History
Njindom Cooperative credit union situated at Njindom village in Mbengwi Central Sub-Division of Momo Division in North West Region Cameroon. Its head Office is located along the Mbengwi-Njindom road about four kilometers from Mbengwi Town. It has five branch offices: two branches in Njindom one in Mbengwi Town (at Mbon Park), one in Bamenda Town (at city chemist), one in limbe at Gardens and Buea at Bounduma. There is a collection centre at Tad Market in Nyen village.
Before the creation of the Njindom Cooperative Credit Union, a Micro Finance Establishment, there was no place where people could save their money for the rainy days or borrow when they were in financial difficulties. The Njangi existed but only the few rich could become members. Discussions about the formation of the Njindom Cooperative Credit Union (NJICCUL) actually started in 1965 by ten members when Pa Peter Awah, a catechist of the Roman Catholic mission in Njindom brought the idea from one of their many seminars organised by a Catholic Priest in Njinikom. When he brought the idea, it started as a thrift and loan society, void of the cooperative principles. It had most of theideas of the Njangi, which was known to the people. Thereafter, the Njindom Cooperative Credit Union was registered on November 30th 1971 with ten members who came from the Njangi group in the catechist’s house; and as at 31st December 2023 NJICCUL is having a total membership of 6667. The first elections were held and the following people were elected into the post as shown below:
President – Pa Akem Benedict (Late),
V President – Pa Forgwe Mathias (Late),
Secretary – Mr. Isidore Fombo (Late),
Treasurer – Mr. Anoh Clement,(Late)
Members – Mr Patrick Fotah(Late),
– Mr. Njah John,(Late)
– Pa Peter Awah (Late).
Mr Anoh Clement held the position of both the treasurerand the bookkeeper. The first manager was Pa Peter Mbekwa of blessed memory. Messrs Michael Tah Benseka and Abraham B. Ndofor were the first Cameroon Cooperative CreditUnion League (CAMCCUL) Inspectors that assisted in the formation of Njindom Cooperative Credit Union Limited (NJICCUL). They gave lectures on the formation and management of a cooperative credit union and introduced its byelaws.
Business then took place every Sunday in Pa Peter Awah’s house. Due to the lack of accommodation and increase in membership, the business premises was moved from the Catechist’s house to a classroom in the Catholic School Njindom. Subsequently it was again moved to the Njindom Health Centre, later the health centre needed its rooms for its own operations, it was moved to rental quarters at Pa Ngamfon Jonas house. At this time, the business was daily. It continued here until it acquired its own land and erected an office to accommodate its manyoperations. Presently NJICCUL owns two Buildings One in Njindom and the other in Bamenda.
At that time shares were allocated at 100 FRS per member; at the end of the first year shares were 5000frs and savings was 95,000frs and loans stood at 20,000frs . As at 31st december2023 the shares stood at 258.041,200frs savings2,325,496,094frs deposit 142,079,850frs loans 1,644,465,883frs.