Day: June 3, 2023

Bafoussam: Population sensitized on environmental protection, health risks

The population of the city of Bafoussam was sensitized to the harmful effects of the use of plastic packaging. They were also encouraged to keep their environments off, of plastic waste, as means of environmental protection.

This was during an awareness walk against the use of plastic packaging and collection which took place in the city of Bafoussam on Thursday, June 1, 2023, prior to the commemoration of the 51st edition of the World Environment Day on June 5, 2023.

This year’s Environment Day is commemorated under the theme “Solution to Plastic Pollution”.

Throughout the walk, in addition to the collection of plastic packaging and tree planting, essential messages on the consequences of the use of plastic materials on human health and the environment were passed across.

The public walk was led by the secretary general at the office of the West Regional Governor, Adrey EPENTE TAZEU.

The secretary-general said that “this sensitization is to help the population to have the habit not only to stop the use of these plastics but if they are used they should be properly disposed of. They should avoid disastrous consequences, especially in their health which is caused by plastic usage, non-biodegradable packaging, and plastic pollution”.

Still linked to the celebration of the 51st edition of World Environment Day, some 500 plants were planted in Bamelo in the district of Babadjou.

The apotheosis of this whole week of activities was scheduled to take place on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Biya receives new Ambassadors at Unity Palace, years after COVID-19 restrictions

The new Ambassadors to Cameroon are set to deepen the relationship between their country and Cameroon.

Received at the Unity Palace on June 2, 2023, were five new accredited Ambassadors to Cameroon. Their Highnesses, Armando Kote Echuanca, designated Ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Kim Jonghan of the Republic of Korea, Eric Jacquemin of the Kingdom of Belgium, Mohammed Karim Ben Becher of Tunisia, and Volkan Isikci of the Republic of Turkey.

These Ambassadors presented their letters of credentials to the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya.

The new heads of diplomatic missions were received separately by President Paul Biya for the presentation of the letters of credence and a brief exchange.

The Head of state was assisted by the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of The Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, the Minister of External Relations Lejeune Mbella Mbella, the Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo and the Commander of the presidential guard Beko’o Abondo Charles.

This tradition at the Unity Palace was renewed after being interrupted by restrictions related to COVID-19.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Anglophone conflict, fight against Boko Haram ranked amongst most neglected crises in the world

The conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions and the fight against Boko Haram insurgencies in the Far Noth region were ranked in the 8th position amongst the most neglected displacement crises in the world in 2022.

This is contained in a report published by the Norwegian Refugee Council on June 1, 2023.

According to the report, three criteria were taken into consideration to measure the level of neglect. First was the lack of international political will characterized by the number of UN resolutions, peacekeeping missions, diplomatic will, or international discussions on these crises.

For this aspect, the NRC notes that “the political will of the international community to contribute to political solutions remained weak” and concluded that in the absence of an international initiative to find political solutions to the crisis the level of needs cannot show signs of improvement.

The second is the lack of media attention. The NRC notes that the level of media attention was about 0.5% in 2021, and remained very low in 2022.

The percentage was calculated by the number of media coverage against the number of people displaced by each crisis, using the latest figures from UNHCR and the NRC’s IDMC (Internal Travel Monitoring Centre)

The last is the lack of humanitarian funding. It highlighted that for the 2022 financial year, funding for the crisis remained limited, with international donors covering only 55% of the humanitarian response.

This was in a context where at the beginning of 2022, “3.9 million people in Cameroon needed help, a figure that rose to 4.7 million at the end of the year “the report revealed.

According to Human Rights Watch, as of August 2022, the 6 years conflict has recorded 598,000 displaced persons and at least 2 million people need humanitarian aid in these regions.

The UN estimates that Cameroon needs about 244 billion FCFA this year to help persons in all humanitarian crises including the Boko Haram insurgencies in the Far North, the influx of Central African refugees in the East, and the Anglophone conflict.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Woman who beat her child to death under custody

Yvonne Mulango who beat her child to death in Kumba, Meme division in the South West region, is being questioned by the Police.

She was rescued from a mob who beat her to near death, for killing her child. Neighbors said Mulango has been maltreating her seven-year-old child but they did not know it would come to the extent of killing her own baby.

Police forced her to carry the deceased to the mortuary.

“You maltreated her until her death, it’s your cross, you will carry it. You must put her in the mortuary. This is her own child, she personally gave birth to her…we are at the mortuary, and the population wanted to kill her but we saved her life and asked her to take the dead child to the mortuary herself,” a police officer said.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Hon. Cyprian Mbaya Awudu passes unto glory

One of the strongest pillars of the Social Democratic Front party, SDF, Hon. Dr. Cyprian Mbaya Awudu, has died.

