Twenty years down the line since you started the FETCOL Complex. Can you briefly tell us your story?
Well it speaks for itself. We have covered a reasonable distance and I think the journey ahead is still long. We are sending out close to 200 students for both levels this year; forms five and Upper Sixth.
Looking at the evolutionary trends that the school has registered over the years how can you sum it up?
I think we have broken the record of lay private schools in Cameroon. We have had students appear succesively on the Honoured role at both levels so I think we've tried our best. In terms of percentages, I think the other year on the national scale we were the 14th. Last year we were the 10th in the whole country. Our institution is threefold but the most challenging segment has been the Industrial section though the whole thing is one big bunch of challenges. I however think our strength is the commercial section. I challenge anybody to challenge us in the commercial sector.
I understand today you have a dual occasion.
Yes we are celebrating the graduation of our students who have reached their end of course and at the same time we are at the tenth anniversary of the secondary school. The anniversary is here in terms of time but we are looking forward to celebrating the anniversary in a befitting manner at a chosen time at the beginning of the next academic year. Ten years is not ten days and we've sailed through a lot of challenges, gathered a lot of experience. I think we are better prepared for any future challenges.
Twenty years down the line, are you a satisfied Founder?
If I were to be given a chance to do it all over, I will do the same thing again. Even if I were to go today, I think I have done my part although I can't say I have done enough.
Some people still see FETCOL as that money making machine which is not necessarily focused soley on training Cameroonians for a better future..
There were doubting Thomases even after the miracles that Jesus Christ performed and they ended up rewarding him by nailing him on the cross. Even now, there are people who are angry because the school is moving forward. They are doing nothing but their own share of work while we are doing ours. If any person still doubts FETCOL in Mutengene, then that person should be considered a chronic doubter.
Saturday 30 May 2015
43rd National Day Celebrations in Cameroon: Tiko DO calls on Cameroonians to join in fight against insecurity
The Divisional Officer of the Tiko Sub Division in the Southwest Region of Cameroon Che Patrick Nwashi has called on every one to join ranks with the military and other forces of law and order as part of the National effort to fight against insecurity and the insurgency in the Far North Region of the country. He was reacting recently to the theme of the 43rd National Day Celebrations on May 20, 2015 at the Tiko Grand Stand.
The Divisional Officer said it was in response to this security focused theme of the National Day celebrations that this year's turn out for the May 20 celebrations had witnessed a considerable increase touching all segments of the society. His appreciation of the celebration in Tiko was done in glowing terms as he drew attention to the more than 50 schools and associations as well as the military that had turned out for the annual occasion."I want to thank the population of Tiko for not just participating but for taking part in all the activities leading up to this wonderful formulaic closing. You also saw the exercise of the cleanest village competition an initiative of the Tiko Council which was put in place about four years ago and is still continuing. This is to say that the whole society is in a way implicated in the 20th May celebrations. The peculiarity of this year's celebration is that it comes at a time when there are the Boko Haram attacks in the North and the rebel attacks from the Central African Republic. That's why the focus has been on our forces together with the other forces to face the challenge together."
A zoom through the participants who marched past in front of the Divisional Officer at the Tiko Grand Stand, saw schools and associations from all parts of the Municipality. Schools ranging from Government Primary Education came in from Mutengene, Tiko Town, Motombolombo,Missellele, Mudeka, Mondoni and many other places.
The colorful passage of the Secondary schools did a lot to make the occasion more lively and spectacularly dressed schools like Regina Pacis College Mutengene, FET Col Mutengene,Christ The King'sCollege Tiko, stole the show. This is not all as it will be unfair not to mention the Higher Educational Sector with the passage notably of the Maflekumen Institute of Health Sciences amongst others.
In order to get the feeling of some of the participants, this reporter caught up with Mbigha Samuel, the Founder of Foundation Educational Trust Complex and he had this to say: "I am very happy with what I have seen here today. The large group of kids you see here today started off timidly but today we have three primary and nursery schools, and a secondary school which runs the grammar, commercial and the technical sections. I came into education when I discovered that I will be useful there and today I don't regret it. Education is the only legacy you can give to your children. That's why since I created this Foundation, I have been spreading it to other places like the Holy Spring Nursery and Primary School in Likomba still in the Tiko Municipality. I invite other young people who have this interest to delve into education because we still need much in this domain.
This reporter also caught up with Jilly Fombe, the proprietress of Lumen Christi Bilingual Nursery and Primary school in Tiko and her satisfaction knew no bounds. "It was so wonderful here today. When I started in 2004, I could not imagine I was going to see the wonderful spectacle my children presented here today. We timidly started with two kids in the nursery and seven in the primary and today after settling in our permanent site we already have above 600 pupils. I am very proud of them as they marched well and their marching showed the discipline that is in them."
