JMC Majors Poised For CJA-Cameroon Investigative Report Competition

Some Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) majors in the University of Buea have emphatically declared their intention in participating in the 2012 Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) Cameroon Investigative Report Competition.

          The student journalists made their declarations recently, after CJA-Cameroon officials made a tour to the South West Region, November 24, 2012, in a bid to sensitize journalists and other stakeholders on an investigative reporting competition that will run right up to December 31, 2012.

          According to Mua Patrick Mueghe, a 300 level student who works as stringer for The Star Newspaper, the training he has received so far from his endangered species of JMC lecturers, makes him confident for the competition. Mua, enjoys investigative journalism and does not fear the aspect of longitivity in service by other media practitioners who shall engage in the competition.

          On his part, Tah Javis, another 300 level major who has declared his intention, said he was spurred by the rigorous field placement which he underwent during the last summer vocation. To him investigative reporting which moves in line with research is the back bone of journalism. Tah shall enter the competition under the canopy of CMTV where he does voluntary service.

          Just like Mua Patrick and Tah Javis, other 400 and 300 level JMC students who have made known their intention either said they were motivated by the internship they did or the desire was ignited by the formation they have received from lecturers.

Worthy of note is the fact that the Journalism and Mass Communication programme in the University of Buea was designed to make the students grounded in research which is vital for investigation, so as to produce well trained entry level professional and budding scholars.

          Many students, however, stated that their participation in the competition is just to test their bones and not to challenge veterans as they still have respect for seniority.

          According to HRH, Nkemayan Paul Foanyi, President of CJA-Cameroon, the competition will focus on corruption and human rights in the country and is open to all journalists of Cameroonian Nationality current working for either an audiovisual or print out fit as well as online publication. Journalists as expected to submitted copies of their report in both soft and hard copies after doing thorough research and investigation on one of the chosen topic latest January 2, 2013.

CJA- Cameroon sources further noted that the first prize will be FCFA 500,000, a laptop and digital dictionary   while the 2^nd prize will be FCFA 300,000, and a laptop. For the 3^rd prize the winner will take FCFA 150,000 and a laptop, the same source added.

                                               By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

50 HIV/AIDS Peer Educators Descend On Fako

    The South West Regional Technical Group For The Fight Against HIV/AIDS, has deployed 50 peer educators to create HIV/AIDS awareness in Buea, Limbe, Tiko, Mutengene and Ekona.
    During the ceremony of the South West Regional Launching of the AIDS-Free Holidays 2012 at the Cameroon Cultural Center in Buea, the youth sensitisation peer group was given the baton of HIV/AIDS awareness creation. Sending out the crack team, Mr. Tata Julius, Social and Cultural Affairs Adviser at the Governor's Office, told the educators to lobby the youth to spread the message and not the virus.
    This year's AIDS-Free Holidays campaign, which is in its 10th edition, is place under the patronage of Mrs. Chantal Biya, First Lady of Cameroon, and sponsored by the National AIDS Control Committee in collaboration with its partners. It is observed under the theme:" Knowing my HIV status is a necessity for my health".
    Speaking during the launching, Dr. Pascal Nji Atanga, South West Regional Coordinator For The Fight Against HIV/AIDS, called on youth in particular to avoid inter-generational sex and endeavour to know their status as free HIV screening exercise will be carried out by mobile vans. Dr. Atanga, noted that in 2011, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the South West Region stood at 5.7%, with a regional rate of 7.9% for females and 3.3% for males on the national scale. "From statistics, more females are vulnerable", Dr. Atanga stressed.
    Against this backdrop, the coordinator for the fight against HIV/AIDS, urged particularly female youth to take the HIV/AIDS struggle more seriously, ensure fidelity, promote proper use of condoms, know their HIV status and above all, practice abstinence.
    Much earlier, the Regional Delegate for Youth Affairs and Civic Education for the South West, Mr. Ajarp Asaha Forbin, challenged the churned out educators to rigorously target spots where sex is easily negotiated such as inter-quarter competitions, youth camps, night clubs, and so on. He equally reminded parents to guide their children ( youth) especially during this holidays.
    In line with the HIV/AIDS campaign, students of Inter-Comprehensive High School Great Soppo kick-off the sensitisation effort by a sketch and poem presentation.
    Statistics hold that, during the AIDS-Free Holidays 2011 in the South West, 715 people were tested and 25 recorded positive. The peer educators will be faced with the task of sensitisation, counseling and condom (both female and male) distribution while free HIV screening will be carried out by mobile vans.
    The AIDS-Free Holiday 2012 campaign, which is expected to end on August 10, will be extended to other places within the South West Region, The DETECTIVE was told.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

UB Don Releases Another Law Book

          Associate Professor Michael Akomaye Yanou, a practicing advocate and senior lecturer in law at the University of Buea, has published another law book entitled: Practice and Procedure in Civil Matters in the Courts of Records in Anglophone Cameroon. This book is the first of its kind by a Cameroonian author which deals with practice and procedures in the English Speaking Courts of the former West Cameroon.

          The blurb of the book describe it as the first of its kind in the rather dynamic domain of civil procedure in the Anglophone regions which brings significant local context into practice of law particularly at a point in time when civil practice has been radically altered by the country’s ongoing effort at harmonizing both the substantive and procedural laws applicable in the country.

          According to the author, Michael A. Yanou, it was very necessary for legal practitioners to read and understand the very important verdicts of Cameroon judges, reason why he published the book. The same source revealed that, “most law books that have always been used were either written by Nigerian authors or other foreign authors and the scope did not really reflect our contemporary society”.

          Former Supreme Court Judge and Attorney General for the South West Region, Justice Fonkwe Joseph Fongang, prefaced the 248 page book while the foreword was written by the President of the South West Court of Appeal, Justice (Mrs) Lucy Asuagbor.

          Among those who turned out to support Prof. Yanou at the book launch in the sumptuous Amphi 250, July 11, 2012, was the Nigerian Consul General for the North West and South West Regions o Cameroon. Others included Kama James Shona, General Manager of Ashuka, which does maritime transport. He procured a copy on behalf of his company with the sum of 2.000.000frs.

          On hand also was Barrister Ettah Bisong Jr, President of the Cameroon Bar Council, while Justice Batuo Paul Akong, State Prosecutor for Meme was remarkable. Numerous attendees at the launch including legal practitioners and luminaries, colleagues and students of Yanou purchased copies.

          It should be noted that, Barrister and Advocate, Michael Akomaye Yanou is a senior lecturer in law at the Department of Law of the University of Buea. He was prior to this a lecturer in law at the faculties of law of the Universities of Uyo and Calabar in Nigeria respectively. Besides holding a PhD from Rhodes University, South Africa, he has gone down in record as the first candidate to obtain the PhD in this field within only two years. He is a one time winner of the Visiting Research Fellowship of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Yanou is a practicing advocate of the Supreme Courts of Cameroon and Nigeria who has published several articles in learned journals. Conspicuously, Yanou is the incumbent President of the Syndicate of Teachers of Higher Education – SYNES, University of Buea Chapter.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

Dr. Nalova Spurred To Inculcate New University Governance Policy

Dr. Nalova Signing To Take Office

          Prof. Jacque Fame Ndongo, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders, has called on the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Dr. Pauline Nalova Lyonga (Associate Professor), to work in line with the new university governance policy.

          The MINESUP Boss made the request in the Amphitheater 750, July 4, while installing UB's fourth Vice Chancellor who appears to be the second female at the helm of a university across the country.

          While describing Dr. Nalova as an astute researcher and tenacious administrator, Prof. fame Ndongo implored her to always encourage dialogue among stakeholders, sustain regularity and performance of academics, pursue the maximisation and improvement of infrastructures left by predecessor and to consolidate the climate of peace and conviviality that reigns in UB. In addition, Dr. Nalova will be faced with the task of giving the University of Buea more doctoral schools in order to produce teaching staff and to scrupulously respect laws of the country and that relating to the management of state affairs and resources.

          "I am confident Dr. Nalova will make the government proud as she has always done", the Minister revealed and thanked His Excellence Paul Biya, apostle of the New University Governance, for the appointments.

          According to the Former VC, Prof. Vincent P.K Titanji, who is due retirement, UB's voyage will be safe, because henceforth the captain is a woman of mettle, full of foresight and passion for excellence.

          On her part, Dr. Nalova Lyonga of Bakweri extraction expressed much optimism. "Everyone should bring their cards on the table and we are going to go where the university and the government would want its citizens to go".

          It should be noted that Dr. Nalova is ingrained in the university system. In 1985, he was recruited as a lecturer and transferred to the University of Buea in 1993 where she has been involve in Feminine Literature, Gender and Literature. She was Director of Academic Affairs in UB from 1999 till 2005 when she was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Teaching. From 2007, Dr. Nalova was Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Professionalization and Development of Information and Communication Technolgies until Friday when she was elevated to the post of VC by Presidential Decree No. 2012/33 of 29 July 2012.

          On hand during the installation ceremony were Bakweri chiefs on behalf of South West Chiefs, who poured royal blessings on Nalova. Prominent among the elites in attendance was Rt.Hon.Chief.Justice Benjamin Itoe who urged all Cameroonians of goodwill to appreciate the merits in Dr. Nalova.

          The DETECTIVE observed that the expectations of staff and students are high, ranging from rebuilding the image of UB, ensuring staff discipline, ensure proper lighting on campus, improving on the transcript situation, to several others.

                                                                       By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

Disgusting Affair Disclosed:

When Will Some Teachers Stop Intimidating Students?   

         Teaching is a noble profession and every teacher has the responsibility of dishing out knowledge is a holistic manner so that Cameroon can boost of scholars worthy in both character and in learning.

          Despite better efforts by education authorities to put order and sanity in the education milieu, it is still unarguably evident that there still exist vices ranging from vehement absenteeism by teachers, corruption, and sexually transmitted marks syndrome amongst others. These practices are probably exercised by persons who have misfired in their career and have found themselves in the teaching profession of honour and dignity as a last resort.

          This is in the likes of this highly praised English language teacher of a school fondly called “jungle” in Kosala- Kumba, who for the past four years has been sexually intimidating this rather unquestionably innocent female student, Hostensia (other names withheld).

          Hostensia, 17, revealed that, this unexpected and forceful relationship with her teacher has its genesis from the 2006/2007 academic year when she was still in Form Three. The teacher (names withheld) had given every student the impression that poor Hostensia was his daughter and their intimacy was clear proof of the expression of fatherly love. Hostensia, in her euphoric comportment had little knowledge that her English teacher which she held in high esteem, in his late 30s, had a hidden agenda.

          She further disclosed that Mr. Teacher, married and father of two had been giving her money during break and equally bought her a Graded English textbook. As if not enough, he paid for her second term 2009 holiday classes even without her consent.

          When little Hostensia got to Form five in 2009 after attaining the state of maturity with her “coca-cola bottle” shaped buttocks and attractive breast, the English teacher could no longer bear his enormous and exceedingly huge insatiable desire for girls worth his biological daughter’s age.

          After several vain attempts to let Hostensia succumb to his advances, he unjustifiably suspended Hostensia from his classes on grounds of insolence. Helpless Hostensia in the midst of hectic preparations ahead of her 2009 GCE Ordinary Level exams could not report the matter to school authorities because such an action would have cause her instantaneous dismissal, for the teacher in question is an influential member of the school disciplinary council. Hostensia was brilliant enough to pass the GCE but failed in English Language.

          Hostensia’s success in evading was temporal, for the teacher did not intend to commune in the agony of his failure forever. His determination to carry out a perverse deed was still enshrined in absolute perpetuity.

          Vulnerable Hostensia had only dodged the “wahala” for a while but not her pursuer. When she came into Lower Sixth in the same school, it was still the wanton teacher who was to teach English in Literature. Frustrated and under serious intimidation, she finally gave in to Mr. Teacher’s proposal in a rendezvous at the teacher’s Mbonge Road domicile in Kumba.

          Cleverly carried out investigations by The DETECTIVE confirm that Mr. Teacher almost raped Hostensia in one longtime hotel around Mbonge Road Junction when he found out that she was on menstruation. She was fortunate enough that day.

          This is just one case among the so many ugly and painful experiences where unscrupulous teachers do impious acts unperturbed. Only God knows how many students have fallen prey to him and his cohorts in crime! While school administrators put in colossal efforts to maintain a morally acceptable teacher-student relationship, the “bad guys” spend precious duty time doing the contrary. Teachers with uncontrollable sexual urge, leave uncorrupt, decent and pure little girls alone!

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

‘EXCESSIVE’ RESTRICTIONS: UB HOSTEL OCCUPANTS BEMOAN

          Despite better efforts by the authorities that be to put order and make the University of Buea (UB) Halls of Residence a comfortable place to live in, it appears that some of its occupants, predominantly consisting of female students are not happy with a number of restrictions which they term ‘excessive’.

          There is actually no gainsaying that the campus hostel reserved for over 100 females only, is of good hygienic standards, with its offer of serenity away from the bustle of Molyko. Couple to this is the constant water flow, the steady electricity supply and the provision of meals, which all together can galvanise into proper studies and nation building.

          As well as there are many facilities at the UB Halls of Residence, there are equally some major restrictions. Students are not permitted to cook, while no male person visits the occupants in their rooms, irrespective of the relationship.

          While some campus hostel occupants argue that restaurant meals save them form the stress of cooking after classes, others particularly foreigners, are of the opinion that the restaurant meals are usually not tasteful enough for their satisfaction. As such, they should be allowed to cook.

          According to some UB hostel occupants who talked to this reporter on grounds of anonymity, the restrictions of male persons form entering the hostel is considered to be abnormal and an ‘excessive’ restriction. “The authorities seem not to understand that we are big female students. Family members come to visit but are not allowed, all in the name of boyfriends and “sugar daddies”…A convent is even better”.

          The Pointer observed that some girls have gone to the extent of establishing suspicious relationships with the security guards for special favour in either returning late after the 10pm time limit or simply having exit at any point in time.

          At the UB Halls of Residence gate, the impression is quite often given that the campus police officers are serious enough to crush a violent criminal. Yet, many are girls who can not sleep at night with both eyes closed. If vandals are not around to sexually assault them, then it should be thieving idiots who come for their “daily bread”.

          Though it seems the many prevailing malpractices have not come to the notice of the hostel warden, most of the hostel occupants look forward with great expectations for changes in policies and security.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

PAP LEADER DECRIES EXPLOITATION BY TWO UTILITY COMPANIES IN CAMEROON

While Remaining Steadfast, Hon. Ayah says AES/SONEL and SNEC (CAMWATER) Will Unjustly Enrich Themselves With 3197 billion 460 million francs by 2035.

Hon. Paul Ayah Abine, PAP (People’s Action Party) chairman, has strongly criticise the mistreatment of Cameroonians  by two utility companies- AES/SONEL and SNEC (better still CAMWATER) with naked arrogance. Hon. Ayah expressed his commitment to kick against this gross exploitation while talking to The DETECTIVE at the PAP zonal secretariat in Buea, Monday May 7, 2012.

The PAP presidential candidate disclosed that, every month, the utility companies involve in the distribution of electricity and water, collect  668 and 780 francs from every Cameroonian subscriber in a form of extortion veiled in the euphemism “meter rent” despite the fact that some of these subscribers live below the poverty line.

According to Ayah, if there are 8 million subscribers, the companies will extort per month respectively 5 billion 344 million and 6 billion 240 million, and together 11 billion 584 million francs. The amount per year respectively is 64 billions 128 million, and 74 billions 880 million; and together 139 billion 8 million francs.

In 10 years therefore, the innocent subscribers will enrich the two utility companies with the staggering sum of 1390 billion 80 million francs. “Enough money to tar one thousand three hundred and ninety kilometres of road at one billion franc per kilometre. Yet, we are waiting to become an emergent state by 2035. By that time, we would have enriched AES/SONEL and SNEC unjustly with the sum of 3197 billion 460 million francs”, Ayah added.

The most disgusting fact, Ayah noted is that, these meters subscribers are obliged to rent, cost less than 7500 francs in the market. He also mentioned that the subscribers have to queue helplessly for days before paying bills out of their hard-earned income.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG

UNIVERSITY OF BUEA STUDENT JOURNALISTS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Student journalists of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication in the University of Buea, have joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2012.

Gathered at the Open Air Amphitheatre under the canopy of the Association of Student Journalists in the University of Buea (ASJUB), participants brainstormed over ASJUB’s press freedom day theme: “Media freedom in promoting professional ethics”.

During the celebration, former CRTV’s Nchechuma Banla, now in charge of media relations at the Port Authority in Douala, decried the phenomenon of quacks hijacking the journalism profession for their parochial interest. While delivering a paper on “unprofessional activities by quacks; damages caused to the journalism profession in Cameroon”, Nchechuma cited that these ‘okrika journalists’ have reduced journalism to a pedestrian vocation, with the greatest casualty being North West fons and NOWEFU.

Another guest speaker, David Chuyeh Bohnyu, South West Regional Director of CRTV, pointed out the level of press freedom within the public media, using CRTV as case study, while Barrister Njualem Charles, explained how the law is a vital tool in promoting responsible journalism.

According to ASJUB President Kiven Benoit, ASJUB celebrates press freedom day so as to pay tributes to fallen heroes and to promote freedom of expression as the foundation for human dignity and the cornerstone of democracy. In this light, ASJUB’s press freedom cake was dedicated to late Bibigota while sketches and choral music graced the event attended by journalism educators, media practitioners, student journalists, among others.

It should be noted that, World Press Freedom Day is to raise awareness of the importance of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Winhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.

By AMINDEH BLAISE ATABONG