 |
| Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwie of Bda III Council |
Since the creation of the Bamenda III sub-divisional Council
never has students and youths been so at the center of council activities like
in 2014. This 2014 goes into history in the Bamenda III municipality as the
year the council allocated over 1.5million for the entertainment and occupation
of youths and students. This allocation mayor Fongu Cletus T. told hilltopvoices
was an opportunity for these young people to continue developing their talents
in football and athletics. For the many who participated it was a “great experience” and for others “meeting friends and love ones during the
holidays was fulfilling”.
The young Mayor who
has started his own tenure after completing that of pioneer Mayor (late Prince
Amandou Pius Ngwa) was wrongly or rightly described by many as wearing
oversized shoes. Surely the shoe could be oversized but for indigent people
like him, all you need do is change the shoe and get the one that sizes your
properly. His predecessor did not get into sports this much; he has. This can
be a change of shoe. According to Mayor Fongu, providing an opportunity for” young people to develop life skills are not something
to be ignored”. Being a Man with his cultural bearings intact, he baptized
the sports events “the Fon Azehfor
Multi-disciplinary and Development Sports Competition”. Mayor Fongu
believes in Bernard Fonlon’s principle of “a
man without a culture is like a man without a soul” and thinks bringing the youths under this canopy can remind
them of their very origin and cultural values. The friendly romance on Sunday
August 31, 2014 at the football finals of the Fon Azehfor Multi-disciplinary and Development Sport Competition between
the Fon of Nkwen, other Fons, his traditional notables, quarter heads and his
subjects is a testimony that the decision was right. “I like
our Fon. See him. He is young, charismatic, energetic and dynamic” a
student told hilltopvoices.
 |
| Fon Azehfor III of NKwen at Competition Opening Ceremony |
It is also this year
for the first time that the council provided holiday jobs to over 80youths from
various cultural backgrounds within the subdivision. The holiday jobs thing for
students has been there but for a young council with very little means like the
Bamenda III council to get up to 80 means there is the political will to help
the youths. One will wonder how it happened after the reduction of council taxes
(park fees and global taxes) by the President of the Republic recently. Someone
said where there is a will there is a
way. Many of the beneficiaries will now
go back to school with a smile.
At a recent midyear council session aimed at evaluating the first
six months of 2014, it emerged that some 50students will benefit from the
council scholarship for the 2014/2015 academic year. Hopefully the merited will
get their scholarship.
Though many young people are of the opinion that there is
need for a Council multimedia center, a sports complex, business center and clean
available water, an improved waste management system within the municipally,
opening of roads, it is worth mentioning that the recently inaugurated handicraft
village by the Government within Bamenda III, imported water equipment from
Germany by the council, the new council truck and an excavator may provide a
solution to some of these challenges.
“Lord Mayor we thank
you for being there for us…. We promise to be for you as well when need be.”
A holiday job beneficiary told reporters.