Meeting at the seaside resort town of Limbe for their annual jamboree, it was a moment of refreshing for Nninong Women and Daughters Development Association, NIWODDA.
The women came from Yaounde, Douala, Kumba, Buea to join the host branch Limbe, for the two-day general assembly on the 27th and 28th of October 2023, with focus on women empowerment and development.
The first course upon arrival was a trip to the beach where the women appeared in their swimming suits and hats, depicting the beauty of the Nninong woman.
After close to five hours at the beach, the women retreated to the Women Empowerment and Family Center, Limbe for their dancing and ballet competition.
The fun filled exercise pulled passersby into the center to discover the unique traditional dances and akose dialect of the Nninong clan in particular and Kupe Muanenguba in general.
The results of the highly competitive but entertaining exercise came with excitement and jubilation to the women.
NIWODDA Limbe branch took first in choral singing, while Douala chapter emerged victorious in ballet. Buea chapter took the second position in both singing and ballet. All the branches came first in the traditional dance.
The second day of the AGM began with a march past from Half Mile Limbe to the Women Empowerment Center, where the women sang songs of victory and advancement.
Presidential Address
Addressing the close to 100 women at the Women Empowerment Center, the National President of NIWODDA, Ebah Vivian Epole congratulated her women for coming out massively for the AGM. She said the spirit of sacrifice, love and unity should be practiced by all Nninong women.
Epole was happier that the AGM gave women the opportunity to relax, energize and commune with one another out of their always busy schedules. She said it was an opportunity to plan for the new year with a positive spirit.
The president told her women that their main focus is to complete their multi-purpose hall in Bangem which is at the level of decking. She told the women that the project shall open a new spectrum of development in Kupe Muanenguba because of the women empowerment center that will be operational on the structure.
Epole intimated that the complex shall have conference halls, lodging facilities, catering services, a bar and restaurant to serve the population of Bangem and its environs. She told the women that their main strategy now is to galvanize funds through appeal letters to illustrious sons and daughters in and out of Kupe Muanenguba for the realization of the project.
The president regretted the absence of Bangem, Tombel and Kupe branches from the AGM. She said the national executive shall work on a plan to get them involved.
In her welcome speech, the President of NIWODDA Limbe chapter, Njoh Doris was excited on the revival of the once dormant Limbe branch. Rebranding themselves as ‘Limbe New Look,’ she promised to involve all Nninong women in Limbe to be part of the association.
The Gala Night
In the gala night that crowned the AGM, Ngwese Johnson, President of Nninong Cultural and Development Association, NICDA and the Chairman of the event lauded the women for making them proud. He promised their total support as work advances on the giant multi-purpose complex in Bangem.
Ngwese pleaded with the women to join NICDA because the association cannot succeed without women.
The rest of the fun filled night was marked by choral singing by Limbe and Buea chapters, ngone dance by Kumba chapter, ballet by Douala, Buea and Yaounde chapters, the thrilling ‘zangbwalewa’ dance by the Limbe Chapter.
Buea Chapter was chosen as host for NIWODDA 2024 AGM.
Also present was the pioneer president of NIWODDA, Ebude Ngone, Yaounde chapter president, Salle Florence, Douala chapter, Ewane Shila, Kumba, Epote Constance and Limbe, Njoh Doris.
It should be noted that NIWODDA was created in 2006. It has as mission to foster peace, unity, promoting the Nninong culture, empowering women and girl child, giving hope to the less privileged through community centered approach and advocacy.
Nninong is one of the clans of Bangem Sub Division, Kupe Muanenguba Division, South West Region. It is made up of the following villages; Njom, Muaku, Nkack, Muebah, Ebonemin, Muanjeken, Elum I, Elum II, Muekan and Epenebel.
By Olive Ejang
