When a Journalist Does Not Only Talk, But Takes Action to Promote Peace, Social Cohesion in his Village: The Case of Senior Journalist, Edwin Eselem

It has been announced that the 3rd edition of the annual Wotutu-Ewongo Inter-Quarter Football Competition, organized during the long vacation, is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at Catholic School field in Wotutu Village, Buea Sub-division, Fako Division of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. This information is contained in a release issued on June 23, 2023, by the Promoter of the competition, Edwin Eselem, a senior journalist, who initiated this project with the objective of using sports to promote peace and social cohesion in his beloved village of Wotutu.

According to the release, the date of July 9 for the start of this year’s Wotutu-Ewongo Inter-Quarter Football Competition was adopted at a meeting of the Organizing Committee held in Wotutu Village. The event will span close to two months, culminating in the final on August 27, 2023. This edition, like its predecessors, will feature top teams from the Wotutu-Ewongo Community in the Bonjongo Court area. Cash prizes totaling 1 million FCFA will be up for grabs in this 3rd edition.

Using Sports To Promote Peace And Social Cohesion

Meanwhile, the theme for the 3rd edition is Peace and Social Cohesion, as Edwin Eselem and the organizers aim to utilize sports to engage youth during the holiday period and advocate for peace and unity. “Now in its third edition, the Wotutu-Ewongo annual football competition uses the convening and transformative power of sports to change lives and uplift the community,” stated Eselem in the press release.

Rekindling The Hopes Of Youths

Eselem explained that the first edition in 2021 aimed to bring hope back to Wotutu Village, which had been significantly affected by socio-political crises in the Anglophone Regions, leading to the displacement of over 80% of the community between 2016 and 2020. The tournament has since become an opportunity to rally youth and rejuvenate village life.

Massive Support From Community, Others

Eselem expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from the community, as well as from friends, community development actors, and football enthusiasts beyond Wotutu. He hopes the third edition continues to build on this success.

Edwin Eselem, a former senior staff member of Orange Cameroun, currently works for an international sports organization in Dakar, Senegal.