Nguti Subdivision: NGUSCUDA Revived, Elites Earmark Development Projects, Chiefs Commit to Cleansing Land

By Nadesh E

Amongst the 360 subdivisions in Cameroon, Nguti is the most enclaved and neglected, contributing to its acute backwardness. This also accounts for why Nguti is one of the most-hit areas of the current socio-political crisis due to inaccessibility. Poor earth roads, no electricity, no portable drinking water, and limited health facilities characterize 80% of the subdivision buried in the hinterlands.

“Since the government will not do all the development work for us, there is a need for sons and daughters of the subdivision to come together under one association and devise ways to alleviate themselves from the sufferings brought by the crisis and underdevelopment,” said Mr. Ndoh Johnson, an elite of Nguti subdivision.

It was for this development reason and the need to bring peace to the subdivision that Nguti elites, chiefs, and administrators gathered at the All Nguti People’s Conference in Yaounde on March 5, 2022, convened and financed by the General Manager of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund (CSPH), Mr. Ndoh Johnson Okie who is also a son of the soil.

At the enlarged gathering of over 160 sons and daughters of the subdivision, the abandoned Nguti Subdivision Cultural and Development Association – NGUSCUDA, was revived with much energy centered around boosting the socio-economic lives of the local population and elites.

Alluding to existing associations of sister subdivisions like BACDA by Bangem elites and TACUDA by Tombel elites, the organizer of the conference, Honourable Fonge Julius, Member of Parliament for Nguti subdivision said, uniting under a common association will help canvass resources, bring unity, and foster development in the subdivision. 

According to Honourable Fonge, NGUSCUDA will be that platform where sons and daughters of the subdivision will come together to discuss their problems and come up with solutions to help one another.

The convenor, GM Ndoh Johnson, insisted on the representation of all the clans and ethnic groups in the subdivision in NGUSCUDA so that development spreads across all areas.

Going by the plan of action for socio-economic development presented at the conference:

• A microfinance institution will be created with contributions from all the clans to cater to the financial needs and investments of the people.
• An Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD) extension service based in Mboka will be established to equip farmers with the necessary skills and resources for farming.
• Encourage women entrepreneurship to empower themselves and their children.
• A caretaker committee to follow up the resolutions arrived at, with one representative from each of the 12 clans under the supervision of the Member of Parliament, Hon. Fonge Julius and General Manager of CSPH, Mr Ndoh Johnson. Sub-committees were created like road, transformation, database in which each clan has a representative.

The insecurity in the various villages in the subdivision was a major issue that came up at the conference. Elites and chiefs from these areas attested to the insecurity slowing down development activities.

Tasked by the convenor of the conference with cleansing the land, the members of the Nguti Chiefs Conference via their president, Chief Etuge Augustine, reassured elites of an imminent cleansing of the land. Of all the three subdivisions in Kupe Muanenguba, Nguti still remains very insecure. Bangem and Tombel are doing well: schools going on, economic activities flourishing, and insecurity at its minimum.

Elites at the event appreciated the initiative to not only serve as a unifier but as an avenue to catch up with events they have missed. To the CDC Board Chair, Mr Hope Sona Ebai, the conference has helped him to reconnect with issues that have been happening. He also used the conference to advise elites to take advantage of the policy of decentralization, contribute to building Cameroon, and benefit from it.

Sone Bayen Frankline from Upper Balong says it was weird for a subdivision like Nguti, with diverse ethnic groups and clans, not to have an association to play a coordinating role for the interests of the different fractions. Hence, the idea of revamping NGUSCUDA is a timely one.

The ball has been set rolling for Nguti elites to join NGUSCUDA. They are expected to show interest in joining with a registration fee of FCFA 1,000 and for the microfinance institution to be created in 6 months. The work is left in the hands of the caretaker committee to commence.