By DANIELA ITOE NGUM
The Divisional Delegate of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Social Economy and Handicraft for Meme Division, Peter Dibo Akama has disclosed that the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West Regions and Meme Division in particular, has prohibited the organisation of handicraft exhibitions in the five Sub-Divisions of Meme due to lack of finance.
The Delegate said this on Wednesday, October, 23 2019, at the esplanade of the Kumba I Council during the occasion of the organisation of the 2019 edition of the Meme Divisional Handicraft Exhibition.
The event that brought together some 46 craft persons across Meme Division including internally displaced persons was celebrated under the theme: ‘Meme craft persons showcasing savvy in the phase of socio-political challenges’ and presided at by the 2nd Assistant Senior Divisional Officer, 2nd ASSDO for Meme, Hermia Njonje.
According to Peter Dibo Akama “It is quite unfortunate that the crisis we are facing has not permitted most Meme Divisional local council’s to financially come to our assistance in the organisation of this exhibition nor could they organise one at their level collectively or separately as provided by Ministerial decision of April 2019.”
Addressing the craft persons, the Delegate noted that handicraft exhibitions or trade fairs of this nature equally intend to bring out the creative abilities of craft persons as well as offer a window within and out of the national territory for craft persons to sell their products.
The Delegate regretted the fact that local councils often fail to reach out to the many craft persons living within their jurisdiction which would have swelled the number of participants.
Another worry the Delegate raised was in the domain of registration of craft persons which have been abandoned to the councils. The Delegate regretted the fact that even Information Technology materials or equipment at their disposal by MINPMEESA to councils, none is used for the purpose for which they were intended. “They have been redeployed to other services, leaving craft registration centers in councils closed and agents equally redeployed to other duties or not replaced after being deceased.”
Meantime, out of the 46 craft persons, 15 will be selected to represent the division in the upcoming Regional Exhibition early next month in Limbe at the craft village in Mile 4 and subsequently at the national level.
The 2nd ASSDO for Meme, Hermia Njonje appreciated the craft persons and the items they exhibited. She urged them to keep the flag of the division high at the regional and national levels.