Persistent gaps in access to quality education, youth employability and basic services is at the center of the Nkwen Cultural and Development Association (NCDA) convened for its quarterly general meeting in Kumba, drawing delegates from Douala, Tiko, Limbe, Buea, Yaoundé, Dschang and the host city.
NCDA leadership
Welcoming delegates and the NCDA National Executive, the Kumba branch president, Mme Atanga, acknowledged the burden local chapters carry in sustaining community initiatives amid economic strain, and affirmed the branch’s readiness to host a results-driven session.
At the heart of deliberations was the education deficit confronting many families. NCDA National President Dr Mrs Mariana Ndifor framed the issue bluntly, insisting that access to schooling remains uneven and requires collective intervention. She highlighted the association’s scholarship scheme, implemented in partnership with the Louis Nforbelie Foundation, as a practical response to keep children in school. “Every child has to go to school,” she said, urging members to formalise their participation through registration and to deepen engagement across branches.
Livelihoods and skills development formed the second pillar of the response. Trainers from the NCDA vocational training centre, back home, presented handcrafted products made by trainees, alongside detailed financial and operational reports delivered by Dr Ndah Grimbald and the training team. The exhibition, which attracted purchases from delegates, was positioned as proof of concept for a scalable model that can absorb unemployed youth and convert training into income.
Traditional authority lent weight to the development agenda. HRH Fon Azefor III's message reminded the assembly that NCDA remains the primary vehicle for Nkwen’s organised development effort and called for sustained motivation to address deficits in education, healthcare and access to potable water. His intervention highlighted the need for alignment between cultural leadership and structured community action.
Looking ahead, the association has set a coordination target with the announcement of a national convention scheduled for November 27 to 29, 2026 in Douala, under the general coordination of Nkem Sir Takwi Mathew. The convention is expected to consolidate programmes, mobilise resources and standardise implementation across branches.
The expected impact from Kumba is a tighter, more accountable network capable of expanding scholarship coverage, strengthening vocational pipelines and accelerating small-scale infrastructure support in underserved communities. By linking policy direction with demonstrable field projects and a national convening point, NCDA is positioning its chapters to deliver measurable improvements in education outcomes, youth employment and access to essential services.
By Bakah Derick with report from Kumba for Hilltopvoices Web
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