Education

12, January 2019

New Africa programme to focus on youth and its engagement with heritage 0

Connect and inspire African youth with the possibilities of their rich heritage. Use digital technologies, including social media, to promote heritage awareness and support creative industries. Engage heritage as an economic asset, to address poverty and unemployment among young people. These are just some of the potential directions discussed during ICCROM’s Africa Expert Meeting for Cultural Heritage Conservation, held at the Egyptian Academy in Rome from 9 – 11 January 2019.

Fifteen professionals from 15 institutions met to discuss how best to design an impactful programme to support youth and its engagement in heritage in the African region. The Africa Expert Meeting took inspiration from the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and particularly from the development goals for sustainable cities and communities, gender equality, decent work and economic growth. Also invoked was the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063 “The Africa We Want,” which is committed to realizing Africa’s full potential in development, culture and peace.

The event was launched on Wednesday 9 January in the presence of HE Mr Hisham Badr, Egyptian Ambassador to Italy, HE Mr Hassan Abouyoub, Moroccan Ambassador to Italy, Mr Giovanni Panebianco, Secretary-General of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities (MIBAC), and Dr Gihane Zaki, Director of the Egyptian Academy in Rome, together with Dr Webber Ndoro, Director-General of ICCROM.

“Africa has the youngest population of any continent,” said Dr Ndoro, ICCROM’s Director-General. “Heritage can be for youth a source of livelihood, identity, and a stimulus for development.  The input of youth needs to be clear for what our heritage is and how to take it forward.”

Noting Egypt’s upcoming presidency of the African Union in 2019, Egyptian Ambassador Hisham Badr commented: “This meeting focuses on two important elements: culture – with all its meanings, values, messages – and youth.” He added, “Culture is a mainstay. Egypt is a nation that’s proud of its culture. In all its international relationships, in its sustainability initiatives, culture is the key.”

“We must consider the needs and special skills of youth,” underlined Giovanni Panebianco, Secretary-General of the Italian Cultural Heritage Ministry MIBAC. “Heritage conservation offers real opportunities to build a better future for Africa. Italy is aware of its role with respect to Africa, and is actively pursuing scientific and cultural cooperation in the aim of overall sustainable development on the continent.”

“It’s time to invest in young Africans,” said Dr Gihane Zaki, Director of the Egyptian Academy in Rome.  “How can we put young people forward, help them take responsibility for their heritage, with enthusiasm, energy, generosity and passion?” Dr Zaki stressed Egypt’s keenness to support young people in the African continent. “I am confident that ICCROM will play a strategic role in implementing new, fresh and innovative ideas to engage young people. It’s important also to remember and appreciate women’s pivotal role in African societies.”

The three-day discussions led to definition of broad directions for a future Africa programme that aims to make African heritage attractive to young people on the continent, improving their involvement in the stewardship of heritage to ensure inclusive economic and social benefits to all generations. The proposed Africa programme includes the following objectives:

1) Sustain economic and social development through innovation and engagement with stakeholders for youth and women in heritage.

2) Increase engagement and interest of youth and women in heritage through the adoption of a people-centred approach in conservation.

3) Strengthen institutions as dynamic, innovative, reliable and attractive resources for communities, government and the private sector.

These objectives were presented at the event’s closing ceremony on Friday 11 January, attended Mr Giorgio Marrapodi, Director-General of Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and Mr Cléophas Adrien Dioma, Director and co-founder of the Ottobre Africano festival and representative of the African Diaspora in Rome.

“This programme is about making heritage cool through innovative ways, and making African heritage accessible to African youth and women,” said Benis Nchang of Better Life Initiative, Cameroon and Alyssa K Barry of Senegal, youth representatives to the meeting.  “It’s about making youth proud of our African cultural heritage, and encouraging them to contribute to its conservation.”

For his part, Dr Ndoro thanked all the meeting participants for their contributions to the discussion, as well as the ambassadors and institutional representatives present.  He extended particular thanks to the Egyptian Academy in Rome for hosting the event, and called on all ICCROM’s partner institutions and Member States, both in Africa and worldwide, to support this new initiative.

“It’s time to unlock the potential of heritage to provide a better life and livelihood to communities in Africa,” said Dr Ndoro.  “Heritage is about now, about what is happening today. Youth must see the opportunities in heritage.”

Member States represented: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Morocco, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

The Africa Expert Meeting was held at the Egyptian Academy in Rome, by gracious invitation of its Director, Dr Gihane Zaki, also an ICCROM Council Member.  The Egyptian Academy is the only fine arts academy in Rome that represents both Africa and the Arab States, and thus is a committed stakeholder in a successful Africa strategy at ICCROM.

