At socio-cultural event: UNDP donates, promotes social cohesion in Tubah.

The event, which was attended by members of the community, officials from the University of Bamenda, students and dance groups, was in line with the recovery programme under the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NW/SW.

The PPRD project is funded by the government of Cameroon, together with the Islamic Development Bank, IsDB, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

Representing the UNDP at the event, Dr Leslie Ngwa, Social Cohesion expert, highlighted the importance of living together to the participants.

The event was an avenue to strengthen living together at the level of schools, social gatherings, associations and others. This is important in the context that Tubah Subdivision in general and Bambili in particular is host to thousands of university students.

Donations to foster peace, living together 

The climax of the socio-cultural event was the donation of support items to the Department of Communication and Development Studies, CADS, of the University of Bamenda, UBa, and to the participating groups, and individuals.

The Department of Communication and Development Studies and the university campus radio received items such as a projector and screen, printer, mini-portable radio sets, digital clocks and others.

The equipment, officials said, will help the Development Communicators to craft society-oriented programmes at the campus radio, which will in turn help the community to make informed decisions and also enhance peace and social cohesion.

Meanwhile, the Bangalum Manju Dance Group from Bambui received modern drums and other items to revamp their group and performance.

Several school bags, balls and scrabble games were distributed to students and members of the dance group for sporting activities, which play a great role in enhancing the spirit of living together.

Beneficiaries appreciate gesture 

Upon receiving the items, the beneficiaries appreciated the effort of the government through the recovery programme, which aims to support and alleviate the effects of the conflict.

According to Head of Department of Communication and Development Studies, at the University of Bamenda, Dr Tanwie Gilbert, who received the items on behalf of his department, he is extremely happy, as the items will be of great importance to his students.

"These are ICT tools and we're already looking forward to using the equipment for our classrooms. And mostly especially, we received some equipment for the radio. The equipment will help us train our students so that they can have practical experiences before going out to the field," Dr Tanwie said.

The same excitement was expressed by Ngong Song Jean-Marie, the campus Radio Operator, who accompanied the Head of Department to the event. 

On his part, Abongjam Nelson, President of the Bangalum Manju dance group, said the modern drums will immediately replace the old ones they had, and the group will continue performing at cultural events to entertain and enhance living together.

"We are very happy because we have received these drums, which are going to help us modify our dance. Even our brothers at home will be very happy...the drums will boost the dance group and will replace some of the old ones we had," Abongjam said.

According to an engineering student who has built several prototypes, Chungong Desmond, he received tech kits, and is embarking on training other youth in building prototypes like the 3D printing machine.

"The equipment is mostly for starters. It will go a long way to help me achieve one of my dreams, which is training the young people so that we can together achieve great things in technology in the years to come," Chungong said.

The event was also an avenue to inspire the participating university students on how to succeed. This was done through life experience sharing from some of the experts and seniors. 

The socio-cultural event was spiced with exhibition by the Takebeng Young Carvers Union of Kedjom Ketinguh, and traditional performance by the Bangalum Manju dance group from Bambui.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3326 of Friday December 20, 2024