By Bakah Derick
The Fon of Nkwen has handed gifts of diabetic materials to over 100 children in his Fondom. HRH Fon Azehfor III handed the items at the Nkwen Palace on Sunday 3 September 2023; eve of school resumption.
"We want all the children in this Fondom and subdivision to go back to school, whether you are internally displaced or a child from Nkwen. All of us must collectively work together to ensure that they all go back to school because they are the future... every child needs education." Fon Azehfor III told The Hilltop Mail adding that there are plans to reach out to more children if the funds are available.
The items handed to the children include school bags, books, pens, pencils and rulers
Fon Azehfor III, himself a teacher has used the outing to drum up the importance of Technical Industrial and Vocational Education as well as the education of the girl child.
Presenting two of his subjects; Bernadette Ndi and Tamambang Seraphine, both senior officials with the Cameroon General Certificate of Education (GCE) Board and the Ministry of Basic Education respectively as models for the girls, HRH Fon Azehfor III admonished parents not to keep girls at home.
Tamambang Seraphine, Administrator of the Education Committee of Nkwenbere
Fondom; an online platform through which the funds were raised, like the Fon, has
expressed gratitude to all those who supported the initiative.
Representing the Bamenda III Council was Councilor Rita Ndiangang. Speaking on behalf of the Mayor, she promised total support to the Fon's initiative indicating her institution's readiness to continously work for the well-being of the IDPs and less privileged in the municipality.
The Divisional Officer (DO) for Bamenda III Subdivision, Ayuni Austin has described
the gesture as timely and important not only for the lives of the children but also for
the future of Nkwen.
"We are tired of seeing children being deprived of their basic right to education" The administrator said
An overview of the hall during the event
Nkwen Fondom has been a safe haven for many displaced from across the North West and South West regions as a result of the over six years old armed conflict.
Many of those seeking refuge in Nkwen lack basic items including food and non-food items. The move by the Monarch and his people will certainly provide relief for many of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the less privileged as expected.