About ICCROM
ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage worldwide. It works with 136 Member States to ensure the best tools, knowledge, skills and enabling environment to preserve cultural heritage in all its forms, for the benefit of all people. www.iccrom.org

8, January 2019

Zimbabwe teachers to strike over pay as currency crisis deepens 0

Zimbabwean teachers will strike from Tuesday to press for US dollar salaries as talks with the government failed to bring a breakthrough, a union says, adding pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to contain a runaway currency crisis.

Cash shortages have plunged Zimbabwe’s financial system into disarray, threatening social unrest and undermining Mnangagwa’s efforts to win back foreign investors sidelined under his predecessor Robert Mugabe.

With not enough hard currency to back up funds showing in bank accounts, the value of electronic money has plummeted, prompting businesses and civil servants to demand payment in US dollars they can withdraw.

Just over four months into Mnangagwa’s contested presidency, the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Union (ZIMTA) said its members would strike as spiraling inflation has left them unable to buy basic goods and fuel that are in short supply. Government doctors have been on strike for more than a month over the same issue.

ZIMTA president Richard Gundani told Reuters a meeting between public sector unions and acting Labor Minister July Moyo only resolved to re-start talks, but teachers would not report for duty from Tuesday.

“We were very frank to each other and all the unions agreed that workers are incapacitated and we provided sufficient justification that they are unable to work,” Gundani said.

“ZIMTA’s declaration of incapacitation stands and teachers will not go to work.”

Moyo did not immediately answer calls to his mobile phone.

The government employs more than 100,000 teachers and ZIMTA has 44,000 members.

On Monday, police arrested and later released 9 members of the smaller Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe who were picketing at a park in central Harare, their lawyer said.

There was a heavy presence of police with water cannon elsewhere in the capital.

As doctors continue their strike, Zimbabwe’s public hospitals have been left short of drugs and reliant on patients to buy them. Pharmacies have stopped accepting insurance policies for purchases and demand payment in dollars.

Zimbabwe is also struggling with acute shortages of fuel, forcing motorists to queue for hours.

Civil servant salaries accounted for 90 percent of the budget last year but Mnangagwa’s government has made an ambitious pledge to cut this to 70 percent in 2019 as part of reforms aimed at boosting growth and investment.

Mnangagwa came to power in November 2017 after Mugabe was forced to resign following an army coup. He was declared president in August 2018 after a presidential vote that his main opponent says he won fraudulently.

(Source: Reuters)

SOBA UK Appoints Danbro as its Accountants and deploys an innovative Cloud-based Accounting System

31, December 2018

SOBA UK Appoints Danbro as its Accountants and deploys an innovative Cloud-based Accounting System 0

Fellow Sobans,

On 22nd September 2018, the General Assembly of SOBA UK met at St George’s Park, Burton Upon Trent under the theme “Together we Succeed” and committed to modernising its financial systems.  SOBA UK is pleased to announce the successful appointment of the UK Accounting firm Danbro as SOBA UK’s Accountants.

Danbro Accounting will provide accounting services, supply and manage a cloud-based accounting system for SOBA UK. The financial data migration phase to the new cloud-based accounting system was recently completed. The Executive Treasurer and Financial Secretaries have been getting to grips with this fantastic new proprietary tool and are excited about the prospects of providing robust financial reporting to our members.

Why is this important to SOBA UK?

  • Members commitment – Members voted to modernise our financial systems and reporting.
  • Automatic reporting – Automatic reports (P&L, Balance sheet, Transactions by Categories etc) can be produced directly from the cloud-based system.
  • Increased activity – SOBA UK’s financial activities have increased greatly over recent years and there is a need for a proprietary solution for easy and instant reporting.
  • Securing data – SOBA UK’s financial data and analyses will be held securely on the system for future members. There is no more use of Excel Workbooks located on private computers.
  • Improved productivity – This will free up time for the executive team to spend on core association activities and engaging with members.
  • Greater accountability – There will be more accountability through independent reviews of SOBA UK accounts by Danbro.

What will the UK accounting firm Danbro do for SOBA UK?

  • Supply and manage the cloud-based system.
  • Provide annual accounts for our members.
  • Deal with correspondence from HMRC and other agencies.
  • Act as the corporate secretary for SOBA UK as would be required.

SOBA UK is excited about this great new development in the association, with the management team looking forward to working with Danbro to provide greater financial insights to both members and other agencies.

Best wishes for 2019.