A participant from the higher educational sector whom this reporter caught up with was Doctor Anselm of the Maflekumen Higher Institute of Health Sciences and school of Health Sciences was also not out of rythm as he praised the organisation of the event. "The higher institute of health sciences trains and prepares students for HND in Nursing and professional Bachelor Degree in Nursingand Laboratory sciences while the other school trains candidates to come out as state registered nurses.The entry and the exit in these two schools are strictly controlled to guarantee quality and to further ensure this, Maflekumen has signed partnership with state universities like the University of Buea."
The occasion was graced by the presence of the Lord Mayor of the Tiko Council, Sub Divisional heads, traditional rulers, the Nigerian Traditional head of the All Igbo Assembly in Cameroon Eze Jonathan Thomas Onyenguba amongst others.
Wednesday 27 May 2015
"The Bum People live as one with their host communities" -Chief Kimbi Peter, Head of the Bum community for the Southwest and Littoral Regions of Cameroon.
How did you find yourself as the Chief of the Bum Community in the Southwest and Littoral Regions and how important are you as far as the Bum Kingdom is concerned?
I was an heir to my father so when he passed on, I assumed the throne. I came on the throne in
2001 after my father's demise in the year 2000.I love my people very much and I always guide them on how to live with people.I encourage core African values such as living together and getting married. I encourage them to take their farming seriously especially those who do nothing else. I equally encourage them to have respect for community. So far its been wonderful and there is no problem.
Who are the Bum People and where do they really come from in Cameroon?
They come from the Northwest Region in the Boyo Division. Bum is a place with many Chiefs and falls within the Fonfuka Municipality close to Noni and Kimbi.
Do you have an idea of the history of the Bum people in Missellele where you are resident?
Yes I am fully informed on that because my father lived here for long and we were born here in Missellele. My father was crowned as chief of the Bum community in Southwest and the Littoral by the fon of the Bum Palace. So when my father died, I took over the throne. I have been chief now for almost thirteen years. What I have seen through time is that Bum people are proud and open to every one. They live in complete unity with the Mongo people. We are one. This was made possible by our fore fathers.
Generally what are the activities of the Bum people in Missellele?
Most of them work in the Cameroon Development Corporation CDC, while some do business. Others are involved in farming and other assorted activities.
Many are those who would like to know more about you as a person.
I was born in Missellele in the Tiko Municipality on the 16th of June 1975. I grew up here and my schooling was done here and around here. My father was a ruler and at the same time was a natural traditional healer with a great mastery of the healing qualities of natural plants. I learned the trade as I grew with him. So when he died, I inherited both the throne and the trade.Now I treat a cross section of illnesses ranging from stomach aches,poisoning, infertility in women, pile, frontal headaches, gastritis, eye and dental problems. I have patients from Douala, Bafoussam,Yaounde,France, Europe and the United States of America.
What is the nature of the relationship between the Bum people and the indigenous Mongo people?
They cohabit really well. This is because my late father and the late chief were very good friends. It has continued in the same manner between me and the present chief of Missellele HRH Mbollo Ndedi Yves Patrice. The two tribes are one here in Missellele. It is a matter of belonging to a tribe. We are simply people from Missellele.
What is your take on development initiatives in Missellele?
I greatly appreciate the efforts of the chief of Missellele and the Mayor of Tiko Council. Missellele is indeed growing. When you look at the market you notice it is one of the best in the Mongo area. It is a very big market. I pray the Chief of Missellele and the Mayor of Tiko Chief Daniel Mokondo should go ahead in the same manner.
You certainly have a message for those who will be reading you?
I call on any one with any problem within my competence to contact me and if there is any particular thing you will like to know about the Bum Community in Southwest and the Littoral you simply ask me.
FETCOL 2015 Graduation Parents request for the introduction of Sciences in Second cycle..
"FETCOL Mutengene is indeed a place to be"
Amandong Robert Abendong PTA Chairman for FETCOL Mutengene, Tiko
As a parent and as the Chairman of the PTA, since the creation of Foundation Education Trust Family what has been the peak moments of your experience?
I have been PTA Chairman for the Parent Teachers Association of the Foundation Education Trust College FETCOL for four years which corresponds to two mandates in office.I have been part of this family for seven years and most of my children are here. I discovered that the atmosphere is conducive combined with the facts that they have qualified staff. For the years that I have been here I have discovered that their results are among the best in the South West Region. FETCOL is indeed a place to be.
If you were to suggest, what suggestions would you give for Foundation Education Trust Complex?
Presently it is a Day School but I suggest that if the Administration of the school can transform it into a Boarding School it will be nice. The Science Department presently operates only in the first cycle. We decided that this should be introduced into the second cycle. That's why the PTA decided as I read in my speech that we assisted in buying some science equipment for the laboratory. We actually encouraged the proprietor and he promised to do it next academic year.
Do you have any message for the students and other stakeholders?
I will keep on advising parents that they should not relent in their efforts. I personally as a resident not too far from the school discovered that the atmosphere is conducive. The entire staff is disciplined and duty conscious. I feel that if we keep on supporting the administration by coming to PTA meetings, then we will achieve better goals here.
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