CameroonBits
An Offshoot of SakerPride: http://www.sakerpride.com/
A Hodgepodge of News, Stories , Announcements & Events ...
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLASS OF 1969 MAJOR
Mrs. EYERE MBIWAN TAKOR,
(STUDENT #220)
CHEVENING GRADUATE AT AGE 71!!!
CLASS OF 1969 "MAJOR", Mrs. EYERE MBIWAN TAKOR, has always had several "titles" attached to her name:
S.B.C TUTOR, G.H.S TUTOR - then PRINCIPAL, LIMBE COUNCIL COUNCILOR, P.C. MIDDLE FARMS ELDER, MOTHER OF 5: 1 SON and 4 DAUGHTERS - ALL OF THEM SAKERETTES like herself, GRAND
MOTHER OF 5 ... etc. (I should have added "very recent NCHEMTY-ing MOTHER-OF-THE-BRIDE" to the list seff!)
Anyway, as you might recall, she made INTERNATIONAL NEWS in back in 2020 when, at age 68, she became the OLDEST WOMAN the U.K. GOVERNMENT had ever selected for its "CHEVENING SCHOLAR" Program!
YES, INDEED! It was spectacular enough for the BBC PIDGIN NEWS to report it.
She bravely began her quest for that MASTER'S IN EDUCATION, POWER & SOCIAL CHANGE at BIRBECK UNIVERSITY OF LONDON and in spite of the hurdles, challenges and upsets she experienced along the way - the hardest of them definitely being the demise of her husband of over 4 decades in February of 2021, she FINALLY donned her Cap, Gown and Hood, walked into BEVERIDGE HALL and proceeded to settle into Seat #C9 from which she rose and walked across the stage when the names "MBIWAN-TAKOR" were called at 5:48 a.m. (EST) exactly, per Ma SakerPride's laptop across the Atlantic! (Wedah na who sorry da Oyibo Pa'a, moof de "AGBORTOKO MANYI'GBE" part of the name oh??!!! The BESONGABANGSHIRE Council is still in session, deliberating over this gross omission/deletion! 🤣😅)
The calling of those 2 names did not mark the end of the entire ceremony, but it certainly was the last thing I heard because it prompted me, instantly, to go summon NATHANIEL BASSEY and MERCY CHINWO via YOUTUBE and TOBECHUKWU for having brought to a SUCCESSFUL end what HE had started, 3 years prior!
CONGRATULATIONS, Aunty Eyere!
Just by accomplishing this FEAT, you have already effected momentous "SOCIAL CHANGE" because you have invalidated many of the excuses WOMEN cite as reasons why they cannot fulfill their academic dreams!
AHEAD, Aunty. Mighty PROUD of you!
2020
PLEASE CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO VIEW PHOTO/VIDEO ALBUM
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLASS OF 1977 "PLUCKY"
Mrs. CLEMENTINE NKWETA-SALAMI,
(STUDENT #961)
APPOINTED DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, RESIDENT AND HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR SUDAN, BY
U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL
Secretary-General Appoints Clementine Nkweta-Salami of Cameroon Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Clementine Nkweta-Salami of Cameroon as his Deputy Special Representative for Sudan with the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). She will also serve as the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan. Ms. Nkweta-Salami succeeds Khardiata Lo N’Diaye of Senegal, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedication.
Ms. Nkweta-Salami brings to the position, 30 years of experience in humanitarian affairs and protection, mainly in field settings. For the past three years, she has served as Director of the Regional Bureau for the East, Horn and Great Lakes Regions of Africa of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where she is responsible for providing strategic direction, support and oversight of 11 UNHCR country offices. Prior to this, she was UNHCR Representative to Ethiopia, Regional Representative to Southern Africa, Representative to Burundi and Head of Inspection in the Inspector General’s Office at UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva. She has also served in field positions with UNHCR in the United Republic of Tanzania, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Ms. Nkweta-Salami holds a masters degree in corporate and commercial law from University College, University of London, a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom and a Bachelor of Social Science degree in sociology and political science from the University of Ottawa. Ms. Nkweta-Salami is a qualified barrister and member of the English and Cameroon Bar.
Mrs. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, then UNHCR Regional Director For The East, Horn and Great Lakes Region Of Africa, speaking as "Mentor-Mentee Scheme" Panelist in ExSSA-UK's August 2020 Virtual Convention.
On Monday, May 1st 2023, a U.N. Press Release was posted on the International Organization's Website which reads as follows (verbatim):
WHAT A RESUME!
WHAT AN HONOR!
