It was all an atmosphere of jubilation, self
fulfillment and enthusiasm that ushered thousands of laureates, family members
and friends into the ceremonial hall of the Tubah Council where they were to be
recognized for the great works they did in the course of the year 2013.This was
during the dual ceremony of the World Echoes Newspaper 6th Anniversary and the Awards of
honours to 2013 prosperity Icon laureates as selected by the Newspaper’s Award
Management committee.
In his introductory remarks, the publisher/editor of
World Echoes Newspaper, Tamukong Roland Angong pointed out that after six
years, and through a sample collective survey, some Cameroonians had been
selected by the community as outstanding individuals who have contributed to
the prosperity of society as well as their own individual fulfillment .He
pointed out that after a rigorous exercise they were gathered to grab the
awards that crowned their efforts.
To underscore the critical importance of the ceremony,
a high mass to call on God to cover the laureates was said early that Saturday
morning during which the men of God called on the Almighty Father to protect
the Laureates. The Award certificates which also had the inscription of
covering all the winners with the blood of Jesus drew thunderous applause when
it was first presented to the mammoth crowd that jammed the Tubah Council Hall
to overflow capacity.
For the first time , winners travelled all the way
from neighbouring Nigeria to grab an award in Cameroon. This was the presence
of the Director of Research and Development of the Institute of Loan and Risk
Management of Lagos Nigeria, with a very powerful delegation. Inspired by the
World Echoes Awards, Innocent Ozumba said beyond creating a centre in Cameroon
and already in discussions with the Minister of Employment and Vocational
Training ,his institute will go the extra mile ,thanks to World Echoes
Newspaper to chat the possibility of starting up degree programmes in Risk and
Loan Management, beginning with the University of Bamenda.
Prior to his
intervention ,it is a thunderous and ambiance packed atmosphere that ushered in
the 2013 World Echoes Prosperity Icon Man of the Year in the person of
Professor Peter Abety .An elated and highly spirited Peter Abety said ever
since grabbing an award as the best Cameroonian Poet and Writer in 1991,he
could not hide his joy being honoured by World Echoes .He further stated that
the award was a clear indication that life has become better .Being a diehard
militant of the CPDM, Abety explained that in the not too distant past, the north west was at war with itself,
traditional rulers fighting each other, inter tribal wars land conflicts just
to name a few. But today, he said thanks to collective effort peaceful
co-existence ,especially in politics has come to stay .It is for working
towards these ideals that Abety said he had been honoured. He added that though
he served as a government minister for eight years travelling with the head of
state to all parts of the world, he has been particularly humbled and
challenged by the prosperity Icon Award. For this reason, he pledged to get
back to work and do his best for people to live better.
The enigmatic mayor of Tubah Tanjong Martin who hosted
the event and doubled as a laureate for his part welcomed the guests to his
council premises promising them all the hospitality that a home can provide to
anybody.
Tanjong who grabbed the award as the Prosperity Icon
in democracy and transparency said it was more challenging for him because in
less than two months he has been honoured thrice. He however went further to
say that receiving an award from his own municipality and his own council
chambers was even more demanding because it is a call to duty .He said his
biggest wish is the fact that if he is to get another award next year ,it
should be for the development that he has carried out .It is for this reason
that he said whatever development means ,he would do all it takes to deliver it
to the Tubah people.
The mayor of Bamenda II council, Balick Awah Fidelis
who was Best Mayor of the Year, said he remains indebted to World Echoes
Newspaper for making him know that his efforts have not gone unnoticed .He said
for 24 years, his party has been working to make democracy a reality in
Cameroon and that they would stop at nothing to make it a reality. It is at
this point in time that Balick received acclamation for the beautiful town hall
that he constructed .This achievement even made the minister of Territorial
Administration and Decentralization ,Rene Emmanuel Sadi to travel all the way from Yaounde to
inaugurate the structure. During that inauguration event the minister lauded
Balick for using more money than he received to construct the council chambers.
Mayor Balick later told pressmen that the World Echoes Award was the best
organized in the history of awards in the region. He said he would live up to
the expectations of the newspaper.
Pastor Wara Solomon who prayed for the start of the
ceremony was also one of the laureates who grabbed the Award as Best Pastor of
the Year and his RAMAH Christian center was recognized as the best Religious
institutition. During his spiritual intervention, the man of God called on the
Almighty father to let his grace be felt by laureates. He said if God be for
the laureates, no one can be against on them to stand by what had made them to
win the awards.
One of the high points of the event was that for the
first time ,two catholic friars who won the awards personally turned up at the
ceremony to collect them Rev Fr Roberto Pirovano and Rev.Fr Joachim of the
Capuchin Friary Bambui. Other laureates
who were also very prominent at the event include the management of Moghamo
Travel Agency ,the Divisional officer of Tubah, Alim Garga who personally
answered present, the Divisional delegate of economy, planning and regional
development for Ngoketunjia,Mr Tamfu Denis, Dr Chenui Peter, the DO of Ndop, the director of the women empowerment centre
Ndop, Nee Cecilia Ndi, amongst a host of other laureates. The ceremony was also
accompanied by Popping of wine, wining and dining.
By Tamukong Roland
