Lebialem unity conference talk development

By AnuNkeze Paul

Lebialem elite poses with Bishop Nkea after Y’decometogether

The Chiefs, traditional rulers, notables, elites, sons and daughters of Lebialem Division in the South West Region have wrapped up a one day unity conference which chat a new development road map for the Division. This was on October 15, 2016 in the conference hall of St Joseph Parish in Mvog-Ada, Yaoundé.

                Holding under the theme “changing lives, building futures” the cometogether of Lebialem sons and daughters had as main objectives to discuss the upcoming 50th anniversary of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College and the Focolare Movement scheduled for 17 December 2016 in Lebang, Fontem. Developmental challenges of the division and how spiritual volunteerism has contributed in the strong human resource development of the division also came to focus.

                Addressing participants at the meeting, His Lordship Bishop Andrew Nkea, Bishop of Mamfe Diocese and a son of Lebialem said: “the only strength for development is unity; without unity no people can move forward. The Bible says: “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things will be added to you. Once there is love and unity amongst a people all other things like work positively, development, prosperity and riches will followed,” he said.

                The Bishop added that the Focolare Movement succeeded in all it development agenda because of the love that prevailed amongst them. He opined that the Lebialem man must persue that path to make the division great. There is no magic in life rather than living in love and unity. The Focolare Movement already set the pace for the Lebialem people. This is the only way to take the division out of suffering, backwardness and poverty, the holy man of God explained.

                On her part Mafor Diana Acha, former Chair lady of National Election Observatory (ONEL) and current Board Chair of National Investment Agency, called on all Lebialem people to remain proud of their origin and strengthen love and unity to follow their development objectives.

                Diana Acha also coordinated a fund raising to support the 50th anniversary and launched the sale of the anniversary lawn cloth. She said the two events - Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College Golden Jubilee and the Focolare Movement concerns all the Lebialem people because they made the division what it is today. They brought hope to many families in 1966 with the construction of Mary of Health Africa Hospital and opening of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, she said.

                Most discussions during the during the conference centred on development challenges as speaker after speaker made presentations and the way forward.

Many Focolare Movement workers also gave testimonies on their secret to keep up with the work of Madam Chiara Lubich, the founder of Focolare Movement and Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, many years after her dismissal.

                The unity conference brought together eleven Paramount Fons from Lebialem; Professor Ivo Leke Tambo, Secretary General in the Ministry of Secondary Education, Dr Boniface Fontem, Protocol fficer at the Presidency, Dr Diana AchaMarfaw, Gregory Alem Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Travel Agency and many other top dignitaries in the division.

                Over one thousand people within the national territory actively took part in the deliberations. The event ended with a strong commitment to foster development in the division.