The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), has recognized the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Buea-based Centre for Youth and Family Empowerment (CEYOFE), Dopgima Stella Epse Eteki Njoh for her works as most impactful woman in fostering peace and social cohesion in the country.
The seasoned expert in community development with over 17 years of experience in women’s empowerment and gender issues in the country was declared winner of the prestigious 2024 Peace Woman of The Year Award by the PCC.
This was during the sixth edition of the PCC Peace Summit Award that held at the Synod Office Hall in Buea on Wednesday, October 30. The outgoing Moderator of the PCC, Rev. Dr. Fonki Samuel Forba chaired the twin event that also included the graduation of the third batch of the PCC Peace and Justice Center trainees.
The PCC annual awards honour meritorious social actors who have distinguished themselves in promoting peace and social cohesion in the country.
Dopgima Stella who was represented at the event by her husband, Eteki Njoh, described the latest recognition as “a dream come true,” saying it is fruit of a long haul. “This journey has been filled with hard work, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to making a difference,” she said thanking those who have supported her to achieve the milestone.
Dopgima Stella joins other prominent female Cameroonian peacebuilders who have previously been awarded the recognition like Zainabou Abdoulahi, Geraldine Fobang, Adah Mbah Muyang and Omam Esther.
As a prominent gender activist in the South West Region, Dopgima Stella has spearheaded numerous initiatives to advance the rights and opportunities of women and marginalized groups through her organization, CEYOFE, which is dedicated to sustainable development through education.
Prominent among her activities is a back-to-school project initiated over 11 years ago, benefiting more than 8,000 children and covering school fees for over 1,000 students.
Through capacity-building efforts, she has organized more than 50 workshops focused on economic empowerment, providing over 400 women with startup kits or seed capital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dopgima Stella assisted over 120 families with food items and financial support, particularly helping women who sold food in schools to survive.
Currently, the Master’s Degree holder in Women and Development from Ewha Woman’s University in South Korea serves as the Director of the Women Empowerment and Family Center in Buea, where she oversees the center’s operations and coordinates activities focused on the holistic empowerment of women, particularly in economic empowerment.
Dopgima Stella has been an advocate for the vulnerable since childhood, consistently championing the rights of women and marginalized groups. Under her leadership, CEYOFE has launched impactful programs that promote gender equality and empower youth and families within the community. Recently, she initiated several holiday programs for both boys and girls, benefiting over 400 children and keeping them engaged and safe during school breaks.
