Friday, March 29, 2013

LEADERSHIP AT A GLANCE THROUGH LISAC-PESPECTIVES!

Our concept of leadership development is shaped by our definition of a leader. Contrary to popular perception, a leader is not just the one at the top of the organization chart. Anyone who has the ability to influence how others think, feel and act can exercise a form of leadership. Anyone who is calling others to follow them as they follow Jesus is a leader. A recurring appeal from those within the Future Leadership Issue Group who work with children and youth was to recognize the leadership potential of these younger members of the Body of Christ — not just as future leaders of the Church, but as those with present potential to influence their classmates, their peers, and even those older than themselves to follow Christ. In many parts of the Body of Christ, women too have been overlooked in terms of their potential to exercise influence in moving groups of people toward God’s purposes, whether in the context of their families, or the church, or their community, or in Christian organizations. Because of these limited concepts of leadership, much of the leadership training that is provided is available only for adult men. Christian education provided to children and youth generally does not encourage them to think of themselves as those who can exercise spiritual influence and lead others. There are relatively fewer opportunities available to women than to men, especially in some regions of the world, to develop fully their God-given capacities or to exercise their God-given responsibilities to participate in the Great Commission. Often Christian leadership is considered only in relationship to the local church, whether the focus is on house churches, cell churches, or more traditional expressions of congregational life and pastoral duties. Leadership training and development has focused on developing skills for Bible teaching, counselling, small group leadership, and other “pastoral” functions. These areas are essential. However, less attention has been given to the Christian leader whose role involves administering the complexities of a larger Christian organization, whether as pastor of a multi-staff church, or director of a mission, or executive within a denomination, or principal of a Bible college, or president of a Christian development organization. Even less focus has been given to those whose role as Christian leader resembles that of Lydia, the business owner, or Nehemiah, the general contractor for a large urban redevelopment project, or Luke, the medical missionary with research and writing gifts, or Daniel, the scholar/administrator in government service. When the term “Christian leader” is understood only in terms of the church gathered for worship, rather than the church scattered in the marketplace, or primarily in terms of the local congregation rather than including the work of parachurch organizations, or only in terms of adult males rather than women and young people as well, then the task of leadership development will have a much narrower focus. When we remember that the task is that the whole church take the whole gospel to the whole world, and when we consider the great variety of gifts, capacities, responsibilities and opportunities given to the entire Body of Christ, then the possibilities for equipping and mobilizing people for ministries of influencing and leading multiply enormously. That is why we see the need to catalyze a “global movement” of developing Christ-like leaders. Five types of leaders: Expanding spheres of influence Since leadership is a process of influence, it is useful to employ a classification of leadership based not on formal job titles, or on levels of education, but on breadth of sphere of influence. The following classification for Christian leaders is adapted from a chapter by Dr. Edgar Elliston in Missiological Education for the 21st Century (Orbis, 1996). Even though the primary reference of this classification is to leaders in the church, it has broader application as well. Type 1 Leaders (Small Group Leaders) are leaders of small groups. These would include house church and cell group leaders, heads of families, Sunday School teachers, and others who have direct, face-to-face influence in guiding and encouraging a limited number of people. They would normally be unpaid, volunteer lay workers. Type 2 Leaders (Self-supporting Local Supervisors) are volunteer workers who supervise