Engineer Emmanuel Kouontchou’s commitment to nation-building rewarded.

By Christopher Ambe

Kouontchou Emmanuel, a senior civil engineer and  Director of the Advanced School for Public Works (NASPW),Buea Annex,   has been honoured by the State of Cameroon for his  patriotism and commitment to nation-building.

 Kouontchou Emmanuel

The quiet-looking but workaholic Civil engineer who has been Director of NASPW, Buea Annex since 2005, was on May 20^th 2017, among many others, singled out for state recognition for his valuable services to the nation.

Mr. Kouontchou, in his early 50’s, was awarded the medal, Officer of the National Order of Valour, by Southwest Governor, Bernard Okala Bilai, on behalf of President Paul Biya, at the Buea Independence Square, during celebrations marking this year’s National Day.

He had five years ago been honoured by the state of Cameroon with the medal, Knight of the National Order of Valour.

Mr. Kouontchou is director of a state-owned institution, which has graduated hundreds of Cameroonians with specialized technical skills, who are now actively involved in either the public or private sector, helping in the realization of various development projects in the country.

NASPW Buea is one of the most disciplined academic institutions in the country, and is always conspicuously present at national and public events such as Youth Day and National Day.

The NASPW which was created by decree No.82-464 of October 1982, has its main campus in Yaoundé with Professor George Nkeng Elambo as director. The NASPW, Buea Annex  offers specialized training both at the Ordinary Technical cycle and the Higher Technical Cycle, in the following fields: Civil engineering, Land Surveying, Rural Engineering and Town Planning.

Mr.Kouontchou, who has dedicated his recent award to the staff and trainees of his NASPW, noted that NASPW Buea has been making significant contributions to the realization of Cameroon’s Vision 2035.

While promising to do his best to ensure that NASPW remains a training center for excellence, the Director hailed the inputs of his hierarchy towards his successes.

“I must thank the Minister of Public Works, the Grand Chancellor of National Orders,the Director of the NASPW Yaounde for contributing in one way or the other to the honour I just received from the State of Cameroon.”

According to Tarhyang Tabe, acting chief SAF at NASPW Buea, the student population of the institution now stands at 1482, out of which about 200 are females and about 300 Anglophone Students.

 Mr. Tabe said the number of female and Anglophone students have surged in recent years because the Director launched a campaign to that effect.” I wish to let you know that the Director is worried why many Anglophone students are not interested in NASPW, and he does his very best to encourage them”, he said.

Although Mr.Kouontchou hails from Koung-khi Division of the West Region, he has worked as engineer in the South West Region in various capacities for more than 22 years.

Upon his graduation from NASPW Yaounde in 1986, Mr. Kouontchou joined the public service and was posted to the Ministry of Public Works, Department of Roads. From 1988-90,he served as  head of service in the then South West  Provincial Delegation of Public Works; In 1990, Mr. Kouontchou was appointed Divisional Delegate for Public Works in Ndian Division and after three years he was appointed  Divisional Delegate  of Public Works  for Fako  Division and after four years, he was promoted  to the rank of  South West Provincial Delegate for Public Works  where he served in that capacity for three years. From 2000-2005, this duty-conscious civil engineer was lecturer at NASPW Buea where he demonstrated the mastery of civil engineering skills. That professional brilliance further worked in his favour. He would in 2005 be appointed as Director of NASPW Buea, a position he has held to date, attracting praises from both his hierarchy and the general Public.