At close of cultural, sports festival in Yaounde: Minister Mbah Acha urges Ngie population to embrace peace, boost schooling.

She was speaking at the end of a grand finale of the Ngie Cultural Festival and Sports Activities that were staged in the nation's capital, Yaounde.

The crowd-pulling event, it should be said, was organised by the Yaounde branch of the Ngie Cultural and Development Association, NCADA. 

The ceremony took place at the Yaounde Military Stadium. It featured notably the final of the men’s football tournament, pitting Andek men’s football team and their opponents of Abebung.

Andek came through as champions after posting a mouthwatering 4-2 win over their rivals. Both teams were separated through post-match penalties. The two sides were tied on a goalless score after 90 minutes of regular play.

Sunday’s gathering was attended among others by; traditional rulers of Ngie Subdivision and other elite of Momo Division. There were also cultural performances.

The event ended with a gala at the Ngie Cultural Centre in the Damas neighborhood of the capital city. During the gala, money was raised for development projects back home.

Minister drums peace, education 

Minister Mbah Acha hailed the Ngie people for being resilient but underscored the need for all to work for peace and effective schooling.

The member of government said unity and peace, like the Head of State, President Paul Biya, has repeatedly stated, are the only way through which the Ngie people can achieve development.

“My message to the people is for them to go for peace. If peace is good, it means we must encourage those boys in the bush to drop their arms as the Head of State has said,” Minister Mbah Acha remarked. 

She was emphatic on the need for Ngie people to work with the government for long-term development in their communities.

Besides that, she said children’s right to education must be respected across Ngie Subdivision. 

Minister Mbah Acha said: “In a few weeks, schools will resume. Ngie people should encourage their children to go back to school and violence should end”.

Hails performances, supports outstanding stars 

Minister Mbah Acha also lauded the outstanding display at Sunday’s event. She also offered support to outstanding stars of Ngie origin. She provided direct additional support to several of the teams that featured in the tournament.

She offered 100,000 FCFA and 50,000 FCFA to the goalkeepers of Andek and Abebung football teams, respectively. This was for their stellar performances during the final. 

Elite championship shot stopper, Ndifor Brice, who hails from Ngie Subdivision, was among the beneficiaries.

Moved by such performances, the minister said: “I am really impressed by the quality of football I watched today. It was a real final. I think this has to be encouraged”.

She further noted that: “There are times that we don’t see this kind of performances in the final of Elite One championship”.

Minister Mbah Acha also praised the quality of the women’s handball final. It pitted Azem Handball Club and Teze Handball Club. The final was played on Saturday August 24. Azem clinched the trophy.

Festival replica of Ngie people’s result-oriented drive

The different performances that characterise the fiesta, be it in sports or culture, the minister said, represented the results-oriented nature of Ngie people.

“I love the Ngie people because they know how to do things outstandingly whenever they embark on a project. I have watched you people during activities in thllMomo Division, and I have noticed that you, Ngie people, are always outstanding,” the minister said.

Unity is alive in Ngie, Momo Division

On the issue of unity, she said the festival and sports tourney has shown what obtains among Ngie and Momo people in general. 

“Unity is great. Those who thought there is no unity in Ngie and Momo Division have been proven wrong again. It is good for you to continue on this footing. When there is unity, there is peace. When there is peace, there is development,” the minister declared.

She said the show of unity is a push for her to continue to work with the population to achieve development.

Stakeholders laud minister’s tireless support

Stakeholders at Sunday’s ceremony lauded Minister Mbah Acha’s tireless support for Momo people and those of Ngie Subdivision in particular.

The Member of Parliament, MP, for Momo West Constituency, Hon Awutah Philip, and the President of NCADA Yaounde, Ambeh Thomas Ngwa, hailed the minister’s strides.

Hon Awutah thanked the minister for supporting completion works on the Ngie Cultural Centre in Damas. 

The MP remarked that: “I know she has us at heart and has done a lot for Ngie...we know she will continue doing more,” the legislator said. 

Those support from the minister, the MP also said, will continue to enhance the development agenda of Ngie Subdivision and Momo Division in general.

“I want to tell the world that I am a proud person. I am happy to come from Ngie. I wish and hope that we are going to do better things for Ngie,” Hon Awutah remarked.

The President of NCADA, Yaounde branch, Ambeh Thomas, thanked Minister Mbah Acha for supporting the 2024 activities to boost unity and development. 

Ambeh said, Ngie people hold strong to their culture and tradition.

The NCADA Yaounde boss explained that they “thought it wise to organise a cultural festival like this where we can bring together all our youths, give them the platform to showcase their talents and promote our tradition and culture”.

Despite the crisis in the North West and South West Regions that has made it difficult for people to go to their villages, Ambeh said: “Our children need to know our tradition and culture, even when we die”. 

This, he said, explained the traditional dances and dishes that marked the Yaounde festival.

He thanked Minister Mbah Acha for standing with her people. The NCADA president said Minister Mbah Acha’s “constant love for Ngie community has been written as the first minister from the Momo Division, who is conscious of the fact that Ngie people must grow”.

Never-to-be-forgotten ceremony 

Sunday’s ceremony was attended by a multitude of sons and daughters of Ngie, as well as their friends and well-wishers.

Other top dignitaries present included among others; the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Development, Prof Mrs Mbong Grace, and the representative of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animals Husbandry, Mrs Jaji Manu, the spouse of the scribe. 

Hon Atanga Charles Musi, Alternate Senator from Momo Division and Tabe Ndip Thompson, a Director at the Ministry of Agriculture, also attended the event. 

The festival was put together by Akoyong Mary. She was Chairperson of the Organising Committee. Akonyong expressed delight that everything ended successfully and as was planned.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3212 of Wednesday August 28, 2024