CONGRATULATIONS are certainly in order here, Sis. Clementine!
We wish you the very best in this new, delicate position specifically, and in your career as a whole.
SUPER PROUD OF YOU!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Reverend Sister
Dr. JACKIE ATABONG,
(CLASS OF 1984)
As she clearly stated at the beginning of the exchange captured in the recorded video interview posted to the left, Reverend Sister JAQUELINE ATABONG graduated from ADLER UNIVERSITY in CHICAGO, with a DOCTORATE DEGREE in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, on Sunday, October 22nd 2023!!!!
What a long way she has come since ExSSA-DOUALA sent her off on Sunday, November 22 2015, (a good 8 years ago) to further her education at Loyola University in Chicago. (See Photo below to the right)
She worked very hard and that hard work has paid off big time, so we proudly and joyfully say:
CONGRATULATIONS, Rev. Sis. Dr. JACKIE!!!
GODSPEED as you continue to fulfill your Divine Purpose.
DOUALA - CAMEROON
November 22 2015
PLEASE CLICK ON THIS IMAGE TO VIEW PHOTO/VIDEO ALBUM
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Mrs. LAURA AYUK-TAKEM FOTE
(CLASS OF 1991)
RECIPIENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
(Saturday, October 28 2023)
The congratulatory letter Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, Mrs. LAURA AYUKTAKEM FOTE received came from F. LEI LEWIS, Founder of GLOBAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION and Rev. Dr. GEORGE E. HOLMES whFounder of the TIS Foundation who has served and assisted 3 consecutive United States Presidents - President Bill J. Clinton, President George W. Bush, and President Barack H. Obama and their White House Administrations (both Republican and Democrat), and 5 consecutive District of Columbia Mayors.
The intro of the letter states as follows:
"It is our distinct honor to enthusiastically inform you, because of your exemplary volunteer service to the United States of America, that we nominated you and you were unanimously approved and accepted by the entire board of directors of the 501 (c)(3) non profit, Global Women Empowerment Foundation, the presidential certifying organization, to receive the distinguished and highly coveted,
"THE PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. BIDEN'S PRESIDENTIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD"
So it was then that on Saturday, October 28th 2023, Mrs. Laura AyukTakem Fote joined her fellow Presidential Honorees to receive:
- The President's Lifetime Achievement Award signed by the 46th President of the United States (President Joseph R. Biden Jr.),
- A White House Congratulatory Letter,
- The President's Lifetime Achievement Gold Medallion, and
- The President's Lifetime Achievement Award Official Lapel Pin,
at a Red Carpet Formal Affair Ceremony which was hosted at the very impressive and exclusive LAKE PRESIDENTIAL GOLF CLUB.
CONGRATULATIONS are most definitely in order here, for this is no mean feat!!!!
AHEAD, Mrs. FOTE!
Your relentless, consistent, methodical and well-thought-out hard work is paying off, big time.
We look forward to applauding the next achievement!
BRAVO!
With fellow Honorees, 10th President of Bowie State University, Dr. AMINTA H. BREAUX (center) and Author, Professor and Business Psychology Consultant, Dr. SOYINI AYANNA RICHARDS (right)
ONE-WOMAN WALKING BILLBOARD FOR THE ERADICATION OF POLIO!
WAY TO GO,
Dr. Mrs. STELLA NWIGWE ANYANGWE
(CLASS OF 1969 MAJOR)
For many the month of October is simply BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH for others it's DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, and for some others it's HEALTHY LUNG AWARENESS MONTH.
In these parts, some couldn't wait for this specific day - OCTOBER 31st, to get here, so they could go TRICK or TREATING for HALLOWEEN.
Truth is, not too many think about POLIO (Poliomyelitis), the dreaded contagious, debilitating disease, probably because the occurrence of the disease has been drastically reduced, thanks to the polio vaccine.
However, the disease has certainly NOT yet been eradicated, and that FACT is precisely why there still is a WORLD POLIO DAY, which is observed on OCTOBER 24th
While most of us didn't even know any such day even existed, to talk much less of doing anything about it there's this 70+ PHENOMENAL WOMAN who did the following, as part of her ERADICATE POLIO FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN:
17th OCTOBER 2023: Walked 4.4 km.
19th OCTOBER 2023: Walked 5.5 km.
21st OCTOBER 2023: Walked 6.3 km.
23rd OCTOBER 2023: Walked 7.4 km (Covered in 90 minutes!)
TOTAL COVERED: 23.6 km.
