Chiefs, elite say Okie Johnson is Nguti Subdivision’s pathfinder.

Their assessment is made on account of Okie’s key role in not only conceiving but fronting the creation of a microfinance institution to unlock the area’s potential, foster development and empower communities. 

The custodians of the customs and traditions of the area and elite voiced out the remarks in Yaounde Saturday May 27. 

They were speaking during the launching of a microfinance institution conceived by their revered son and elite, Okie Johnson Ndoh, who doubles as the General Manager of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation Fund, CSPH.

The launching of the credit union, dubbed Nguti Subdivision Finance, NGUSFIN, was witnessed by elite drawn from the 12 clans that make up Nguti Subdivision.

Also present among other high profile guests was Chief Dr Okole Blessed, Special Adviser at the Prime Minister’s Office, who represented the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute. 

The launching in Yaounde comes after that of Limbe, which held in March 2022. Funds raised from both launchings, officials disclosed, will enable the microfinance to kick-off with a shared capital of 50, 800, 000 FCFA in cash and 14,000,000 in pledges. 

The project, which has now seen the light of day, it was disclosed, was initiated by Okie Johnson, 15 years ago. It however failed to takeoff after groundwork. Its fruition is the fruit of the reorganisation/revival of the Nguti Subdivision Cultural and Development Association, NGUSCUDA.

Okie Johnson had presented the project to members of the development committee that was set up after the revival of NGUSCUDA and the idea was bought by others. A national Caretaker Committee of NGUSCUDA was then handed the task of carrying out sensitisation and other legal groundwork for its eventual takeoff.  

“God has made NGUSFIN a reality”

Speaking to reporters after the launching, the brain behind the project, Okie Johnson, expressed delight in having his dream to setup a microfinance institution in his native Nguti a reality. 

“I nursed this idea about 15 to 20 years ago with Afriland First Bank when they were talking of the MC2 Bank. We went to Nguti twice but the process wasn’t successful. At that time, I was struggling on it alone and because it was not yet God’s time,” he explained.

Visibly happy, Okie added that: “When we revived NGUSCUDA, we formed three committees and I decided to be part of the committee on development where I tabled the idea, justified it and had the consent of all committee members. You can imagine the joy I have today that God has made it possible. You can see that within NGUSCUDA, everybody is involved and everybody wants things to go as fast as possible”. 

NGUSFIN to empower farmers

Okie said the microfinance institution will empower the local communities and enable cocoa farmers to secure loans to buy farm inputs and boost output. His joy, he added, is that farmers in the Subdivision will not suffer in the hands of buyers who lend them money at cut-throat interest rates. He added that the microfinance institution will also boost the activities of market women and other businesspersons within the Subdivision, discourage rural exodus, create wealth and give a bright future to the next generation of Nguti sons and daughters. 

“We are all ambassadors of our various clans. Go back and pass the message. Tell them that we were dreaming but it’s no longer a dream; now it is a reality,” Okie appealed, while urging his Nguti kith and kin to not only prioritise but be at the fore of the Subdivision’s development in order to attract others to support. 

“Nguti Subdivision belongs to all of us. We are all obliged to develop Nguti as our capital. Together if we join hands, we will make Nguti a place to be,” he said.  

The unassuming Okie, who was hailed by all speakers at the event for being the development pathfinder and guide of the Subdivision, said the “inspiration for all these development projects I conceive comes from God”.

“I am not the only person in Nguti Subdivision. When you look at history and when you read the Bible, they are so many people who emerge because God endowed them with His blessing, wisdom and He said I choose you,” he explained. 

He used the opportunity to hail the dedication, commitment and marvelous work of the NGUSCUDA national caretaker team for living up to expectations of all and proving to even do more than is expected. 

Enter NGUSCUDA national Caretaker Committee president 

Speaking at the launch, the President of the national Caretaker Committee of Nguti Subdivision Cultural and Development Association, NGUSCUDA, Prince Mabengue, thanked all the major benefactors and well-wishers of the project, especially Okie Johnson, through whose largess, he said, made the launching possible. 

He said much has been achieved towards the official takeoff, including assembling legal documents, sensitisation meetings in communities and other interested persons, training of key frontline actors, fundraising among others. 

Prince Mabengue said the launching in Yaounde was to take stock of the level of “preparedness in view of the imminent kick-off of NGUSFIN as well as proceed with acquisition of shares so as to complete the required takeoff shared capital”. 

He disclosed that three of the 12 clans in Nguti Subdivision have completed their three million FCFA each share capital contribution while others are in the process. 

Prince Mabengue said shares acquired by other dignitaries, some of whom are not origins of the Subdivision, amount to 40,500,000 FCFA, which adds to the nine million FCFA from three clans to make 49,500,000 million FCFA. 

“The baseline is 50 million FCFA and as we speak, the money is already there. From here, we are going to move to a Constituent General Assembly that will involve only those who have bought shares. That is where major decisions on where to put the head office, who to be the General Manager, Board Chair, will be discussed,” Prince Mabengue said, adding that work is done with the guide of technicians from the Ministry of Finance.

He said with more than the required share capital already raised, “NGUSFIN will take off the ground in the next one month or one and half months maximum”. 

“It is the noble goal to empower the people that we take NGUSFIN to be a veritable community all-inclusive microfinance project,” he assured, while appealing to all and sundry to actively participate to make the dream a reality. 

Praises galore for Okie Johnson 

Different speakers at the event, including elite, traditional rulers, hailed Okie Johnson Ndoh, who doubles as CSPH General Manager, for not only being the brain behind the project, but for being the pathfinder of the development in Nguti Subdivision. 

The First Deputy Mayor of Nguti Council, Esua Cyprain, hailed Okie Johnson for the development strides of the Subdivision, declaring that: “Nguti is now a city”. He also saluted efforts of other elite towards return to peace and normalcy. 

For his part, the Member of Parliament, MP, for Nguti Constituency, Hon Dr Fonge Julius, described Okie Johnson as a visionary, development pathfinder and a matchless grassroots mobiliser of his generation. 

“After the death of Nzo Ekangaki, the pathways of development in Nguti were totally closed. Then God raised the pathfinder, Okie Johnson. He is doing what we call community enrichment…through his microfinance initiative, he is bringing light again to Nguti from a financial and developmental perspective,” Hon Dr Fonge said.

The lawmaker appealed to all and sundry to stand behind the microfinance institution and ensure its growth for the financial sustainability and benefit of the population of all the 12 clans that make up Nguti Subdivision.

Snippet of Okie Johnson’s track record 

Okie Johnson, it should be said, is not new to spearheading development projects that trigger renewed hope for his native Nguti Subdivision. 

Last May 19, a multi-million palm oil processing mill dubbed, Sinke Plantations Ltd Agro-Industrial Palm Oil Mill, put up by Okie Johnson, was inaugurated in Mboka village in the Subdivision.

The mill, with capacity to produce 8,000 litres of palm oil a day, has the potential to help small holders in the production of palm oil in the Subdivision. 

Okie Johnson has equally done much for the development and wellbeing of his Nguti Subdivision kin and kith.