other volunteer workers in their own local area. Their influence is multiplied because they are encouraging and equipping others who are also leading, but their sphere of influence is still limited because of their other regular employment, and because of their focus on their own locality. In some cases these could be volunteer workers overseeing a ministry in a local church, or they could be an unpaid or very nominally paid pastor of a smaller congregation that consists of several home groups. This category could include self-supporting or “tent-making” pastors and missionaries, as well as volunteer supervisors of a number of house churches. Type 3 Leaders (Full-time Local Leaders) are leaders who are devoting most if not all of their time to the work of Christian leadership. These would include local church pastors, church-planters and missionaries, whether they devote all their time to one congregation, or to a circuit of several congregations in the same general locality. Some may be bi-vocational workers, but in such cases their Christian service would still be equivalent to a full-time job. Like the Type 2 leaders, they are also overseeing volunteer leaders, but their influence is broader because they have more time to devote to their task. Yet their focus is still limited to a particular locality. Type 4 Leaders (Regional Leaders) are leaders whose influence is felt within a region. They may be leaders of several mission teams, or the district supervisor of a number of full-time church workers, or the principal of a small Bible college that serves a particular state. Their ministry is generally indirect, in that they work with and through the local leaders who have the primary face-to-face contact with the people. The ministry of the regional leaders is generally in the vernacular, but they will also interface with national leaders, primarily within their own group or denomination. They may also have influence through their writing, but it is limited to their own region or local language. Type 5 Leaders (National Leaders) are leaders who have influence throughout the entire country, or internationally. They may be leaders of denominations, or national missions or Christian organizations, or training institutions that draw their students from the entire country. They may exercise influence through policy-making, writing, mass media, or speaking at national conferences, in addition to their personal influence on coworkers who have broad responsibilities themselves. Leaders of Type 4 and Type 5 may or may not be involved in Christian ministry full-time, but their influence clearly extends well beyond their own locality. All five types of leaders are crucially important for the growth and development of the church. The strength, health and speed of expansion of the church will depend largely on what have become the core values of Type 1 and 2 leaders. They are the ones who have the most direct and personal influence on the greatest number of believers. Their passions and priorities will establish the tone for the groups they lead, and will establish the base line for the whole movement. Do they honour the word of God? Are they servant-hearted, holy, sacrificial, compassionate and prayerful? Do they believe in the necessity of evangelism? Are they free to exercise their gifts and to innovate? Do they encourage others to join them in ministry as brothers and sisters and as fellow-members of the Body? Type 2 and 3 leaders are the key to rapid multiplication, since their influence is direct and personal, yet they are also investing themselves in other leaders. As they serve effectively, and reproduce other leaders, their impact will lead to multiplication rather than merely addition. Type 4 and 5 leaders are critical to keeping the movement on course and well resourced. They are in the best position to think strategically and to see new opportunities. When we look at any nation as a whole, it is evident that by far the largest number of leaders needed is Type 1 leaders and the smallest number are Type 5 leaders. When we look at approaches to leadership development, we need to consider the varying needs for each of the five types of leaders, but also the different spheres in which they exercise their influence, whether primarily in the church, or in a Christian organization, or in the marketplace. Contact: LISAC- Cameroon. Cow Street Nkewn Bamenda Phone: (00237) 7920-4667 or 33 160999 Email:mifangus2002@yahoo.com

