UZOH OF NIGERIA

Occasionally, it is refreshing to journey back in history. I did so recently, thanks to the booklet of this year`s convocation and matriculation at the University of Bamenda. On page 11 of the booklet, a Nigerian - Uzoh Alfred – is mentioned as the only student among the 12 pioneers who in 66 were admitted to a new institution – the Advanced College of Education which the then government of West Cameroon set up and attached to CCAST Bambili.

 CCAST itself had been transferred from Kumba to Bambili in 1963. The other eleven students, all of them Cameroonians, were Ayeah Philip Ngam, Che Zaccheaus, Domatob Rose, Forbin Boniface, Mbom Peter, Mofor Alphonsus, Ndenge Christopher, Ngenge Christopher, Ntali Stephen, Sone Ferdinand, and Tembi Joseph. Unfortunately, as the booklet reports, “the programme did not take off successfully because the government stopped the scheme.”

 However, I know from personal knowledge that some of the students moved on to establish themselves firmly in other areas of life. Domatob Rose, for instance, became a leading educationist, being appointed principal of some of the country’s most outstanding Government Technical High Schools. Forbin Boniface became the famous Bob Forbin of the National Radio Station in Yaounde in the days when there was yet no television. Later still, he became Dr. Boniface Forbin, Publisher of The Herald newspaper. Even so, there is more to it than meets the eye because Ngenge Christopher later entered the National School of Administration and Magistracy after which he was appointed Senior Divisional Officer in a number of Divisions in the North West.

On a more personal note, he got married to my sister, Ma Martina. But while Ngenge Christopher was still a student at the Advanced College of Education, my sister used to take me to the hostel where they students were lodged. The building which is still in place today, is located at IRAD Bambui and as as might be expected, it has been converted to several other uses since then. At the time, each of the students had his own room to live in. This was before my sister got married to Mr. Ngenge. One day, she took me to visit her “guy”. When we got there and I placed the basket of food I had carried on the table, Mr. Ngenge asked: “What is it?” My sister replied: “It`s Irish potato porridge” Then raising his voice, he announced to the Nigerian student who was his nearest neighbor: “Uzoh, bring a fork and knife!” Promptly, Uzoh materialized, my sister served them in plates and they enjoyed their meal while I looked on and wallowed saliva as I watched them helplessly.