Kind regards,

Mr John Bawak General Secretary, SOBA UK On behalf of SOBA UK Members

Counter Signed by Mr Ayuk Akoh-Arrey, FIA President, SOBA UK

Counter Signed by Mr Bime Lafon Vice President, SOBA UK

Ambazonia: 17 kidnapped university students freed in Bamenda

15, December 2018

Ambazonia: 17 kidnapped university students freed in Bamenda 0

Seventeen students of the University of Bamenda in Cameroon, who were abducted from Dec. 5 to 10, have been released, according to an official statement released late Wednesday.

“Following coordinated operations organised by the administrative authorities, forces of law and order, the parents of the kidnapped students and some patriotic citizens living in the neighborhood, the release of all the students has been secured as of date,” said Lele Lafrique, governor of Northwest, one of the war-torn English-speaking regions of Cameroon.

He said the students were abducted by a “criminal gang” that is specialized in the kidnapping of students for ransom.

Students and university authorities need to step up vigilance and collaborate with government forces as a measure to stop the abductions, Lafrique said.

In early November, the government accused separatists of kidnapping 79 children of a private school in the Northwest. They were released a few days later. Separatists, however, insisted that most of the kidnappings were staged by the government to tarnish their image internationally.

Since November last year, government forces have been clashing with armed separatist forces who want the two regions to secede from the majority French-speaking nation and form a new country called “Ambazonia”.

Source:Xinhuanet

University professor, employee kidnapped in S.Cameroons

19, November 2018

University professor, employee kidnapped in S.Cameroons 0

A professor and staff member of the University of Buea in troubled western Cameroon have been kidnapped, a statement received by AFP on Sunday said.

Charles Doumta, on the Health Sciences faculty, and George Ongey, who works for the research and cooperation office, were seized on Friday and November 10, respectively, the statement said without elaborating.

“These acts are meant to intimidate, create fear and panic among staff and students and disrupt the smooth functioning of the academic year,” Vice Chancellor Ngomo Horace Manga was quoted as saying in the statement, issued on Saturday.

The 12 000-student university is a historic centre of English-based learning in Cameroon, whose minority anglophone population is concentrated in the two western regions of Northwest and Southwest.

A crisis erupted in 2016 over perceived discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority in areas such as education, the justice system and the economy of the West African country.

Last year it developed into an armed conflict, with radicals declaring an independent state, the Republic of Ambazonia, which is not recognised internationally.

They have attacked troops and police and torched other symbols of the central government in the former German colony, which was divided between Britain and France after World War I.

Almost daily clashes now occur between security forces and separatists, who have organised themselves into scattered groups in the region’s dense tropical forests.

Early this month, armed men believed to be separatists abducted 90 students in Northwest Region, later freeing them in circumstances that remain unclear.

Armed gangs are also operating in the troubled regions, taking advantage of the conflict to demand protection money from businesses and individuals.

More than 200 troops and more than 500 civilians have died in regional fighting, according to non-governmental organisations.

The conflict has also already displaced more than 437 000 people, UN data released in October showed.

Source: AFP



Shedding light on African media management challenges

13, November 2018

Shedding light on African media management challenges 0

Media management which involves dealing with employee management, audiences, budgets, the political environment and ethics, poses many challenges to media managers across the world. These challenges range from interference to increasing competition. Media managers are required to navigate through these challenges if they have to stay in business. Regardless of their structures or controlling arrangement, media are businesses that require business acumen to be financially profitable enterprises and to serve as providers of public enlightenment.

This applies to media across the globe, including African media which are mirror images of systems in Western countries such as Britain and France that have once colonized the continent. African media management is therefore based on management principles that are common to other sectors of the continent’s economy and it is believed to be an importation of colonialists who introduced western-style education on the continent. Given these similarities, media managers on the continent are bound to deal with challenges that are similar to those managers in Western countries such as Britain face, though in certain circumstances, the extent and nature of the issues could vary.

Media experts have pointed out that the main management issues arise from recurring dilemmas that lie at the heart of media-making. These include the potential clash between profit, on the one hand, and social purpose, on the other, and the issue of reconciling creative and editorial freedom with the demands of routine and large scale production.

Major changes in the structure of media industries, especially the processes of globalization, ownership conglomeration and organizational fragmentation provide new theoretical challenges. New means of distribution such as cable, satellite and the Internet have also given rise to new kinds of challenges. Like Europe, Africa is increasingly democratizing albeit slowly, and as a result, African media are relatively free to operate within the limits of the law, but conflicts still occur in relation to government and powerful social institutions.

