As the EjT Administrator, I never hesitate to celebrate any EjT member who, whether deliberately or inadvertently, contributes meaningfully to advancing Ejagham heritage.

Many of us have grown accustomed to thinking that promoting Ejagham culture begins and ends with singing and dancing at “Christmas seasons”. At EjT, we understand that true cultural preservation goes far deeper. What happens—or fails to happen—between these festive periods is what determines whether others define our heritage for us or whether we confidently safeguard and articulate it ourselves.

A review of EjT Objectives makes this clear. Item 3 states: “Encourage Research and Development (R&D) on Ejagham Tradition.” This is why Dr. Anthony Ayamba’s recent appeal was not only welcome but reassuring. It signalled that the academic community has finally recognised the urgency of EjT’s work. His initiative aligns perfectly with our Triple‑D Strategy: Document, Digitalise, and Disseminate Ejagham traditional practices and cultural expressions. When Ejagham scholars research Ejagham heritage, we take ownership of the narrative. No one can tell our story better than we can. For this, we extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Ayamba.

This is not to suggest that Ejagham sons and daughters have not previously conducted research on our heritage. Many certainly have. However, most of that work represents only the first “D” – Documentation. In today’s world, documentation alone is not enough. To assert our heritage with clarity and authority, we must embrace all three “Ds.”

To those who have already documented aspects of Ejagham culture, we encourage you to engage with EjT so that your work can receive the full Triple‑D treatment. To those currently conducting research, like Dr. Ayamba, we invite you to collaborate with EjT to ensure your contributions are preserved, amplified, and shared widely. Your work should not remain hidden in personal archives, as I suspect many have.

Inspired by the exemplary initiative of Dr. Ayamba, I extend a heartfelt call to all Ejagham sons and daughters, particularly those within the academic community, to follow his lead. Let us channel the same energy and enthusiasm we reserve for our Christmas-to-Christmas festivities into sustained, year-round commitment to institutional advancement. Strengthening our collective efforts in research, documentation, and cultural stewardship is essential to the survival and flourishing of our heritage.

We eagerly anticipate the final outcome of this promising research on Monenkim by Dr. Ayamba, confident that it will contribute meaningfully to our shared legacy.

Ekup na nkad

Ntufam Engr. Chris Anom CEng, CMarEng, FIMarEST, FRINA

President, EjT