Maybe there are some TIMOTHY LEKUNZEs out there for whom this is no big deal, but for the rest of us, mere arthritic mortals, it is HUGE, and the WOMAN who accomplished this MAJOR FEAT for such a great cause -
CLASS OF 1969 "MAJOR", Dr. Mrs. STELLA NWIGWE ANYANGWE,
certainly deserves our APPLAUSE!!!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Dr. Mrs. JANE AKOB nee ANE
(CLASS OF 1980)
RECIPIENT OF A PhD in ANIMAL NUTRITION & FEEDING @ AGE 60!!!
(Saturday, December 9th 2023)
On January 28th this year, (2023), I got the text below from CLASS OF 1980's JANE AKOB nee ANE when I sent her a Congratulatory text upon her election as VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL OF ExSSA (The Ex-Students of Saker Baptist College Association):
"I have not been a great news follower or contributor in the past few years. I put on hold most of my social forums or just stayed in the background. But things will change soon as I am approaching the end of a PhD program I started 3 and a half years ago."
Well, with the 13th Convocation Ceremony of the UNIVERSITY OF BAMENDA which took place yesterday, December 9th 2023, that journey came to a TRIUMPHAL end, as she was awarded a PhD degree in Animal Nutrition and Feeding.
This was preceded by a successful defense of her thesis:
"Wet feed and feed particle size in Muscovy Duck (Chiarina Moschata) nutrition: Influence on growth performance and haematobiochemical indices."
If you got yourself an instant, Panadol-defying headache just from trying to read that, or if you read and understood that "MOSCHATA" word as "MOSCATO", as in, the sweet pink wine that's made from the the Muscat grape, just know that you are NOT alone!!!!! (Ah beg! How would one ever have imagined that a common DUCK FAWUL would have such an elevated Latin Kontri name??? Excuuuuuuuse me!!!)
This PhD thing is a HUGE ACHIEVEMENT, in and of itself. If it weren't, we'd all have a couple of them.
That she is getting one 3+ years after she first began the pursuit, is a BIG LESSON in PERSEVERANCE and COMMITMENT!!
The fact that she has fulfilled a DREAM she has nursed for years AT AGE 60, (an age when many of us can barely remember where we last kept our keys, phones or bifocals), is a MONUMENTAL and EXEMPLARY FEAT that should serve as ENCOURAGEMENT & MOTIVATION to all - Young or Old.
CONGRATULATIONS, Dear Jane, and as you yourself so readily and humbly say:
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Dr. Mrs. ESTELLA ATEKWANA nee NKWATE
(CLASS OF 1978)
- ELECTED TO THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS & SCIENCES
- DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY SPRING 2024 CONVOCATION
HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT
The letter was dated April 22 2024 and it was addressed to:
Dr. ESTELLA A. ATEKWANA,
DEAN, College of Letters and Science
University of California, Davis
It came as a total SURPRISE to its recipient, who was unaware that she had even been nominated!
It's very first paragraph stated both the source of the missive, as well as its purpose.
It read:
"On behalf of the members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, we are pleased to announce your election to the Academy and warmly welcome you as a new member".
Just this bit ought to let you know that Class of 1978's Prof. ESTELLA ATEKWANA nee NKWATE has, for the umpteenth time, been ACKNOWLEDGED and RECOGNIZED, but if, just like me before I read the letter, you do not know "nweng" about this Academy, a glance at a couple of excerpts from it should explain why fetching my VUVUZELA and proceeding to "disturb the peace" in my neighborhood was warranted! LOL.
- "Founded in 1780..." (Look: Anything that was founded that long ago and still thrives to this day is not a joke.)
- "Our current members represent today's innovative thinkers in every field and profession, including more than two hundred and fifty NOBEL and PULITZER PRIZE Winners." (Any group of people that can boast of having this number of recipients of these 2 VERY EXCLUSIVE PRIZES in its ranks is PRESTIGIOUS, PERRIODDD!)
- "The induction takes place in Cambridge, MA (Massachusetts), where the Academy's headquarters are located."
(Let's face it: There are certain places on this globe that, in and of themselves, just lend credence to the institutions associated with them. KALAMAZOO (Michigan), KILL DEVIL HILLS (North Carolina) and CUT AND SHOOT (Texas) surely have something to offer the world but I don't know who would take any academics-based institution headquartered in those cities as seriously as they would one that is located in CAMBRIDGE, which is home to HARVARD UNIVERSITY!