One key challenge facing media managers in many African countries is the issue of interference by political authorities, owners and advertisers in the decision-making process and autonomy over content. The central issue here is the extent to which media organizations can claim to exercise autonomy, first in relation to their owners, and, second, to other direct economic agencies in their various locations, especially those who provide operating funds such as investors, advertisers and sponsors. Most African media, like their counterparts in Europe, have become market-based over the last two decades; but news media content in Africa sometimes reflects the interest of those who finance the media.

In Cameroon, like in other African countries, running a media institution could be challenging. The high start-up cost is usually compounded by the scarcity of investment capital, high interest rates and the unfavorable lending conditions offered by international financial institutions. The poor financial base of the continent’s media has led to a cycle of sub-optimizations where low salaries attract poor quality managers who cannot guarantee quality and cannot turn good profits. While Western media have access to loans, enjoy huge advertising revenues and use license fees paid by those receiving the service – in the case of broadcasting – as another revenue stream, African media managers are still at grips with very tough financial times.

To overcome this challenge, many African media, including privately-owned media institutions, have continued to depend on government subsidies and sales which have been declining over the years due to a lack of a reading culture, the emergence of the Internet, Satellite TV and other hand-held devices which offer free news alternatives. This is compromising the independence of old media managers and owners over content. Some private media managers on the continent sometimes have to bend over backwards just to stay in business by submitting to editorial controls by media owners and, by so doing; make unpopular management or editorial decisions.

Though media managers in Africa may enjoy more administrative freedom in the running of their establishments, there are however cases of arbitrary interference by media owners in both the management of the organizations and the control of editorial operations. Independent media owners in Africa are not apolitical as they appear, and always have specific objectives that underpin their interest in the media business. When these objectives are not purely political, they have tended to be commercial, religious, egotistical or a strange combination of some or all of them as pointed out by popular African media experts like Okigbo and Nyamjoh.

For many decades, most public media across the continent have been established by the governments and these public media usually come under the direct control and supervision of the government. In many countries, the supervisory authority is the communication ministry like in Cameroon which provides long-term guidance and short-term directives on management issues.

The relationships between public media and governments are often not very clearly defined. The degree of control and supervision can therefore change from time to time, depending on key players in the media and the supervisory authority. Such influence usually results in the media’s loss of independence over content.

This situation has been made all the more challenging by the increasing competition and the mushrooming of media outfits on the continent, especially cross-national media such as satellite operations. For example, the development of the East African Community and increasing attention on regional integration among East African countries has energized intra-regional competition among most powerful media institutions in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.  To cope with this situation, contemporary African media resort to uninspiring content relating to the proprietors, be they government ministers or private business people.

The advent of new media, otherwise known as ‘technologies of freedom’, such as cable TV, satellite TV, digital handheld books, electronic newspapers, among others, which use digital protocols like the Internet, has brought new challenges to media managers in Africa. Prior to the advent of Internet- and satellite-based mass communication, most communication was effected through traditional books, newspapers, films and television. With the advent of new and innovative technology in the later part of the twentieth century that makes it possible to deliver information in various formats and rapidly too, traditional media managers have to device new strategies to cope with the competition that transnational communication systems are posing.

Like their counterparts in the West, especially in North America, most African media managers depend on mass consumer advertising for their survival.  Technological advances are encouraging greater diversity throughout the media and entry barriers are coming down in many sectors and not only has the number of broadcast channels across the globe multiplied rapidly since the early 1990s, the Internet’s recent growth has also introduced a diverse array of new players, making competition a lot keener.

Today, the continent’s media landscape has undergone dramatic changes and despite these significant changes, the influence of European colonialism is still obvious. Major communication languages are foreign to the continent. This is due to the people’s high regard for foreign languages which have high status conferral qualities, the paucity of local language training in universities and the slowness of African governments to adopt vernacular languages for instruction and official transactions.

The advent of cutting-edge media technologies in the mid-twentieth century has completely transformed media landscapes across the globe and most former colonies have adopted media models that differ from those of their former colonial masters. With the emergence of new communication media like the Internet and transnational broadcast media, and the private sector’s increasing economic importance, many countries have resorted to different models of relationships with the society. Like transnational broadcast media, the Internet, a global search engine, is bringing information to people in the comfort of their homes, making it impossible for governments to impose restrictions.

The Internet and other superhighway information mechanisms provide better alternative methods and opportunities to share information with selected audiences without sanctions from the general public or state controllers of mainstream media. This has been made all the more possible by a relaxation of media rules across the globe and the increasing awareness that information is critical to development. In many African countries today, there is a growing number of “Internet cafés” that are granting access to the world-wide web to many people, especially in cities where the infrastructure is available and reliable.

