Ntumfor Nico Halle stands tall at NACDA golden jubilee

From Leinyuy Marilyn, on special assignment in Awing

International legal consultant and renowned peace crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle was visibly the star of the day as thousands converged on Awing on Saturday November 17, 2012, to celebrate the village’s golden jubilee. Not only was the NACDA golden jubilee where he was the organizing chairman more than successful; members of the diplomatic community in Cameroon, top government functionaries, politicians and traditional rulers were present.

The ceremonial ground at the Awing fon’s palace esplanade saw a massive population turn out from sons and daughters of Awing, both home and abroad as well as guests from different parts of the country were in Awing to live history. The ceremonial ground was decorated with the flags of the ten countries that have stood by Awing village to boost its development efforts.

The ceremony that started with an ecumenical service with the Gospel drawn from the book of Leviticus 25:8-13 saw the people of Awing counting their many blessings and achievements from the Almighty God, praying that God should touch the government so that their village can be upgraded into a Subdivision.

In his Golden Jubilee speech after the ecumenical service, Professor Mbangwana said NACDA was created in 1962 and it is today having structures nation-wide and in the Diaspora. He said the association has as its mission to unite all Awing elite towards the fostering of socio-cultural and economic development of Awing through self-reliance initiatives and to promote the citizen spirit of law abiding, peace and unity to all Awing people while equally projecting a good image of the fondom.

Their achievements, 50 years after, Mbangwana said, is also thanks to the support from their friends and partners, organizations and foreign countries like Switzerland, Denmark, the United kingdom, the  United States, Germany, including organizations like Dutch Embassy, African Development Bank (ADB),the world Bank, French Development Agency, , CERAC, GP-DERUDEP and the Cameroon government.

Ntumfor crowned most successful NACDA president

For his part, NACDA president general, Ntsonkefo’o Peter Akote in appreciating past and present NACDA presidents general, , hailed Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle who was president between 1998 and 2004 for a job well done. He stressed that under Ntumfor, a multi-purpose Awing fon’s palace was constructed and he named it a mirror and pearl of the elite. As the palace re-construction progressed on, he continued, the electricity project was again launched by the development luminary. Ntumfor, he said, had told the population that a good palace cannot be left in darkness. He therefore resolved to connect electricity from Matazem-Santa to the Awing fon’s palace.

The NACDA president general described Ntumfor Nico Halle as a role model who  many aspiring youths look up to realise their dreams of becoming great men.

NACDA’s achievements

Within 50 years, NACDA has achieved the following; opening of schools including mission, private and government nursery, primary, secondary and technical schools, construction of classrooms and provision of benches, constructed and maintained a good road network system,  availability of pipe borne water to about 63% of the population of Awing, built and renovated the fon’s palace, built and maintained bridges, provided electricity, health care, a community hall and existence of pit latrines in homes and markets to improve the sanitation of the people; just to name a few.

It is worth mentioning that if NACDA has achieved this much, it is more so thanks to participatory development, patriotism, culture of hard work and most especially careful and transparent management of resources. NACDA equally has the responsibility to build the capacity of members to know their rights and duties and to pay their taxes without grumbling and make them to know that one cannot share in the national cake without working hard.

Arts and culture minister, Ama Tutu Muna occupied with other pressing state duties was represented by her technical adviser who brought in the sum of 2 MFCFA.

British high commissioner, Barrack Joshie, who was present at the occasion hailed Awing elite for always taking the first step to develop their village before sourcing for foreign assistance. “This explains why we have always stood by this village to give assistance when the need arises” the high commissioner said.

Dorothy Njeuma, an ELECAM board member who was in the company of her daughter, a pilot, appreciated the dynamism of the Awing people. She saw them as a peaceful, united and development oriented people worth emulating.

Ntumfor Nico Halle in appreciating the high level Nigerian officials present at the occasion like the high commissioner in Yaounde, the consul general for Littoral and West regions and the consul general for South West and North West regions, said it was an indication that the Green Tree accord President Paul Biya of Cameroon and the then Nigerian President, Olusengun Obasanjo signed before the then UN secretary general, Koffi Annan was working smoothly. He noted that Ndong Awing pays very high attention to peace, unity, development and hospitality.

Also in attendance were the SDF national chairman, John Fru Ndi, the Swiss ambassador to Cameroon, Urs Berner, former Governor Fai Yengo Francis, Cameroon ambassador to Congo, Chungong Ayafor, SDF MP, Hon. Tumasang Paul, the Nigerian vice president in Bamenda, over 25 fons among other important personalities.

To spice up the ceremony, NACDA launched the jubilee monument and “Smiling Awing” magazine. The people were also entertained with a beautiful ballet dance group from some Awing natives, chanting of the Awing golden jubilee song, fashion parade as well as presentation from various cultural dance groups from the people of Awing and different neighbouring villages.