Thursday, March 28, 2013

publisher or World Echoes Newspaper's Pictures

Wanted Uently!

Public Notice, Who so ever Knows the Where about of Findong Clive Tekoh or can give information leading to his arrest, is requested to contact the District Police of Nkwen urgently, a handsome reward shall be the cost. He is wanted for questioning on account of spreading the secessionist ideology of the Southern Cameroons National Council for a separate sovereign state of Southern Cameroon, which is illegal in the Republic of Cameroon.

Mayor Rebukes Anti Development Bafut Elite

Mayor Langsi Abel Ngwasuh, Mayor Bafut Council who doubles as chairman of the management committee of the Bafut District Hospital has rebuked Some Bafut elite over what he termed backstabbing and anti Development aiming to negatively pant his tenure dubious. The condemnation was voiced on February 12, 2013 on the occasion of the inauguration of the maternity building and reception of medical equipments and furniture for the Bafut District Hospital. The inaugurations and reception of the medical equipment included the reception of a new bridge leading to the government reserved area at Alonji, a block of two class rooms equipped with benches and teacher’s table, a cupboards a toilet and water point at GSS Agyati. The project has been realized in partnership with the National Community Driven Program PNDP. Speaking to clear the air on the accusation of the inauguration of the sponsored project by the council and funding body, to some of the elites, Mayor Langsi Abel Ngwasuh told them that while in his partnership mission with the Langsing city council in Michigan USA which has friendly ties with the Bafut council, stories speculated he was given a caterpillar meant for the Bafut Manjong Development Project. The caterpillar, he went on was hidden by him, the Fon of Bafut HRH Abumbi II and the president of Bafut Manjong Development union Fusi Namumkong. He went on and elaborated that, he the Fon and the president of the Manjong Bafut union hid it some where and were collecting money form the population to later bring out the caterpillar for selfish reasons. The Mayor wanted those enemies of progress to continue gnashing their teeth in anger and frustration while the train of Development moves on. Confusion he said brings down the development effort of some Bafut elite to the detriment of the needing population. On development train, the Mayor, Langsi Abel used the occasion and thanked the members of “Achamboo “for their developmental effort. The members have donated twelve modem medium size wooden beds with mattresses with some facilities costing over 1.200.000FCFA. The group formed in Mbengwi in 1999 by some Bafut elites who worked there, had the vision to mount series of development projects in their council area. The president of the Achamboo social group Tangye Joseph Ambe on his part highlighted that, since health is wealth and so a healthy person is therefore a wealthy person. Reasons why he and his Achamboo members have chosen the health sector to commence their Development assistance. He has advised the elite from their different localities to do all it takes to form associations and develop Bafut to become a modern community. In the chain of speeches presented during the august event, the principal of GSS Agyati chinwi Emmanuel Ngwa while he received the two modem classrooms, water point, toilet and benches appreciated the council through the mayor and his development partners PNDP for the donation. As Oliver Twist, wanting more, he requested for an administrative block to handle administrative matters and a GCE strong room as they pioneers write their GCE in 2015. He used the forum and challenged the community to be aware that, peace and stability can only be achieved in society by upright and responsible citizenship. Responsible citizenship he went on can only be achieved also by being molded, changed, filled and used for the development of society in provided structures. Speaking earlier, the regional delegate for public health for the North West region, Ndiforchu Victor on his part, called on the population of Bafut to be aware that, a maternity with no use will have no impact to it existence. They should make judicious use of the hospital. The RDH promised that, Bafut was the first to receive a maternity in the region with a low maternity cost of only 2000 francs paid for any delivery case in the hospital. No franc will be added for any complicated delivery, He warned. It will be recalled that, a wilderness cry ushered by the population on the dubious extortions of money by staff of the hospital during consultation of delivery or sick cases has come to rest seeing from the faces of the population during the pronouncement of the low cost by the Regional Delegate for public health for the North West, Ndiforchu Victor.