Today, both governments and individuals own TV and radio stations, as well as web sites in former colonies and this has given people in these regions new information sources. While it was true that media development in Africa was patterned on systems existing in colonizing countries, today, the reality is different with African countries developing new models that allow for greater private ownership and societal participation in media activities.

Though new media technologies are offering new opportunities for media managers on the continent to avoid the heavy hand of government censorship, they have also brought cut-throat competition and financial challenges to the continent’s media managers who must seek new and innovative ways to survive in the new global media environment. These technologies have also exposed media managers to the financial and political influence of advertisers and investors who, in many cases, are not apolitical. And this only makes the challenges faced by African media managers more sophisticated.

Joachim Arrey, Ph.D

Toronto, Canada

Now that you are here

The Cameroon Concord News Group Board wishes to inform its faithful readers that for more than a decade, it has been providing world-class reports of the situation in Southern Cameroons.  The Board has been priding itself on its reports which have helped the world to gain a greater understanding of the crisis playing out in Southern Cameroons. It hails its reporters who have also helped the readers to have a broader perspective of the political situation in Cameroon.

The Board wishes to thank its readers who have continued to trust Southern Cameroon’s leading news platform. It is therefore using this opportunity to state that its reporters are willing to provide more quality information to the readers.    However, due to the changing global financial context, the Board is urging its readers to play a significant role in the financing of the news organization.  It is therefore calling on its faithful readers to make whatever financial contribution they can to ensure they get the latest developments in their native Southern Cameroons, in particular, and Cameroon in general.

Bank transaction: Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Banking IBAN: GB51 BARC 2049 1103 9130 15

Swift BIC BARC GB22XX

SORT CODE 20-49-11, ACCOUNT NUMBER – 03913015 Barclay PLC, UK

The Board looks forward to hearing from the readers.

Signed by the Group Chairman on behalf of the Board of Directors

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Email: soteragbawebai@gmail.com

 

 



9, November 2018

PSS Nkwen Affair: Principal and one teacher still being held 0

Dozens of children kidnapped by armed men in Cameroon have been freed, a priest conducting the negotiations said Wednesday. Although all 79 children and a driver were released, a principal and one teacher were still being held. They were abducted on Monday in Bamenda, a commercial hub of Cameroon’s restive English-speaking region, according to military and government sources.

“Praise God 78 children and the driver have been released. The principal and one teacher are still with the kidnappers. Let us keep praying,” said Samuel Fonki, a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. “They look tired and psychologically tortured.”

One other child had escaped earlier, he added. The students are between 11 and 17 years old. The priest did not say precisely when the children were freed, or whether any deal had been made with the kidnappers. He had earlier said another 11 children were kidnapped by the same armed group on Oct. 31, then released after the school paid a ransom of 2.5 million CFA francs ($4,400).

Image: A woman awaits for news of her child at a school where 79 children were kidnapped in Bamenda
A woman waits for news of her child at the school in Bamenda

 

Most people in Cameroon speak French. Fonki and the Cameroonian military have accused English-speaking separatists of carrying out the kidnappings, but a separatist spokesman denied involvement.

The secessionists have imposed curfews and closed schools as part of their protest against Biya’s French-speaking government and its perceived marginalization of the English-speaking minority.

Cameroon’s separatist movement turned violent in 2017 after a government crackdown on initially peaceful demonstrations by English-speakers. The linguistic divide is a legacy of a former German colony in central Africa that was divided between allies France and Britain at the end of World War One.

The attack on children, which recalled the 2014 abduction of more than 200 girls by Islamist Militant group Boko Haram in Chibok in neighboring Nigeria, was criticized by human rights groups.
Source: Reuters

Now that you are here

The Cameroon Concord News Group Board wishes to inform its faithful readers that for more than a decade, it has been providing world-class reports of the situation in Southern Cameroons.  The Board has been priding itself on its reports which have helped the world to gain a greater understanding of the crisis playing out in Southern Cameroons. It hails its reporters who have also helped the readers to have a broader perspective of the political situation in Cameroon.

The Board wishes to thank its readers who have continued to trust Southern Cameroon’s leading news platform. It is therefore using this opportunity to state that its reporters are willing to provide more quality information to the readers.    However, due to the changing global financial context, the Board is urging its readers to play a significant role in the financing of the news organization.  It is therefore calling on its faithful readers to make whatever financial contribution they can to ensure they get the latest developments in their native Southern Cameroons, in particular, and Cameroon in general.

Bank transaction: Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Banking IBAN: GB51 BARC 2049 1103 9130 15

Swift BIC BARC GB22XX

SORT CODE 20-49-11, ACCOUNT NUMBER – 03913015 Barclay PLC, UK

The Board looks forward to hearing from the readers.

