BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
An indigenous association in Limbe, known as Litimbiseh La Vho’oo, recently donated scholarship award to over 14 schoolchildren worth FCFA 30,000 each, alongside didactic materials comprising exercise books, pens, pencils, erasers etc, to facilitate the 2025/2026 back-to-school period.
Speaking during the second edition of the scholarship event at Wovia Community Hall, the president of Litimbiseh La Vho’oo, Lifaka Njoke Esike Mathias expressed gratitude to the Chief of Wovia village,
HRM Dikanjo Malumbe George, for accepting to host the event in his Chiefdom. He also appreciated other Chiefs who who have already bought the idea.
He explained that Litimbiseh La Vho’o is an indigenous association for the indigenous people of all the three Sub Divisions making up Limbe, and to a broader extent, all Fako indigenes who have agreed with their ideals and vision of making Limbe regain its identity as a place with its own indigenous values despite its very high cosmopolitan nature presently.
“We are an apolitical association with focus to help in the development of our area in our own little way. A scholarship is a vote of confidence in your abilities and future success. Franklin Benjamin once said an investment in knowledge pays the best interest”, Lifaka Njoke said.
He added that education is the manifestation of perfection already existing in man. “It is for this reason we have embarked on this scholarship award scheme because we are aware of the fact that educating a child is educating and developing a community”, he said.
Quizzed on how the selection of recipients was done, the president said recipients underwent a meticulous control mechanism supervised by the association. Recipients were drawn from the various communities from all the clans of Limbe without any bias or favour, The SUN learnt.
“The gesture might be deemed small but our intention is clear; to fully demonstrate the interest to encourage the acquisition of knowledge by our children. We pray to do better next year especially with the availability of the means. Trust us, with God Almighty, we shall put smiles on more faces”, Lifaka Njoke said.
He denounced the fact that they are looked upon as an antagonistic movement aimed at acting as a stumbling block on the path of others. “The above assertions are not and cannot be true about us. There are mere insinuations which are unfounded and propagated by persons out of ignorance”, Lifaka Njoke said.
Litimbiseh La Vho’o has as motto love, unity, dignity and community development. Meanwhile their objective remains to ensure love, community unity, progress and success while protecting their ancestral and cultural heritage.
“We are here to encourage love and fraternity through the promotion of a strong sense of solidarity while also encouraging the culture and tradition of the Limbe people. We equally strive to act in one accord in every aspect concerning the geographical and cultural zones (Isu, Wovia, and Bakweri/ Bomboko), natives as well as members”, Lifaka Njoke added.
He stressed that they focus to promote education, professionalisation, linguistic and cultural education of the younger generation.
Parents of the beneficiaries thanked Litimbiseh La Vho’o for the scholarship and back-to-school materials. The event was attended by members Wovia traditional council, elites, representative of the Chief of Wovia, parents of the pupils, students among others.