"The Greatest Challenges of FETCOL come from the Industrial Section"-Samuel Mbigha, Founder of Foundation Education Trust Complex, Mutengene

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.