Signed by the Group Chairman on behalf of the Board of Directors

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Email: soteragbawebai@gmail.com

 

 




Professor shot dead in Southern Cameroons

28, October 2018

Professor shot dead in Southern Cameroons 0

Gunmen have killed a linguistics professor in Cameroon’s volatile English-speaking Northwest region, hit by a bloody separatist campaign and a brutal security crackdown, a university official said Friday.

Paul Kuban Mbufong was shot dead on Thursday while going to work in the University of Bamenda, the institution’s rector, Emmanuel Suh Cheo, said in a statement.

“He was killed by unidentified attackers who followed him to the place where he tried to hide” behind a nearby town hall, Cheo said, calling it a “macabre act”.

University staff said the murder of the academic, who was also in charge of administration, bore the hallmarks of the “Amba boys,” or separatists fighting for an independent English-speaking state called Ambazonia.

The two anglophone regions in western Cameroon are the site of an uprising by armed separatists, who have also called for a boycott of local schools. They argue the French-language education system penalises English-speaking students.

Since the start of the new term in September, insurgents have killed one principal, mutilated a teacher and attacked several high schools.

The violence, which erupted last year, has claimed the lives of at least 420 civilians, 175 members of the security forces and an unknown number of separatists, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think-tank.

AFP

Now that you are here

The Cameroon Concord News Group Board wishes to inform its faithful readers that for more than a decade, it has been providing world-class reports of the situation in Southern Cameroons.  The Board has been priding itself on its reports which have helped the world to gain a greater understanding of the crisis playing out in Southern Cameroons. It hails its reporters who have also helped the readers to have a broader perspective of the political situation in Cameroon.

The Board wishes to thank its readers who have continued to trust Southern Cameroon’s leading news platform. It is therefore using this opportunity to state that its reporters are willing to provide more quality information to the readers.    However, due to the changing global financial context, the Board is urging its readers to play a significant role in the financing of the news organization.  It is therefore calling on its faithful readers to make whatever financial contribution they can to ensure they get the latest developments in their native Southern Cameroons, in particular, and Cameroon in general.

Bank transaction: Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Banking IBAN: GB51 BARC 2049 1103 9130 15

Swift BIC BARC GB22XX

SORT CODE 20-49-11, ACCOUNT NUMBER – 03913015 Barclay PLC, UK

The Board looks forward to hearing from the readers.

Signed by the Group Chairman on behalf of the Board of Directors

Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Email: soteragbawebai@gmail.com

 

 



UK: First black female history prof, Olivette Otele, has Cameroon origins

24, October 2018

UK: First black female history prof, Olivette Otele, has Cameroon origins 0

The United Kingdom just had its first black female history professor thanks to the Bath Spa University whose main campus is located at the Newton Park on Duchy of Cornwall land.

The glass ceiling breaker in this regard is historian Olivette Otele who has Cameroonian origins according to the History Today news portal. The BBC describes her as a Cameroon-born academic who schooled in France but is currently teaching in the UK.

Her Twitter bio reads: “Historian: British-French Empires-Slavery, Memory Legacies-African Diaspora (incl. North Africa).”

In announcing the big news of her professorship she wrote: “BIG NEWS: my people, @BathSpaUni has awarded me a professorship and a chair in history.

“May this open the door 2many v (to many very) hard working women, especially WoC (women of colour), even + specifically Black women, in academia in general & in History in particular. In strength, peace and love my ppl (people),” she wrote.

The university’s page on Olivette shows that she is largely a student of the famed French institution, Universite La Sorbonne, Paris where she received her first degree in Literature and History two decades ago.

She went on to do her masters in history two years later, a Master of Advanced Studies or Master of Advanced Study, DEA in 2002 and her PhD in 2005.

She currently holds professional membership of amongst others: Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS), Executive board member, The British Society for the Eighteenth-Century Studies and Board member, Historians Against Slavery.

She has co-authored a book and has a series of publications to her credit. Her personal statement on the university’s website reads in part: “Dr Otele holds a PhD in History from Universite La Sorbonne, France. Her doctoral area of specialisation was European colonial and post-colonial History.

“It included examining questions related to the transatlantic slave trade, slave societies, identities and post-colonial societies in the Atlantic world. Her BA and MA trainings were grounded in British and American Literature and History.

“Her current research centres around transnational history and in particular the link between history, collective memory and geopolitics in relation to British and French colonial pasts.

“She charts and analyses the ways in which Britain and France have been addressing questions of citizenship, race and identity through the politics of remembrance. She also enquires into the value of public gestures, the meaning of public history and the impact of cultural memory.”

