s family promised his in laws, “you have given us a jewel of a woman, I want to assure you that my family and I-not only Louis alone will take care, protect and nourish this jewel so that it can grow.”

Married to ‘all the girls’

On behalf of ‘all the ladies’; friends of the bride, Mankah Mirabel said; “it is every woman’s joy to get married, and that our friend and sister is getting married today means all of us are getting married. We are so happy and wish them the best they can ever wish for themselves,” she said before ‘threatening’ the groom, “If you don’t treat our friend well, we shall come and take her back.”

Binwe and Anye dancing to the reception ground

As if to he was holding briefs for the groom to respond to the bride’s friends, Ndansi Elvis, friend of the groom showered praises on the groom whom he described as “just the best any woman can dream about…he is a very gentle man, a loving guy, a caring person.”

The civil wedding of Binwe and Anye was the culmination of a two-year love story. Happy Matrimony!!

By Ndi Eugene Ndi, just back from Santa

Pandemics Impede Implementation Of Malnutrition Program In Cameroon

Yaoundé, Cameroon—Pandemics such as malaria, diarrhea and other hygiene related diseases are hindering the implementation of an Italian government-funded program against malnutrition and anemia in toddlers in Cameroon, say UNICEF officials.

Jeanne Edjegue of UNICEF told reporters at a press briefing in Yaoundé April 28 that this is one of the conclusions deduced from feedback provided by community agents involved in the implementation of the pilot phase of the program in the North and South regions of Cameroon most hit by malnutrition and anemia.

The program dubbed ‘Programme de Fortification Almentaire a Domicile et de Promotion de l’Alimentation du Nourisson et du Jeune Enfant’ in French, entails the distribution of free nutritive supplements otherwise known as micronutrients,  to nursing mothers for children between the ages of 6 to 23months.

The nutritive powder added into cooked food and given to children 30 minutes later is called VitaMin. It contains 15 vitamins, zinc and mineral salts that prevent diarrhea.

Packet of VitaMin Micronutrients

Andre Tonga, a nutritionist from the Ministry of Public Health told reporters at the briefing that parents are advised not to feed children suffering from malaria, diarrhea and even acute malnutrition with VitaMin. He said it is not a treatment for any disease and that even children suffering from acute malnutrition would continue to suffer if parents attempt to treat them with VitaMin.

Edjegue of UNICEF stressed that the product was an emergency measure to curb malnutrition and the prevalence of anemia among children between the ages of 6 and 23 months. She said nursing mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their children till they are 6months old before they begin feeding them with food enriched with VitaMin.

She admitted that children in Cameroon suffer from malnutrition not because of lack of food but because of poor feeding patterns.  UNICEF is also engaged in helping parents to master proper feeding patterns for children, so that the distribution of nutritive supplements would no longer be necessary in a near future, Edjegue said.

She also said: “We have decided to reinforce the fight against malaria and promote WASH (Water, hygiene and sanitation) programs in order to ease the implementation of the program. We continue to encourage citizens to use treated mosquito nets for the right purpose and not for fishing”. 

The Beneficiaries

Between January and April 2016, the first 173,859 sachets of the product have been distributed to households in the health districts earmarked for the pilot phase of the program which started in 2014 with research findings, and is scheduled to end in January 2017.

The beneficiaries include the Ngong, Pitoa, Golombe and Bibemi health districts.

Nursing mothers in the Minawao Camp in Far north Cameroon, 2015

Reporters were told the two regions selected for the pilot program were observed to be representative of the entire country situation.

Parents who are already benefiting from the program are said to have testified that the supplement boost their children’s strength, appetite, growth, happiness and alertness.

The decision of UNICEF in the implementation of the program in collaboration with the public health ministry, are based on the most recent available statistic on the prevalence of malnutrition and anemia in Cameroon, which statistics date as far back as 2011.

Prevalence Rate Of Malnutrition

According to the records, 60% of children between the ages of 6 to 23 months in Cameroon suffer from anemia; a third of the 122 of 1000 children who die in Cameroon before their fifth birthday die of malnutrition related diseases.

The North region has 40.2 % and 68.2 % prevalence rate of malnutrition and anemia respectively while the South region has a recorded percentage of 33.1 % and 73.6 %.

The other regions would benefit from the program only after a successful pilot phase in the North and south regions.

Other regions severely hit by anemia include the South West region with 60.5 %, Adamawa with 61.9 %, far north region 63.5%, and the east region with 66.8% prevalence rate.

By Mbom Sixtus in Yaounde