And then, of all the statements in that letter, THIS SPECIFIC ONE, brought home the scope and magnitude of the honor done this Sister of ours who, just last week, was sailing down a river, admiring various "bush beeps" and having fun with 12 other members of her CLASS OF 1978 Classmates in KIGALI, RWANDA:
"With your election, you join the company of notable members - from our earliest members JOHN ADAMS, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, ALEXANDER HAMILTON and GEORGE WASHINGTON, to RALPH WALDO EMERSON, MARIA MITCHELL and ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL.
Other distinguished members have included ... JOHN F. KENNEDY, MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr., MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, COLIN POWELL and N. SCOTT MOMADAY.
International Honorary Members have included CHARLES DARWIN, ALBERT EINSTEIN, WINSTON CHURCHILL, ... and NELSON MANDELA!!!"
Hah!!! If you know anyone who is in a "NJANGI" with the most recognizable of U.S. Presidents, the best-known British Prime Minister, Statesmen and Women of great repute, Inventors, Scientists, and Civil Rights Leaders straight out of the World's best History Books, Almanacs, Encyclopedia and S.N. TITAs, please speak up!
Dare I ask how many WOMEN there are in this Academy to start with?
How many BLACK WOMEN?
How many BLACK, AFRICAN WOMEN?
How many BLACK, AFRICAN, CAMEROONIAN WOMEN???
Pretty sure you get my drift!!!!
And then, ON TOP OF ALL THAT, DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY, in NOVA SCOTIA, (as in, the top-ranked University in ATLANTIC CANADA) has chosen her as one of its 6 HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENTS for its SPRING 2024 CONVOCATION!!!
IN SHORT (and long seff),
PROF. ESTELLA NKWATE ATEKWANA has, indeed, made history ... again!
PROF. ESTELLA NKWATE ATEKWANA has, indeed, made history ... again!
And you know what about her makes it such a JOY, Year after Year, Award after Award, to "broadcast" her exploits?
Her HUMILITY!
Her UNASSUMING attitude, as in, E no di "membah".
She is just not one to throw a hissy fit because someone failed to refer to her as "Dr." or "Prof" or "Dean", much less run around ceaselessly referring to herself as such!!
Sistah ESTE!!!
We will NEVER get tired of telling you how PROUD we are of you, even if you don't want to hear it! LOL!
You DESERVE every one of the acknowledgements you have received. You have EARNED every single one of them.
May GOD's FAVOR continue to rest upon you.
LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, Big Sis.
We who see and marvel at the glow will keep GIVING GLORY to our Father in Heaven!
AMEN!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
AFOWIRI KIZITO (KITZ) FONDZENYUY
"TOGHU MARATHONER"
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD HOLDER:
"FASTEST MAN TO RUN A MARATHON IN A TOGHU"
In a day and time when many of us (in the U.S. especially), live a very SEDENTARY lifestyle, those who make the time to WALK already stand out from the pack.
Those who RUN are even fewer.
By the time we get to the category of MARATHON RUNNERS, we'd be looking at an even thinner segment of the general population, BUT you could still find and count them if you looked hard enough.
What you would be very hard pressed to find however, is a MARATHON RUNNER who has not just participated in close to 20 INTERNATIONAL MARATHONS - Sydney (AUSTRALIA), Athens (GREECE), Tokyo (JAPAN), Chicago, New York (UNITED STATES), etc., but done so WEARING A FULL-LENGTH TOGHU OUTFIT, (a Traditional Outfit of the people of the GRASSFIELDS region of CAMEROON), complete with the HAT!!!
THAT actually, is a feat that AFOWIRI KIZITO FONDZENYUY alone has accomplished on planet earth and that is precisely why THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD officials have officially recognized his unprecedented accomplishment.
Yes, indeed!
After finishing the TOKYO Marathon in 4 hours, 24 minutes and 2 seconds, he has been officially labeled "FASTEST MAN TO RUN A MARATHON IN A TOGHU"!
And WHY has he chosen to do all of this?
The soft-spoken and self-effacing young man does it to spotlight his native NSO culture and heritage, of course, but most of all to:
- Raise AWARENESS for AUTISM (being the doting Dad of an amazing daughter with special needs) and to
- Raise funds to ameliorate the living conditions of his people back home in Cameroon, especially the IDPs.
The actual runners amongst us may choose to dwell on the actual time record, but I daresay that did not quite matter to the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD peeps.
It is not our preoccupation either!
We, CHARLOTTE, NC RESIDENTS, who have the distinct privilege of watching "KITZ" live out his life as a Caring Husband, Devoted Dad, Active Community Member and MAKER OF THE BEST PEPPER SEASONING EVER, are just PROUD of him for adding this distinction to his already rich resume!
