Briefs:Cameroon OIC Kumbo Budgets FCFA 12 M For 2009

Compiled by Peter Adi Fonte

Interest Group Members, IGM, of the Cameroon Opportunities Industrialisation Centre, COIC, Kumbo, recently voted FCFA 12.6 million as budget for 2009.

The meeting chaired by the Board Chair, Jerome Nsa, was presided over by the First Assistant Prefect of Bui Division, Innocent Moni Nanje. He challenged interest group members to put all hands on deck to enable the school progress. He told them to publicise the school and attract more students.

The Board Chair, on his part, said the meeting was called to right the wrongs of the past, and open dialogue with stakeholders to seek ways and means to help the underprivileged children in the community. He revealed that the Programme Director and Finance Officer have been sanctioned for alleged mismanagement of school resources.

Nsa said their target in 2009 is to admit 150 trainees into the Centre. He disclosed that Navti Foundation has offered to equip their computer laboratory, while one member of Shundzev offered to pay rents for a year so that the institution could be revived. He appealed to the Bui administration and Council to carve out a suitable plot for the construction C.O.I.C.

He appealed to the old and would be members to be active and current in their financial obligations. The school, which operates Hotel Catering, Auto Body, Welding and Auto Mechanics, intends to include other disciplines like Building Construction, Agriculture and Computer Studies.

Accident Kills Five In Jakiri

A vehicle conveying over 40 youths, who went to welcome pilgrims from Mecca, somersaulted on its way to Jakiri, recently, killing five people and injuring several other passengers. The first victim, one Ishiaho, died on arrival at the Banso Baptist Hospital. Another victim, Abdu Rahman, a Form III student of GTHS Kumbo, died December 29, 2008.

The driver of the vehicle said to be of Nigerian nationality reportedly died of internal bleeding. Two other persons whose identities have not been gotten are alleged to have died in a hospital where most of the victims of the accident were rushed. The vehicle with foreign registration number, XA-433-AUY, somersaulted and crashed in front of the house of one late Stephen Mawo.

A girl, whose only name The Post got as Solange, aged about 20, living in the house, narrowly escaped death. The girl was reportedly heading to a nearby tap when she suddenly found people falling on her from the ill-fated vehicle. She managed to creep to her veranda while raising an alarm. She was rushed to the Banso Baptist Hospital where she received first aid treatment.

Djottin Fon Passes On After 63-year Reign

Fon Nfon Philip Ngam II Ntangri of Djottin - Fonti, enthroned in 1945 at the age of 24, passed on recently. Before his enthronement, he was a trader in kola nuts, hides and skins and salt between Cameroon and Nigeria from 1940 to 1945. He is said to be the first Fon in Bui Division to clothe his wives and he allegedly paid a fine for the act.

During his reign, Fon Ngam II supervised the digging of the Nso-Djottin road, the Ngamadzen water project and the construction of the Mgey bridge. He served as a member of the Nso Native Court Council and Ndop Bafut Council under the then Bamenda Division and the Nso District Council.

He also served as the Chairman of the Tender Board appointed by the then West Cameroon Land Tribunal and elected chairman for the settlement of land disputes in the then Bamenda and Buea Divisions. Late Nfon Ngam II left behind six wives, about 100 children and many grandchildren to mourn him. He has been succeeded by 70-year-old Nfon Bernard Ngalim Wvujm II.