Culled from Africa News



SOBA UK 2018 Convention – a touch of class and style

11, October 2018

SOBA UK 2018 Convention – a touch of class and style 0

“Uplifting” is the word that sums up the convention of the Sasse Old Boys Association in the United Kingdom (SOBA UK) that took place last on the 22nd of September 2018. It held at the magnificent Hilton at St. George’s Park, Burton-upon-Trent, England and the Home of England national sports teams.

The two-day event was hosted under the theme “Together We Succeed” to which the community responded and raised funds for refugees of the crisis in Cameroon and to show strength in unity. A number of diverse community groups and alumni association showed up in support, including OPSA UK (the UK alumni of Our Lady of Lourdes College, Cameroon), ExSSA UK (the UK alumni of Saker Baptist College, Cameroon) , CamDoc UK (Cameroon Doctors UK), BOBA UK (the UK alumni of Cameroon Protestant College, Bali), WCA (The West Cameroon Association Think Tank), CF (Cameroon Forum) community group and SOBA Ireland.

The SOBA UK President Mr. Ayuk Akoh-Arrey thanked the guests for their fantastic turn out and expressed gratitude on behalf of the association and their intent to continue to develop the brand and to deliver more value to members of the of Cameroonian UK community. He also thanked the sponsors and Hilton staff and entertainers for all their hard work.

This year’s convention was by far the best in recent memories. We have collated our top nine most special moments from the Soban convention.

An exciting Friday night 21 September

Not bad from a lowly association of ex-students from St. Joseph’s College all the way in Cameroon, the alumni association staged a heartwarming event as guests congregated at at St George’s Park, Home of England National Teams, set in several acres of national parkland. The 2-mile drive from the gates to the hotel is an impressive show of beautiful parks and modern sporting facilities. The hotel itself, owned by the English Football Association, is modern and well designed to deliver premier league standard facilities to England football stars, past and present, and guests alike.

We know SOBA UK has been upping its game but more than 100 punters on Friday night is a feat. Friday night was as exciting as Saturday night as scores of guests checked-in and the Hilton lobby was buzzing with relaxed re-union excitement as people took photos. Some of the guys from SOBA UK Events management team were seen hustling banners whilst other guests checked in as some discussed over wine and champagne after long journeys from Scotland, Europe and other parts of the UK. An open SOBA UK management meeting held around midnight with 37 Sobans in attendance to chip in ideas for the day ahead.

There is so much sporting history at St. George’s Park

The choice of venue really underscored SOBA UK’s intentions to fast track the development of the brand to greater heights and deliver more value to members of the Cameroonian community.

On Saturday 22nd September, around 12pm,  the SOBA UK Secretary General John Bawak proclaimed at the Annual General Meeting that he was sitting in the same seat as the England National football team manager for his press conferences. Where Mr. Southgate managed to transpire a winning spirit into the young English team that reached the last 4 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Sobans did not witness any magical powers as John chaired the Annual General Meeting, supported by the President Mr. Ayuk Akoh-Arrey and Vice President Mr. Bime Lafon . However, it was an inspiration walking through the corridors of this distinguished venue with English football greats plastered all over the walls. The technology in the meeting hall was modern and the AGM, the real business end of SOBA UK’s activities, delivered the goods that will see the brand step up another notch.

SOBA UK set new patrons on a mission

A new look and talented group of patrons were appointed by the Convention Assembly to take on the important role of helping to safeguard the good name of the association as ambassadors. Patrons are honorary positions that are awarded to persons who have been outstanding in their efforts and contribution to the business of SOBA UK. The whole Assembly applauded with unanimous acceptance to confirm the new patrons and wished them every success in their roles –the new patrons are Joseph Foncha (Class of 1962), Cyril Alima (Class 1973), AshuAkoachere (Class 1978), Maximus Ewane (Class 1979), Francis Shupo (Class 1980), and Thompson Egbe (Class 1982).

Oh, the Sacred SOBA UK blazer

18:00 at Sir Bobby Robson Executive Ballroom was time for the champagne soiree, when the guys started walking out with embroidered blazers, we knew we were in for a treat. The blazer was impressive, traditional navy blue, 100% pure new wool, mid weight, tailored by British designer and retailing at £280. But of-course the Sobans got a good deal from a group discount. The word is that if you are an ex-student looking to elevate yourself to ambassador status then blazers can still be purchased. The blazers and uniform attire worn by the Sobans spoke a 1000-words about the unflinching commitment to belong and express themselves. This unique identity of the Sobans drew in the 300 guests as they sang their Anthem and Sasse Song with composed music from Synergy Musical Band and artists.

