As some Nigerian Universities enter a second month of intermittent strike, the situation is already having adverse effects on foreign students especially Cameroonians. In an exclusive interview with Solomon Amabo in Calabar, Nigeria, the President General of the National Union of Cameroon Students (NUCS) Africa Nigeria, Maurice Mbah, who complained that that the Cameroon government is not providing them with the yearly students allowances. He calls for the replacement of transferred consular officials. Excerpts.

In the process of advancing its democracy, a recent decision of the Supreme Court has paved the way for congress, Nigeria's parliament and the country's   Independent Electoral Commission INEC, to come up with a law and modalities to enable Nigerians in Diaspora to vote in all elections.
This was disclosed by the President of the Cameroon branch of Nigeria's ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Jude Okafor Eze, in an exclusive interview with Eden's Adolf Mongo Dipoko last week in Limbe. Okafor, however, said it was still premature to speculate on any arrangement until a law is enacted to this effect.  "We are hopeful this will happen soon", he noted. Okafor said he sees prospects for a trans-border trade, free movement of people and more inter-country economic investment. "I think both countries need each other now more than expected", the PDP president said.

Since Saturday 29 August 2009 the Christian Men Fellowship of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon has a new National Executive, following Elections that took place in Kumba. Eden caught up with the President Elect, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle who said it was time for action and time to take the movement further. He also speaks of how the CMF can bring about change in Society. Excepts

There are renewed calls for the Fon of Balikumbat, HRH Doh Gah Gwanyin III to be rearrested and put in jail.  This recent call was made by Dr. Elizabeth Tamajong, SDF Secretary General, in an exclusive interview with Eden in Yaounde. The former MP for Balikumbat was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for assault occasioning death, but was released on bail after filing an appeal at the North West Court of Appeal.  The SDF scribe also wants others who have killed in the name of protecting the Head of State to be tried in the courts of law. Also throwing light on some burning state issues as well as issues within the SDF, the scribe noted that the party is not dead, and the six months deadline to the Prime Minister is impossible. Dr. Elizabeth Tamajong was interviewed by Eden’s Richard Nde Lajong. (Excerpt)

The leader of the SDF Parliamentary Group, Hon. Banadzem Lukong has said that the party’s national chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi must declare his assets if he is to become the SDF presidential candidate.
Hon. Banadzem was responding to a question on whether the SDF Chairman John Fru Ndi was to declare his assets after the vocal SDF MP for Wouri East, Hon. Jean Michel Nintcheu in a chart with Eden recently.
The SDF Parliamentary Group Leader pointed out that as a conscious citizen, Fru Ndi had earlier declared his assets even before the text of application of article 66 on Declaration of Assets is made public to show an example and raise consciousness on the protection of public property. The SDF, the MP said has been mounting pressure for the text of application to be made public so that corruption can be combated. Read on.

Timaya was born in Bayelsa State in the Southern part of Nigeria, schooled at Ikeja High School in Mafoluku, Lagos Nigeria and started out with a couple of early collaborations with some underground artists.
Also called the Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa or Mr. Timaya, he is currently the rave of the Nigerian music scene.
Ahead of a planned Cameroon Tour, Eden’s Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe had a chat with him and he begins by expressing his feeling about being a winner of the Hip Hop artiste of the year award.

Following rising tensions and protest march against the authorisation by the National Assembly permitting the President of the Republic to ratify the Maputo Protocol to the African charter on human and peoples' rights on the rights of women in Africa of 11 July 2003 in Mozambique, Eden’s Dickson Njoke caught up with the leader of Cardinal Democratic Party Chief AS Ngwana who has been very vocal against the ratification of the Protocol for a chart.

The Islamic Development Bank is sponsoring a free treatment of the cataract disease in Cameroon. The first phase of the programme took place in Yaounde while the second will soon be launched in Douala. Eden caught up with the chief of division and programme of the Islamic Development Bank, Ahmed Benadi for more explanation. Excerpts

May we know why you are in Cameroon?