UBa ARE WE BUILDING OR TEARING? Ndikum Peter

On the 9 of December 2010, President Paul Biya on the occasion of llie commcmorution of the 50 anniversary of our armed forces said, "Ceci ne nous empecherapas, a plus long terme, de prevoir la construction d'un barrage hydro-electrique sur Ie cours de la Menchum.Mais Ie developpement c'est aussi I'accession du plus grand nombre aux sciences et aux techniques. C'est ce quo nous nous sommcs appliques a faire en ouvrant a I'Ecole Normale Superieure Annexe de Ramhili,en Mars 2009,18 departements couvrant autant de disciplines au niveau des lers et des 2emes cycles de I'enseignement superieure. L 'ojfre deformation a I'ENSAB est dvsormais I 'une des p]us importantes au Cameroun .Elle accueille actuellement environ 3500 ctudiants et pourra ulterieurement en recevoir davantage lorsque Ie programme d'extension des infrastructures en cows aura ete mene a bien. Ainsi se trouve deja pose Ie probleme de Sa Transformation en universite de plein droit, jouissant de I'autonomie que sa taille et son role justificnt pleinement. That is 'why I am pleased to announce to you that I have decided to create the University of Bamenda!" By decree No 2010/3:72 of 14th December 2010,President Paul Biya rendered his declaration Concrete by creating the University of Bamenda. On October 1st 2011 the Pro Chancellor and Vice Chancellor were appointed and on the 3rd of October 2011, they were installed in Bambili by the Chancellor of Academic Orders, Prof Jacque Fame Ndongo. This was in the Presence of a cross section of North West elite, those who lobbied for this University and who had that responsibility of making it grow. This was the realization of the CCAST Complex Vision that the fathers of this nation in the likes of Pa John Ngu Foncha had. Naming and Locating Like other state universities, UBa needed both a physical and an intellectual setting. A close look at these Universities will tell us that they came as a result of the transformation of some existing educational institutions. University of Ngaoundere—Food Technology School (ENSIAC) University of Buea—School of Translation and Interpretation (ASTI) University of Douala—Higher Technical Teachers Training College (ENSET) University of Dcshang— School of Agronomy (ENSA) ENS and ENSET Bambili therefore served as pillars of the University of Bamenda. The vision of UBa is "to be a leading national institution of higher learning geared towards meeting present and future development challenges through efficient teaching, research and sterling innovation". The challenge is now ours, as citizens of this nation, to build the school and help the officials of UBa keep the vision alive. That a university of this caliber (six faculties and five schools) can operate on a single campus, is an intellectual farce given the resources we have. On the basis of this, some political elite and traditional rulers from the North West Region, began speculating, Suggesting and lobbying for the placements of faculties, schools or offices in ''x" or "y" Locality for purely economic and/or political motives; Aware of all these, ProfJacque Fame Ndongo in a letter to the Vice Chancellor dated 18th April 2012 writes "I kindly wish to draw your attention to the fact that the inhabitants of Bamenda have to feel the presence of the University in their region although there is no argument with the seat of the said university, it is practically impossible for its structures and Establishments to be located entirely on its current site". Discord; On the 8th of January 2013, the SDO of Mezam published prefectoral order No 03PO/E29/712/S2 setting up a site board commission for the selection of a parcel of land for the construction of the chancellery and residence of the vice chancellor of UBa in Bamendankwe, considering letter No 012/1614/UBa/VC/Cab/nyf of 11th December 2012 from the vice Chancellor ofUBa. Few days later, in his meet the people tour in Tubah Suh-Division, the SDO met with fierce arguments and protests against the attempts of the Vice Chancellor to move the seat of UBa out of Dambili-Tubah Sub Division. On the 21st of January 2013,the youths of Tubah staged a public demonstration in llambili where they handed a memorandum through the DO of Tubah to the Head of State in which they questioned "why the 112 Hectares of land reserved by our forefathers in pre independent Cameroon for the development of higher education in the then Anglophone Cameroon has been ignored by ProfTafah Edokat" They assert, "we the youth of Tubah, -are not against decentralization -are against the decentralization of what is not yet built -are pleading that the reserved land be used before the tentacles of UBa begin to spread -are requesting that politicians of North West desist from tearing this new bom baby apart". The meeting of 6th February summoned by the SDO of Mezam: In attendance were all the Fons of Tubah (Bambui, Kedjom Keku, Kedjom Ketingoh, Bambili). From Bamenda 1,2 and3 were the Fons of Mankon,Bamendankwe,Nkwen,Nsongwa,Banja and Mbatu-Thefons and elite of Tubah held the SDO responsible for the tussle because during his tour, he disclaimed the order, on grounds that it was done by his predecessor and that he was going to annul it, but later stood as the architect. The Fons of Nkwcn, Bamendankwe, Nsongwa and Banja stood for the implantation of the seat of UBa in Bambili. Some elite from Mankon argued that the university was named Bamenda and that it should be in Bamenda and nowhere else. The Vice Chancellor on his part argued that the 112 Hectares of land in Bambili-Tubah was earmarked for some schools of the University. "What Comes first the Chancellery or the schools? This is putting the cart before the horse. Where is the master plan that the government spent more than 200million to produce under the University of Yaounde 1 with Prof Dorothy Njeuma as Rector?" Tubah Fons questioned. The SDO at the end advised the population through the Fons, to stay calm and that he was going to channel the hearings to the appropriate quarters for action. What Next? Tubah fons and elite gave the SDO's declarations, serious doubts. They have since then been Collecting signatures for a memo to the Head of State, that the SDO of Mezam and the Vice Chancellor want to parcel and auction UBa to bidders and that they (the Fons and their Subjects) are for the maintenance of the seat of UBa in Bambili-Tubah. They equally wish to mobilize funds for the renovation of underused government structures in Tubah for the benefit of UBa. Fortunately enough, the time ultimatum and instructions from the Head of State through the Minister of Higher Education ordering the Vice Chancellor to declare to the Press that no Chancellery is moving to any where and that most of the Faculties will remain in Tubah, brought the population new found glory in the Party. As such motivated the youths and the entire Tubah Population to take the street on Saturday in thanks giving March to President Paul Biya declaring their unalloyed and unflinching support. Promising to take back the constituency Mezam V from the hands of the SDF held captive for over 11 years now. The great question now is who is the winner or the looser? as the struggle continues, an uneasy calm plays host within the University

