Free holiday classes, holiday jobs, football tourney end in style
- Mayor launches 2015/2016 Scholarship Scheme & Financial Assistance for the old
- Buea populations hail Mayor for open-mindedness and people-centred politics
By Che Sam “Gaucher” in Buea
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| Buea Mayor (2nd left) flanked by veteran politician Ekundi Rey (L) and Njie Mandengue (R) |
It was with this sense of fulfillment and perhaps, his characteristic dynamism and workaholic disposition that, barring the heavy down pour, Mayor Ekema on Monday 31st August, cruised from one end of the town to the other to personally preside over the end of the 2015 free holiday classes and the holiday jobs program, both of which were organized and sponsored by the Buea Council.
Accompanied by his four deputies and some councilors and stakeholders in the running of the Buea Municipality, Mayor Ekema began his very charged itinerary at the gymnasium of the Bilingual Grammar High School BGHS Molyko Buea, where he presided over the closing ceremony of the one-month free holiday classes.
Welcoming the Mayor and his entourage, the Principal of BGHS Buea, Mme Loyce Ikome, thanked the Mayor for choosing BGHS Molyko to host the maiden edition of the free holiday classes. She hailed the monitors and teachers for the high level of professionalism and duty consciousness exhibited throughout the holiday program, saying the lessons thought will help the pupils and students in no small measure when they go back to their respective schools.
In a demonstration of what they had learnt during the one month, the nursery and primary school kids presented beautiful rhymes, poems and songs in both English and in French. They also debated intelligently on the theme: “Are holiday classes important?”
Mayor Ekema and his entourage could not conceal their joy, when the kids sang a song they specially composed for the Mayor thanking him for helping them acquire knowledge free of charge.
No sooner did the Primary School Kids leave the stage than their Secondary School counterparts announce their entry with Tata Kinge’s hit track “PANYA”. Visibly electrified, the entire high table got up and joined the students in demonstrating their mastery of the Bakweri traditional dance, the “Nganya”.
There was ‘farotage’ agogo, as the Mayor displayed another dose of his trademark largesse, spraying the youngsters with clean bank notes. Members of the mayor’s entourage also did like their boss.
Mounting the rostrum later, the Chairperson of the organizing committee for the holiday classes, Dr. Mrs. Ojongnkpot, who doubles as the 4th Deputy Mayor of the Buea Council, thanked Mayor Ekema for the wonderful initiative of affording knowledge even to the poor and underprivileged.
Certificates of Honour to actors
Mrs. Ojongnkpot announced the award of Certificates of Honour to some persons including notably the Principal of BGHS Buea, the Vice Principals and the coordinators of the primary and secondary sections of the holiday classes among others. The Mayor and some of his collaborators handed the certificates.
Prizes were also given to the overall best student of the holiday classes, Ekume Doreen who scored an average of 19/20. The 2nd and 3rd students also had prizes.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Assistant DO of Buea, Mrs. Margaret Ebot Tabi hailed the Mayor and councilors of the Buea Council for the wonderful initiative. She urged parents and school authorities not to relent in their respective roles of educating the children. She advised school authorities to tighten security in the school milieu especially at this time of the Boko Haram scare.
Closing up the queue of speakers, the Lord Mayor hailed the authorities of BGHS Buea for the benevolent sacrifices they made during the four weeks of the holiday classes. Announcing that the holiday classes have come to stay Mayor Ekema challenged the organizing committee to make sure the 2016 edition is better than this first edition.
Holiday Classes in all Court Areas
He apologized to the 3 court areas that could not benefit from the opportunity due to proximity constraints, the Mayor announced that the 2016 edition will be organized in all the four court areas of Buea including Bonjongo, Bolifamba Mile 16 and Bonavada.
Mayor Ekema also assured the authorities of GBHS Buea that the Council will clean up the campus of the school and also construct a modern pit toilet for the students.
BGHS Buea hailed for GCE performance
He hailed the authorities of BGHS Buea for the wonderful performance of the school at this year’s GCE “A” Level exams. Mayor Ekema personally awarded scholarships to four of the students who excelled in the GCE ‘A’ Levels. Two of the students, Daniel Elango Atonge and Ndeng Randolf Ottia were promised tuition fees for three school years in any State University of their choice, while two others Noumbiss Valery Chris and Nane Ekoke Ewang each got one year tuition.
2015/2016 Scholarship scheme launched
The Mayor invited the Principal of BGHS to personally attend the launching on 11 September of the Council’s 2015/2016 Scholarship Program, saying that the checks for the scholarship awards to the four students would also be handed on the occasion.
“All through my seven years in BGHS Buea and since i left the prestigious institution almost two decades ago never did so many students pass the Advanced Level GCE in 5 papers like in this 2015 session,” Mayor Ekema said, calling on the authorities not to lie on her laurels but to redouble efforts towards a better performance next year.
Holiday Job Program ends
Leaving the BGHS campus, Mayor Ekema rushed back to the Council Chambers where he had to also preside over the end of the 2015 holiday jobs program.
Addressing the 250 students who participated in the program, he urged them to use the small money (25.000 FCFA each) that they received to assist their parents in buying some of their school needs, as they prepare for back to school.
Meanwhile, in a new development in the history of the Buea Municipality, the Mayor has announced a social security scheme for people above 60 years and who do not benefit any CNPS coverage. Mayor Ekema said this people would be identified and given periodic financial assistance.
Grand Final of Football tourney played
Then as we were going to press yesterday, we were informed that Mayor Ekema was also presiding over the ‘Grand Final’ of the Buea Council Holiday Football Tournament at the Buea Omnisports Stadium in Molyko. The Grand Final was the culmination of mini tournaments organized in all the four court areas of the Buea Municipality. We learnt that some over FCFA 3.5 million was invested in the tournament that has as objective to occupy the youths during the holiday period and also detect young talents.
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