National President's Speech

A KEYNOTE ADERESS BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE NYASOSO EX-STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, NEXSA ON THE OCCASION OF THE FUND-RAISING GALA DANCE THIS DAY OF 7TH FEBRUARY 2009-02-07

- MR. CHAIRMAN
- THE GENERAL COMMANDER OF THE 2ND COMBINED MILITARY REGION
- DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND MILITARY OFFICERS
- GREAT NEXSANs
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

                       By Colonel Ajang Sone

     Today is the 7th of February 2009 and here we are in the PARTY HOUSE in BONANJO for the NYASOSO EX-STUDENTS ASSOCIATION Fund-raising Gala dance aimed at resurrecting the decaying structures of the erstwhile academic citadel-- our beloved ALMA MATER
On behalf of the Nyasoso Ex-Students, I heartily wish to convey our sincere thanks each and everyone of you present here today for taking part in this event in spite of your busy and tight schedules. Your presence is ample testimony of your attachment to educational endeavours in general and friendship in particular. Yes, friendship because if each NEXSAN had to invite to this maiden Fund-raising Gala all the friends they must have created along the lines of their social, professional and family lanes, then this Party House would have been too small to accommodate us. Indeed, you constitute the cream of what I should rightly call the NEXSAN FRIENDSHIP: Thank you again for coming.

     G.H.S Nyasoso is situated in the village whose name it bears. Nyasoso is found in Tombel Sub-Division in the Kupe-Muanengouba Division in the South West Region of Cameroon. The school was created in November 1974 as a G.S.S upon inheriting the magnificent structures of the former Presbyterian Teachers’ Training College, which magnificence constituted an attractive educational pull-factor nation-wide. The inherited religious aura that lingered around the campus certainly influenced the ethical grooming of the students and contributed to the brilliant results which resulted in an increase in enrolment. This increase in enrolment certainly pushed the Government to up-grade this academic power house to a high school in 1991. In fact, we take pride in identifying ourselves with that exemplary institution.

     In order to up hold this academic pride, some devoted ex-students decided to judiciously create a forum of exchange which later resulted to an Association in CCAS Kumba in 1981. The budding Association had an enthusiastic birth but a timid growth and then fell into coma at the time that its founding fathers least expected. I need not dwell on the point by making an x-ray of the causes of the coma; but like any other association still at its infancy, certain viruses that can hinder an association from evolving were so obvious that it needed a proactive leadership. Or, if the virus caused affliction, a surgical and clinical relief was timely administered. Yes, our Association was a victim of its untutored infancy.

     So, it is necessary at this juncture to say that the paralytic situation of the Association was parallel to the fall in standards and in enrolment in our ALMA MATER. The erstwhile standards and enrolment dwindled with time. In fact, it became degrading in comparative terms due to the decaying structures compounded by the lack of teachers, bad roads and other vices etc. Today, our ALMA MATER that was hitherto a pull-factor suddenly became so remote and repulsive that even some ex-students sent there as teachers found it punitive to stay. That is indeed the reality of our ALMA MATER today:
     I have taken your time to talk of our ALMA MATER and our ASSOCIATION because you all here present equally have both and there is no possible divorce between the two especially for those who know the importance of education.

     Due to this inseparable marriage between the ALMA MATER and the ASSOCIATION, it is consequential that since the Association has thus far moved from Creation to somnolence to revival and revival to survival, and finally to fulfilment, the infrastructure of G.H.S Nyasoso should equally be revived. Furthermore, assistance should be given to the benevolent staff and the PTA in order to enhance the standards that the school once had.

     You are here today on the invitation of your brothers and sisters who are former students of G.S.S now G.H.S Nyasoso to partake in their fund-raising gala dance. As you know, and as it is expected, the proceeds from this show of GOOD WILL on your part will permit us to refurbish the school by rehabilitating structures, equipping the library, computer and science laboratories and why not supplement the emoluments of the benevolent P.T.A teachers. These pull-factors are momentous for the image of our ALMA MATER; that is why you are here today in that spirit of friendship, sacrifice, generosity of spirit and selflessness. Remember, there is much more divinity in giving than in taking; this is a universal and not a NEXSAN principle.

     To allay your fears concerning managerial issues relating to the funds that will result from your financial help, I wish to announce the establishment of two gadgets to ensure transparency:
- The registration of the Association on the 7th January 2009 that gives her a legal personality; and,
- The opening of the Association’s account in a credible financial institution to guarantee transparency.

     Permit me to conclude by formatting and itemising the FUND-RAISING activities for tonight.
- We shall have the launching of the NEXSAN UNIFORM, a NEXSAN affair in which senior NEXSANs shall be called upon to unveil the clothe and thereafter benevolent guest launchers shall follow in an orderly manner void of protocol;
- We shall have the cutting of the GALA CAKE, which on protocol directives, shall be done by our GUESTS as short listed;
- We shall have the launching of THE NEXSAN, a magazine carrying interesting ALMA MATER and societal issues, ethical precepts, commercial pages etc. The launching shall be done by our SPECIAL FRIENDS as the protocol shall direct.

     Since you are here to help us help our ALMA MATER, we courteously remind you to take cognisance of the various phases of the fund-raising exercise to enable your equitable participation in the different phases.

     Last but not the least; with lovers’ day 14th February 2009 just around the corner, we shall auction a SAINT VALENTINE CAKE in the course of the gala night: couples and non couples are invited to partake in this sublime expression of love.

     In as much as we cannot pretend to substitute Government by what we intend to do, we plead that you help us help our ALMA MATER and your efforts shall be documented for posterity:

That is they story of our ALMA MATER—G.H.S Nyasoso.

You are welcomed and thanks for your kind attention and show of concern.

THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Col. Sone Ajang Joseph


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