Memo to Biya, after thank You March by Tubah

We the youths of Tubah Sub-Division did welcome the creation of the University which you declared on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of our National Defense force here in Bamenda. Your Excellency, our President, this University took off smoothly with its cradle being the advanced Teachers’ Training college in Bambili Tubah Sub-Division. Your Excellency you appointed, with your normal clairvoyance Prof Tafah Edokat to Head the Institution. We have realized with great dismay and disappointment that Prof Tafah might sail your smooth ship to wreckage. -since his appointment, Prof Tafah,has been recruiting auxiliary staff based on tribal lines. The University is for all Cameroonians, but his recruitments are for Oshie natives first. –the land that our fore fathers reserved in Pre-independence Cameroon for the development of higher Education in the then Anglophone Cameroon has been ignored by Prof Tafah.-He has discouraged University staff from taking residence in Tubah on the premise that the University is “passing” in Bambili Tubah Sub-Division.-There are attempts by Prof Tafah Edokat to forcefully claim land that houses the Bamenda cattle market for the construction of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office and residence.-Prof Tafah last Friday 18 January 2013 organized an out of campus graduation ceremony in the Bamenda Congress Hall which unlike the school hall could not accommodate the population leading to serious health accidents. –Your Excellency we the youths of Tubah, - Are not against the decentralization of the University of Bamenda, -are against the decentralization of what is not yet built, -Are pleading that the reserved land be used before the tentacles of the University begins to spread,- are requesting that the Politicians of the North West Regions desist from tearing this new born baby apart,-are promising maximum cooperation to the Head of State as you drive Cameroon towards emergence in 2035,- are wishing you, our Head of State more wisdom and clairvoyance so that you may be able to keep away all those who are not helping you to attain your objectives. God Bless you our President, signed, Ashaga George, Ndikum PETER, Afinui Edwin, Asongwe Emmanuel, Bekeni Paul Chi, Sonbong Martin, Awemo Augustine, Awah Richard, Mbosi Divine, Munjo Thomas, and Tamukum Princewill.