The “Together We Succeed” community fundraiser

In a year in which Anglophone Cameroon has been rampaged with violence, displacement of hundreds of thousands of Anglophones in Cameroon and significant loss of lives, the hashtags #TogetherWeSucceed #SOBAUKConvention lambasted social media as the event streamed live on Facebook capturing the atmosphere for guests at home.

Later in the gala, the convention turned to the serious theme as the fantastic duo Security and Counter Terrorism expert Mr. David Otto and UK Businessman and WCA Think Tank Moderator Mr Richard Nfor, led the community fundraiser. This is the first of its kind which puts SOBA UK at the heart of the community to enable funds to be raised for community initiatives by members of the community.

A minute’s silence was respected in memory of those who have died as part of the crisis. Both hosts then proceeded to chair a fundraiser that generated just under £6000 in just 30 minutes to support the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and the humanitarian support Bishop Nkea of Mamfe diocese. Donations to this cause were received from CamDoc UK, WCA, SOBA UK Patrons, OPSA UK, SOBA Ireland, the SOBA UK President and many other guests including anonymous donors. A full report on the donations and support will be produced jointly by SOBA UK and Fundraisers in order to inform the guests.

Awards in appreciation of excellence and dedication

In an unprecedented turn of events, immediately after the Sasse Song and anthems led by the Synergy Music Band, Mr. Chrys Chikere and Dr. Humphrey led a series of surprise awards in appreciation of the association’s executive team by its members for the great service that they have given to SOBA UK and building of the brand.

Much of the community had witnessed nasty press articles and letters with fabricated allegations against the highly respected SOBA UK executive. These articles were largely purported by a small splinter group of Sobans who have sadly orchestrated various libelous activities and have chosen a wrong path in SOBA. Their approach has been rejected by the SOBA UK General Assembly and the UK community at large.

The initiative in the evening was a heartwarming recognition by SOBA UK’s members and ‘icing on the cake’ to the AGM resolutions as members awarded their executive team individual awards with inscriptions “for a meritorious service to SOBA UK”. Well done boys!

Other awards presented by Dr. Montio Morgan of CamDoc UK – “2018 Best Supporter of SOBA UK Award”  handed to Bernard & Sylvia Ntamack and “2018’s Most Engaged Soban” was awarded to Atem Akoh-Arrey for his stellar work on the SOBA UK blazers project.

The Community Representations

“We’ve got to do this again” retorted Cynthia Asuagbor, representative from EXSSA UK as she took the mic and insisted on leading a grander entrance dance by the ladies of EXSSA UK. EXSSA UK made their presence felt and showed support for SOBA UK.

OPSA UK represented by Miss Queenta Fombon announced their presence. CamDocs (Cameroon Doctors) was represented by their chairperson, Dr. Montio Morgan. WCA was represented by Mr. Richard Nfor. BOBA UK was represented by Mr. Moma Awah. SOBA Ireland was represented by Mr. Stephen Njonguo. These groups stood shoulder to shoulder with SOBA UK as they have always done. Other overseas guests included Mr. Edwin Ndoko and Mr. Jean Jacques Tayou from SOBA America.

The coolness and class, music & dance acts

All through the night, in Masterchef-esque fashion, Karen Eban, co-MC for the night announced the dishes “Ladies and gentlemen you are having a smoked salmon with a cream cheese topping and a prawn” as starters were ushered out by the Hilton kitchen staff.  Many thanks to the kitchen staff at Hilton St George’s Park, for the wonderful dishes served with delicious teas and coffee to finish off the meals.

SOBA UK Sponsors also weighed in on large screens to engage the guests. CEO of SellamQuick, Leo Fonfe and Founder of Vic’s Kitchen, Victoria Dioh provided snippets of their businesses. Karen Eban confirmed that Vic’s Kitchen pepper source were supplied on all tables.

There were also jokes from Mr. Likambi and dance performance by JBanks.

The Synergy Music Band‘s light Makossa and soulful music had filled the airwaves as guests took to their seats for almost thirty minutes before the MC’s Kun Galega and Karen Eban’s grand entrances and through the night until Deejay Eko took over the dance section at midnight.

Sunday barbecue and retreat

Some guests took an early morning swim after a night of hard partying. For those who missed breakfast, a mouthwatering barbecue was served around 1pm as other guests strolled and enjoyed the grounds around St. George’s Park. An international football game between the England and Croatian under 21 teams was taking place at the main stadium at St George’s Park,as some guests departed, whilst Mr Likambi stole the SOBA UK President and Vice President for a 30mins interview to reflect on the Convention success and the state of SOBA UK.

Culled from SOBA UK

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