His death was announced by the Fon of Njap, from where he originated. Njap is a village in Donga Mantung Division, North West, Cameroon. He was a titled man, called Ta Nformi Yinkfu.

The Fon of Njap revealed that the former Member of Parliament died in Dallas- Texas, after a protracted illness.

Hon. Dr. Ta Nformi Yinkfu Cyprian Mbaya Awudu, on November 19, 2019, backed out of the race for another mandate as MP for Donga Mantung Central covering Nkambe and Ndu Constituencies. He had served three mandates as MP under the SDF.

The General President of the Wimbum Cultural and Development Association, WICUDA, Nforgwei Rogers, said, this is a great loss not only to the family but “the entire Wimbum community that has lost one their fathers.”

The Fon of Chup noted that the passing of the politician “is a big shock to the whole Wimbum community and Cameroon at large.” he described him as a hard worker, “who is not indebted directly or indirectly to him. That’s an example of a man of integrity, a bulldozer that the Wimbum community will ever cry, not to talk of his Warr family.”

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Permanent Exhibition Depicting Construction Art of Lalibela Rock-Hewn Churches Opened

A permanent exhibition that shows the construction art of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela was opened in Lalibela town today.

The exhibition organized under the theme “Lalibela Built by Faith” is expected to have a great value in extending the stay of visitors in the historical town. A “Sustainable Lalibela” project, which is being implemented with the the financial support of the French Development Agency since March 2021 to preserve Ethiopian cultural heritage, is also underway in Lalibela town.

The opening ceremony of the permanent exhibition was attended by senior federal and regional government officials, including Tourism State Minister Sileshi Girma, representatives of the French Embassy and the French Development Agency.

The five-year “Sustainable Lalibela” project with the support of the French government has been executed by the maintenance of the historical heritage of Lalibela and the heritage development of the city of Lalibela. An exhibition, which explored the entire history of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela and heritages through photo and virtual technology, was displayed for 2 months in Addis Ababa starting from September 2022.

At the time, senior government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and others visited the exhibition.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

FIFA boss congratulates Pinnick over OFR award

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has congratulated Amaju Pinnick, a former President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), for the conferment of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on him by former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Buhari had before his exit on May 29 honoured Pinnick and many others, including Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth; Mamman Daura and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, among others with the conferement of national honours.

Infantino in a letter personally signed and obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, stated that the award was a well-deserved honour which established Pinnick’s exemplary commitment to football development, particularly within the FIFA Council.

The letter reads: “By means of this letter, I have the great pleasure to express to you my warmest congratulations on the award of the prestigious Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) bestowed to you by His Excellency Mr Muhammadu Buhari.

“This is a well-deserved honour that rewards your passion and exemplary commitment at the service of the international football community, particularly within the FIFA Council.

“Your human qualities and skills, not to mention your remarkable contribution to the development of Nigerian, African and world football, deserve our admiration.

“Congratulating you once again for this important distinction, I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

CNS reaffirms commitment to personnel welfare, hails NOWA’s stride

Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, has promised to continue to prioritise welfare and well-being of officers and ratings of the Nigerian Navy and their families.

Gambo gave the assurance while inaugurating the Naval Officers Wives’ Association (NOWA) Shopping Complex at the Navy Barracks in Kuje Abuja, on Friday.

He also inaugurated the administrative building of the NOWA College at the barracks.

The CNS commended the NOWA President, Hajia Nana Gambo and members of her team for their foresight and commitment to supporting the service in addressing the welfare needs of personnel and their families.

He said the association had done so well in making significant impact on the wellbeing of the service and the wider society across the country.

According to him, notable among these, is the ongoing construction of a 200-bed capacity NOWA Women and Children Green Smart Hospital that commenced in June 2022 and the groundbreaking of NOWA Event Centre in Asokoro.

The naval chief said the shopping complex would enhance comfort and economic activities of the barracks community and its environs.

He urged the barrack community to take ownership of the structure and ensure proper maintenance of the complex for the benefit of all.

“Pertinently, various welfare projects of NOWA are enduring legacies, which have endeared the leadership of the association to well-meaning and good spirited individuals across Nigeria, especially as a key contributor to national development.

“I also avail this opportunity to pledge my continued support to collaborate and partner with the association for nation building, towards national prosperity,” he said.

In her remarks, the President of NOWA, Hajia Nana Gambo, said the event was another giant stride by the association in promoting commerce for the growth and development of Kuje and its environs.

She said that the shopping complex was built to enhance economic activities in the area and for the comfort of personnel.

She appreciated the naval chief for his unflinching support for NOWAS to achieve its mandate.

Also, the President, Nigerian Army Officers Wives’ Association (NAOWA), Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, commended the leadership of NOWA for establishing life impacting projects.

Yahaya said the complex would to improve socio-economic activities in the community and advised them to adequately maintain the facility.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria