( Akume Danis, EDECA President General)
The Enyandong Development and Cultural Association EDECA met in Enyandong over the weekend to strategize on how to foster their development and improve the livelihood of the community. With the construction of the Bangem-Nguti road passing through Enyandong, EDECA the socio-economic and development arm of the village is already strategizing on how best to improve development in the community. Eco OUTLOOK Newspaper talked to EDECA President general Akume Danis Ebong to know more about the association, its achievements and future plan of action.
Q 1) You are the president of EDECA. Can we know what this association is all about.
EDECA is Enyandong Development and Cultural Association. This is an apolitical association, with the executive and judicial organs entirely in the hands of the chiefs who is the custodian of the village, his councilors and the ‘Mbwoh’( the people). If we divide the village into three arms (the executive, judicial and social and economic organs) we can say that EDECA falls under the social and economic organ and controls it with the supervision of the chiefs.
EDECA has as President general myself Akume Divine, secretary general and vice secretary, national financial secretary, treasurer, advisers etc.
For example Professor Akume Daniel, Ngale Ebong(former President) and Madame Ticklar are advisers. We are concerned with and spearhead all developmental and social activities or projects of the village. This organ is answerable to the chiefs and must liaise with the traditional authority in all its operations.
Q 2) What was the meeting was all about.
The meeting was about strategizing how to better foster our development. This development association started long ago even before I was born. I will like to salute the pioneers like Pa Sumbele , Pa Ngalame Ntoko, Pa Kale and others, some still alive. The carried out development projects that helped changed the phase of the Enyandong and we are really grateful for their efforts. With our GOD given son at the time John Ebong Ngole, may his soul RIP, they carried many projects, bringing pipe born water, electricity, technical college , bringing teachers to these schools here etc. Our forefathers did a lot.
Unfortunately the socio-economic upheavals that came here from 2016-2021 stalled every development efforts and the association became dormant because of high insecurity and everyone was afraid to come to the village.
With the returned of peace, we the young ones decided in 2022 to revive EDECA. From there we have been doing a lot of things. We are now focused on building a befitting PCC Church. You know that the pioneer PCC Moderator the Rt Rev Abraham Ngole came from Enyandong.
Since the PCC could not build a church in his honour, we ( EDECA) have decided to start something. In collaboration with the Enyandong PCC congregation we have just completed the roofing of this church structure. I want to salute Mr Nkale for coordinating the project. We have been re-elected to carry further this projects though our mandate was over after three years in line with the constitution but the population re-elected us to stay on and continue the good work. We are embarking now on plastering and putting up the protectors.
We also have plans to add solar energy to better light up the village streets, People have solar lamps in their houses but we need it in our streets as well. We also plan to support some students in their education , some type of scholarship to promote quality education in Enyandong.
Q What were some of the RESOLUTIONS during the meeting.
Accelerate development projects in Eyandong, bring Enyandong children in and out of the country to come onboard. A forum bringing all the different branches together have been created. The more we are in numbers, the more income for development we can generate. WE encourage our members to pay their annual dues in due time.
Q Any last word to the Enyandong people.
All leaders have to appeal and advise their people. My appeal is that all Enyandong children should come onboard. We should think, sleep, wear Enyandong physically and in spirit. If we come together we can move mountains.
I must admit that the problem we have now is how we work together with our brothers across the Mbue river.
Enyandong is one and indivisible though the river geographically made it that our brothers in Tchokte are over the river. But we are one and will always remain as one. We keep calling on our Enyandong-Tchokte brothers to know that what our forefathers have put together nobody can separate. We live in harmony even with our neighbors. Elah village our neighbors has water today thanks to Enyandong that connected them.
We have been crying the problem of roads. Thank God the roads have come and development will obviously follow. That is why we are calling on our elite at home and abroad to come and put up befitting structure and businesses that will improve our economy and the wellbeing of the population.
EDECA Meeting deliberations( Above)
Newly constructed PCC Church house by EDECA(below)