Wait! Did I mention that he already won the ABOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS MEDAL for completing the BERLIN, NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON, LONDON and TOKYO Marathons??!!
He says he's off to the MEDELLIN MARATHON in COLOMBIA (South America) next, and that his target is to "FINISH A MARATHON ON EACH CONTINENT, INCLUDING ANTARTICA" - IN A TOGHU, of course!!!
And if you know KITZ, then you know that is NOT casual banter (aka bep-bep); IT IS AS GOOD AS DONE!
AHEAD, TOGHU MARATHONER!
Rooting enthusiastically for you!
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Dr. Mrs. THERESIA ENANGA LITUMBE nee MBUA NDOKO
(CLASS OF 1982)
RECIPIENT OF A PhD in MANAGEMENT
(Thursday, May 9th 2024)
The strident ululations, thunderous applause, and exuberant cheers that rent the air at the heart of the UNIVERSITY OF DOUALA last Wednesday, May 8th 2024 must have been heard from Bonaberi to Bonamoussadi, and probably even as far as BUEA, the town in which little Miss THERESIA ENANGA NDOKO started her academic journey close to 6 decades ago!
The reason all the jubilation erupted was because the erstwhile tiny Buea Government Nursery School kindergartner had just earned her DOCTORATE in MANAGEMENT (DISCIPLINE), and would henceforth be known and addressed as Dr. Mrs. THERESIA ENANGA LITUMBE nee NDOKO.
A handful of her SAKERETTE Class of 1982 classmates who reside in Douala were on hand to celebrate with her, (See Photo Above), and my guess is that they account for at least 80% of the high-pitched decibels registered! LOL!
Needless to say, we are all PROUD of our latest "DOKTA" and we wish her nothing but the very best as she goes on to put the knowledge she has gained into useful practice, at the service of our nation.
HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS, IYA!
GODSPEED!
Her resident-in-Douala, Class of '82 Classmates showed up to lend their support!
Her Thesis
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Dr. SHEY PETER MABU & "MAYOR" JUSTICE GRACE MABU
ON THEIR 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
(Saturday, June 1st 2024)
In this day and age where so many marriages break - as in, "Pafookah and Quench", practically before they even begin, even a 1-WEEK-AND-3-DAYS ANNIVERSARY would be worth celebrating. Franchement!! LOL!
That's precisely why, when you are able to thrive in a marriage for 50 good years; for HALF A CENTURY, they deserve to be CONGRATULATED and CELEBRATED - even if they have to talked into it by their offspring, as was the case with
SHEY Dr. PETER MABU and JUSTICE Mrs. GRACE BEMELA MABU nee KINYANG, (RELIGION PREFECT OF THE "MAYOR" CLASS OF 1971), whose children, (one of whom is CLASS OF 1994's Mrs. NYA MABU NGWASHI), insisted on celebrating them in an elaborate, splendid and classy Event which took place on Saturday, June 1st 2024 in YAOUNDE. (Bless their grateful hearts!!)
Well, in addition to the 50-year Wedding Anniversary, there were some other 50 YEAR MILESTONES and LANDMARKS to celebrate:
VETERAN JOURNALIST, Dr. SHEY PETER MABU's 1973 GRADUATION AS A PIONEER FROM THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM ("ESIJY"), which opened its doors in 1970. (The Couple also wed in 1973),
His debut at SOPECAM with CAMEROON TRIBUNE where he again was the PIONEER EDITOR of the ENGLISH DESK - while Mr. FAME NDONGO, current Minister of State in charge of Higher Education was in charge of the French Desk, and
The Birth, with him as CHAIRMAN, of the ETOUGEBE BAPTIST CHURCH CONGREGATION in YAOUNDE, which marked the establishment of the BAPTIST MISSION in YAOUNDE. (Some of us are actually old enough to remember the era when ALL ANGLOPHONES, irrespective of their specific Christian Leanings, worshipped at the DJOUNGOLO EPC Church - and The FACULTY OF THEOLOGY Chapel, prior to that.)
With all of this and even more to be THANKFUL TO GOD for, it is no surprise that the EVENT was a very Grandiose and Meaningful one, with a lot of people - SAKERETTES included, in attendance, just as this selection of PICTURES shows.
CONGRATULATIONS are certainly in order, as are PRAYERS for GOOD HEALTH and Many More YEARS OF WEDDED BLISS!!!
Now, What I need to find out is if they, at some point, shared the secret to their YOUTHFUL LOOKS, given that they barely look 50 to start with! LOL!
PLEASE CLICK ON THIS PHOTO TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS
