Upfront

​PPRD President establishes visibility plan, commends Northwest population/partners! By Ruth Che Wachong  Speaking in Bamenda Tuesday, the Steering Committee President for the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions (PPRD) said the plan must be visible to primary beneficiaries and also to existing and future partners. Visibility of the plan according to Balungelu Confiance Ebune, will enhance implementation of projects in earmarked areas. Balungelu Confiance Ebune Steering Committee President PPRD The rehabilitation and equipment of schools and Health centers, Installation of 8 solar powered water points, support to poultry farmers, women cooperatives are amongst the projects so far executed by the plan in the North West since its creation in 2020. With instructions from the Prime Minister, Head of Government,  Chief Dr Dione Ngute, Confiance Ebune encouraged youths to be fully engaged in the plan as it is meant to impr...

​The 2023 Farming season for the Northwest Region has been launched and improved seeds distributed to farmers.  The event recently took place in Nkambe, Donga-Mantung Division. By Ruth Che Wachong   Presiding at the launching exercise, the Governor of the Northwest Region H.E Lele LAfrique lauded the population of Nkambe for their continuous interest in Agriculture, despite security challenges in the Region.      "I urge you to make proper use of the improved seeds and farm inputs received from the Government, through MIDENO. It is an open secret that the soil has never deceived anyone. So we need to scale up production in order to mitigate the consequences of the present crisis characterised by the abandonment of farms in rural areas where the population has been displaced" Governor Lele LAfrique told farmers. Lele LAfrique Adolphe  Governor North West Region      On his part, the Director General of MIDENO said MIDENO was created to improve...

​Wum Council examines, adopt 2022 accounts; Celebrate 65% project realization rate! By Ruth Che Wachong  The sum of Six hundred and twenty three Million, nine hundred and ninety four thousand , four hundred and sixteen CFA FRS (623,994,416), and Four hundred and Five million, two hundred and ninety eight thousand , two hundred and ninety four CFA FRS (405,298,294) has been validated as 2022 Revenue and Expenditure respectively for the Wum Council.  Dighambong Anthony  Mayor, Wum Council   Purchase of a complete computer set, and artifacts for the Wum Council Meseum, - Opening/rehabilitation of rural roads, - Construction of 32 sheds in the Wum main market , - Supply of 105 benches in some schools, and support to vulnerable persons in the Wum Municipality are some of the projects effectively executed from the 2022 budget. Mayor flanked by SDO and Councillors   Chairing the Council session Friday 10th March 2023, Mayor Dighambong Anthony acknowledged the effo...

The theme for 2023 International Women's Day is "Digital innovation and Technology for Gender Equality"  What then happens to the majority of Rural women who are considered not to have access to these technological facilities?  Upfront spoke to women from diverse backgrounds and brought together this report. ​Rural women are active agents of economic and social change and environmental protection. Unfortunately they are in many ways and to various degrees, constrained in their roles as farmers, producers, investors, caregivers and consumers. They play crucial roles ensuring food and nutrition security, eradicating rural poverty and improving the well-being of their families yet continue to face serious challenges as a result of gender-based stereotypes and discrimination that deny them equitable access to opportunities, resources, assets and services.    Reacting to this years theme, Digital Literacy Trainer, Rosaline Obah says  "Digital innovation and technolog...

​At launch of 2023 Women's Day activities, MIDENO women called to be technologically conscious. By Ruth Che Wachong in Bamenda       Speaking on the 2023 International Womens day theme "Digital Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality ", Mr Atibuaghesamo Micheal, a Technological Expert and Agricultural Technician dwelled on how women can leverage on technology for economic and social development. He adviced women to use technology positively so as to increase sales, brand visibility, through content creation, graphic designing, amongst others.  " Everything about technology lies in your smartphone. Graphic designing is presently one of the highest paid skills; more women should engage in this to generate income" Atibuaghesamo Micheal tells participants at the roundtable conference. Power point presentation by Atibuaghesamo Michael Technological Expert/Agricultural Technician.     He added that in the domain of social development, women c...

​Health: Hope for Cleft patients as Northwest Regional Assembly signs partnership with Smile Train. By Ruth Che Wachong  Cleft patients in the Northwest Region shall henceforth enjoy free medical care and follow up. This is one of the fallouts of a partnership between the Northwest Regional Assembly and Smile Train, an NGO whose mission is to fight against Cleft lip stigmatization. Professor Fru Angwafor III of NWRA and Dr Nicole Bouba shake hands after signing the MoU     Children born with Cleft lip have speech and sound deficiencies,  which can be handled if reported to the appropriate authorities/ hospital. The MoU shall educate people about prevention, management and treatment of Cleft lip. Children born with Cleft    Speaking to the Press Thursday, the Director of Smile Train West and Central Africa, Dr Nicole Bouba says there are over 800 cases of cleft birth in Cameroon annually. And children born with cleft are usually isolated and discriminated up...

​Wum 2023 Council Budget: Health, Education, Agriculture, Top Priorities By Ruth Che Wachong Sectors such as Health, Education,  Agriculture, Water and Energy shall in 2023 experience a boost as there constitute 54.88% of the Nine hundred Million CFA FRS budgeted to run Wum Council in 2023. Dighambong Anthony Mvo Mayor, Wum Council Christened " The Budget of Local Economic Development and Youth Empowerment"  the 2023 budget balances in revenue and expenditure stands at the sum of Nine hundred and Ninety-eight Million, Five hundred thousand (998.500.000) CFA FRS. Mayor Dighambong Anthony Mvo believes that the 2023  budget execution will go a long way to develope the Wum Municipality, as jobs will be created and youths empowered enhanced through different development programs. Councilors at the Budgetary Session   The installation of Solar lights at the Bu Health Center and street lights in Wum Central, Support to 3 Common Initiative Groups (CIG), Supply of benches, ta...