I am in Cameroon to take part in the launching of the second phase of the campaign against cataract, the disease that blinds the lens of the eyes. We are carrying out this campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Cameroon and a Tunisia-based NGO, Nadi Al Bassar that deals with ophthalmology. The treatment, I must make it clear, is free. Our presence here is in responds to an official invitation by the government of Cameroon to organise the treatment campaign first in Yaounde now and in Douala in November.

So what is your assessment of the first phase of the campaign?

Our objective is to operate over 400 blind persons suffering from cataract.  So far we have succeeded with 150 cases. If everything goes well, we shall surely meet our objective.
Our main obstacle for now is the persistent water cuts in the central hospital but we have been assured that everything will be put in order in the days ahead. We are also grateful for the support we are getting from the hospital personnel

What are the criteria for selecting your patients?

This campaign targets the most vulnerable population, thus it is free. All medication and campaign has been sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank. As I said we give priority to the most vulnerable population, the women, the children and the aged.

We understand you have an office in Morocco and Senegal, is your coming to Cameroon now indicative of an office here soon?

Well, for now we have launched this programme generally to join in the fight against blindness, especially in sub-Saharan Africa in precisely eight countries; Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Niger, Djibouti, Mali and Cameroon where statistics show a high level of the cataract caused blindness. Generally cataract is the main cause of blindness in most African countries.

What is the cause of this situation?

This is because of the intense heat, much dust particles in the air, old age and poor hygiene condition. When people suffer from this lens blockage leading to blindness the only way out is to replace the affected portion.

Some people say too much use of the computer can provoke blindness. Is this true?

No, this is not true. It is a disease caused by the factors I earlier mentioned. It has nothing to do with working with the computer. If it was so then the most vulnerable persons would have been those in high technology in western countries.

What can you tell us about the Nadi Al Bashir NGO carrying out the operation?

It was created some 20 years ago and works in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank in South Africa, Senegal and Mauritania. They met us in 2003 to ask for financial aid to carry out this campaign in Niger. IDB responded favourably and that is how it has continued especially in those countries without adequate opthomologists.
The Islamic Development Bank is an institution that sponsors development operations or projects in many sectors and member countries including Cameroon. We sponsor projects in many sectors like humanitarian activities, infrastructure, health etc all in the fight against poverty.

What message for patients who don’t yet know about this programme?

I will seize this opportunity to tell all those suffering from cataract related blindness to report at the Central Hospital in Yaounde for free treatment. It is an opportunity that every one has to seize. For those who will not be opportune this time around they should be informed that the second phase will take place in Douala in November.

So after this phase what next

Well, after this phase, the control will continue with the Cameroonian doctors who have so far been trained. We have had several training sessions with Cameroon Ophthalmologists. IDB sponsored training for four Cameroonian ophthalmologists abroad and also brought one specialist from Tunisia to train more of them locally.
We also brought equipment to offer to the Cameroon government and are also envisaging awarding training scholarships to more doctors and nurses in the future.

Why not also include the Press in the programme?

Of course we cannot leave out the press because we know the important role they play. IDB has been working with the Press in other African countries and we are looking forward to working with those in Cameroon.

The Cameroon Human Rights Organisation Network, CHRON, on Saturday 4 July 2009 held a meeting in Limbe to chart a new road map for the way forward.
The meeting that brought together several human rights organisations from across the country was aimed at re-dynamising CHRON, reformulate the vision of the network, elaborate a working document, elaborate a draft amendment of the statutes of the network among other issues.
On the heels of the meeting Eden's Solomon Tembang caught up with Tchepnang Barthelemy, Executive Secretary of CHRON and Executive Director of CAJAD, one of the member organisations of the network and began by asking him what CHRON is all about.
Excerpts:

• Calls For Participatory Management Of City
• Ecotourism At Centre Stage
• Warns Mayors To Be Responsible
• Urges Elite, Diaspora To Lend A Hand
• Meme Works To Be Resuscitated

No one in Kumba dreamt of, let alone considered listing him as a possible candidate for the coveted job. Not even himself nor his mother who would neither believe nor rejoice over the news until the day of installation.