MENGOT VICTOR's VISION OF HOPE PROJECT FOR MANYU ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The heroic efforts of Manyu Division to develop itself into a prosperous and fully integrated part of this Great Nation of ours have characterized our people over the years as being steadfast patriots, with unusual genius for excellence and fraternity.

Mamfe Division, as it was then called did not play second fiddle in Political, Economic and Social transactions with its contemporaries. Mamfe town with its Inland Port fascilities at the Cross-River Confluence was second only to Victoria Sea Port Town, and played host to multinational giants such as THE UNITED AFRICAN COMPANY (UAC); CADBURY AND FRY, JOHN HOLT,THE INTERNATIONAL INLAND HOTEL, with their Social and Industrial Infrastructures. One cannot forget local entrepreneurs such as Confidence Company, AKPE ANDEYOH with consumer depots and distribution complexes. Situated at the gateway to the largest Economic block in West Africa (ECOWAS), Mamfe town enjoyed the fall outs from her strategic emplacement at this triple junction between the greater western region and the southwest.

Manyu exploited her comparative geographic, human and economic advantages to the optimum and became a regional economic center. This peak in economic development brought along with it the BESONGABANG International Airport; whose futuristic navigational beacons (still functional today), continue to give direction and azimuth to global air traffic and activity.

Since then, Manyu has remained steadfast and tenacious in wait for better posture to materialize her quest for prosperity, wellbeing and economic integration.

II.) VISION OF HOPE PROJECT:

If Mamfe had slumbered into enclavement and consequent economic down turn for a good part of our lives, there is every indication today that our yearning for better times has at last been answered. Two of the arteries that link Manyu to the Greater west (Bamenda, Bafoussam, Dschang, Foumban,) and to ECOWAS have at long last received funding for construction.

This gesture is laden with political goodwill and promise from His Excellency the Head of State, President PAUL BIYA to the people of Eyumojock in particular, to the Manyu people and the whole country at large; and we cannot remain indifferent to a Magnanimous act of this nature. On behalf of the people of Mamfe and on the occasion of this August Forum for Economic Empowerment, I would like to express our gratitude, for our problems of roads have at long last been brought to the personal attention of our Head of State.

From this point onwards Manyu needs to seize every opportunity to materialize her aspirations for prosperity and national economic integration by tapping from its genius, propensity for excellence and collective enterprise. We have therefore come forth with two projects which will galvanize our spirit of collective enterprise and fortify the nucleus and symbol of our Oneness i.e. (Mamfie) Mamfe:

i- Development of modern neighborhoods in Mamfe town
ii- Development of a Tri-Star Hotel Complex (at old Inland Hotel site).

1) MODERN NEIGHBOURHOODS:

This is a participatory project par excellence where modern new - layouts (neighborhood) sites are developed for procurement and ownership by Manyu Elements at affordable prices according to their financial reach. (See flyers).

Four cardinal and strategic sites have been identified for procurement and development at;
- Laterite pit (100 hectares)
- Okoyong Badi – bridge (200 hectares)
- Eshobi –G.B.H.S plateau (200 hectares)
- Baku – Antenna - Banya enclave (100 hectares)

a) OKOYONG BADI – BRIDGE (200 HECTARES)
Located at the entrance to Mamfe town from Kumba, Fontem, Bamenda, the area has a strategic emplacement which can be exploited to give a spectacular vista for the new city of Mamfe.

b) ESHOBI – GBHS PLATEAU (200 HECTARES)

Located at about 400 meters above sea level the Eshobi GBHS plateau stands on the skyline about 300 meters above the Mamfe old town, and is made up of a rolling platform of virgin land composed of savannah sandstone crust interspersed by oasis of luxuriant secondary forest, farms and grassland sprawling downwards to meet the northern banks of the Manyu river.

c) LATERITE PIT (100 HECTARES)
d) BANYA - BAKU - BADI ENCLAVE.

Design:

Prototypes shall range from well tailored bungalows, through moderate multi-floor construction to increasingly complex choices, articulated with the highest professional dexterity that will make the neighbourhoods the latest new layouts in our country. (See flyers). Cost range will be from 15 million to 25 million francs, 30 million to 50 million francs, and from 55 million francs upwards. The design will be picturesque, yet characterized by architectural simplicity, gentle green shaded surroundings, mosaic esplanades and visual amenity. The vision is to initiate a blueprint for modernizing the city of Mamfe through ownership and investment.

2) TRI – STAR HOTEL COMPLEX:

Is a joint venture, participatory investment project to put a befitting Hotel complex (3 stars) with amusement parks, shopping and commercial center, indoor and outdoor entertainment and multipurpose plazas. This hotel complex will be a meeting point for both recreation and business and conferences (see flyer) and will serve as a place of call to tourists and business entrepreneurs to and from the East and West.

III.) CONCLUSION:

The main thrust of our vision of hope having thus been achieved i.e. Consolidating the nucleus of Manyu (Mamfe town) so that the constituent elements (sub divisions) do not fall apart; our old spirit of rallying together (Nchemti – Ochem ) would spur us to greater heights and bring the fall outs of prosperity naturally back to our four sub – divisions.

We would by so doing all be rebuilding the walls of the biblical city in ruins and bequeathing monumental and indelible foundations for progress to our progeny.