VC Debunks Fake Rumor of UBa Chancellery “Mov’t”

This was at a Press Briefing holding at the University of Bamenda’s Auditorium on the 20th Day of February 2013 where Prof Tafah Edward Edokat, declared that contrary to the fake rumor and allegations backed by the 8th of January Prefectoral order signed by the SDO Mezam Nguelle Ngelle Felix, and letter requesting the signing of the order of 11 December 2012, No 012\1614\UBa\VC\Cab\nyf, requesting the putting in place of a commission to carry out feasibility studies up at Bamendankwe where the Chancellery and the Residence of the V-Chancellor will be built, that I quote “according to a letter instructing me from my Minister, no Chancellery is moving to any where, the seat of the University remains Bambili and is in Bambili. The notion and the issue about the movement of Faculties, is a yes and no one. Faculties shall only move if the allocated land is inadequate, and will not move if the land is sufficient enough. All decision pertaining to decentralization can only be well handled by the Senate and Council of the University”. These are the phrases of Prof Tafah that reignited renewed joy and hope from the People of Tubah who rallied massively at the University of Bamenda for the blessed Press Briefing waiting to hear the contrary, to take the streets immediately after. “Now that the instructions were followed word verbatim from the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, through the Minister of Higher Education Prof Jacque Fame Ndongo, by the V-Chancellor, as a good number declared to this Reporter, he becomes our friend only to an extend, a thank you march shall accompany the Head of State’s final resolution resolving UBa crisis and wrangles about the seat and movement of the Chancellery 20 kms away from Tubah”. The sudden twixt our audience will wander, comes from a letter instructing the Vice Chancellor not to attempt moving the movement of the Chancellery further as countless complain has reached the Presidency from the people who suffer directly the predicament of harboring the University and should enjoy it to the fullest. The Press Briefing went does. “I wish to seize this opportunity to thank all of you for responding to our rather short notice for this Press briefing. Permit me also welcome you, especially those who are coming into this campus for the first time, to the precincts of The University of Bamenda—the University of the Future. This Press briefing comes against the backdrop of so many rumours and press information concerning The University of Bamenda in recent times. It is intended to inform the public of what we have been doing since 2011. Since our Installation on October 4th 2011, we have been doing our utmost best to put the University on the rail in strict compliance with the rules and regulations in force. From the then two existing schools, Higher Teachers Training College (HTTC) and Higher Technical Teacher Training College (HTTTC), we have opened four more Schools/Faculties to make a total of six out of eleven Schools/Faculties operational. The four new Schools/Faculties include: -Higher Institute of Commerce and Management –The College of Technology (still in its first year)- The Faculty of Health Sciences; and -The Faculty of Science -In its second year of functioning and with a student enrolment of about 8000 students, the infrastructure on the Bambili Campus has become grossly inadequate to accommodate all the classes. In consequence of the foregone, we decided to move the students of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the College of Technology (COLTECH) to a building in Mile 3 Nkwen which had graciously been offered to the University by Mr. YONG Francis, even before my appointment as Vice Chancellor, to use for a period of three years with possible extension. In these two years we have graduated two batches of students from HTTC and HTTTC. The first Convocation ceremony took place in Bambili but due to the reduction of the land space used for this first convocation as a result of construction works on a new administrative block currently going on, on part of that site, the second convocation took place in the Congress Hall in Bamenda. - The growth of the university requires more land than what is currently available. Given this -situation of insufficient land and in order to be proactive in our bid to secure more land for future structures of the university, and in total respect of government procedure in matters of public land acquisition, we wrote to the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) of Mezam requesting for the attribution to us of any public land in BAMENDA. As a follow up to the request the SDO signed a Prefectoral Order creating one commission to attribute land in Bamenda I and other similar commissions were created for Bamenda II and III. -It is regrettable that all these actions taken in good faith for the development of The University of Bamenda have been misconstrued and misinterpreted by a few individuals. Fortunately, the SDO of Mezam convened a meeting in which these misinterpretations were clarified. -Since the beginning of this academic year there has been total calm and serenity on campus. Studies and examinations are going on and the final year students of HTTC and HTTTC are out on teaching practice. We wish to congratulate our students and staff for their maturity and sense of purpose despite some difficulties which we are facing. We continue to count on their high sense of responsibility in dealing with University matters. We wish to use this opportunity to once more thank the Regional Administration and through them tile Minister of Higher Education and Government for the continuous support given The university of Bamenda. Thank you for your kind attention”.