By Jerry Ehabe
Obviously, no two prize-award ceremonies can look alike, recycling of the same programme notwithstanding. Despite the fact that it was well planned in the National Executive Meeting that held in Yaoundé a month earlier, the ceremony of this year was fraught with many mistakes and missteps that a huge potential for failure loomed large. The reasons for the feared failure were:
- Very late beginning
- No procession from the village as a result
- Low turnout – 33 attendees, just 1/3 of previous attendance
- Absence of Certificates of Excellence and
- Late arrival of NEXSAN [book] prizes.
But with the hand of Providence at work, the success achieved is worthy of note.
Instead of 8:30 AM, the occasion started at 11:30 AM beginning with the National Anthem followed by the School Song [anthem] and then prayers led by Vice Principal Epie Zachary. After an interlude of live choral music by one of the School choirs the programme continued with speeches in the following order.
Speech by the Principal of GHS Nyasoso – choral music – choral music – speech by the Leslie Emeh Njume the President of NS3 (Nyasoso Student Scholarship Scheme) – Choral music – speech by the Senior Prefect of GHS Nyasoso – choral music – speech by the National President of NEXSA. The suite of speeches followed suit this report.
NEXSA did not present an academic discourse this time around. However, an orientation paper presented by GHS Economics / Commerce teacher, Mr. Ebot Valentine Ebot, dressed in “Sesekou” regalia, filled the academic discourse gap. This paper, featured here below, is a must read. Meanwhile, NEXSA Home Chapter President, GHS vice Principal Great Epie Zachary, using the NEXSAN subsidized school projector, presented a slide show of NEXSAN assistance to the School, to wit: toilet pots, trash cans, painted buildings, LCD TV screen, electricity generator and prizes since the revival of the Association in 2007.
The rejoinder speeches by the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education sealed the slot for speeches. The gist of the Delegate’s speech was that all the rooms needed for teaching in a secondary school are available in Nyasoso. That though her results dropped last year, relatively, they were not bad. The School should not only encourage paper results, but moral results too. He pleaded with NEXSA and NS3 to create programmes that will help Government to improve on morals. Also, that the twosome of NEXSA and NS3 should concert more with a view to be more united. Finally, he noted that there was a correlation in the speeches of NEXSA National President and the Senior Prefect of GHS in regards to decadent behavior in the School. The then urged the Disciplinary Committee to be precipitating meetings to sanction defaulters. After a musical choral interlude, Upper Sixth student Ngalame Esther recited again the beautiful poem she presented last year.
Part 2 and the crux of the occasion, the prize-award, though minimalist and symbolic, had a marked difference, on a positive note, from previous ones. For this important exercise, the wall décor of the chapel carried the inscription “Knowledge is power, you reap what you sow”. Donors of book prizes comprised: NS3, Mbulle Mbulle Valentine and Bide Ntube Cletus. NEXSAN pecuniary prizes included 10.000 F, 7.000 F and 5.000 F for 1st, 2nd and 3rd best students respectively from Form One to Upper Sixth. NS3 gave fiscal prizes too of 2.500 F to the best student of each class. Mr. / Mrs. Njumbe Emmanuel gave special cash prizes of 2.500 F to the best student in every subject class by class.
Besides prizes to students, NEXSA motivated the 9 PTA teachers with money envelop of 10.000 F each through the hands of the National President Sone Ajang. Mr. James Esambe alias Grand Jimmy, a retired secretary came back to volunteer, was equally remembered as he too was a recipient of a 10.000 F envelop. Justice demands mention be made by mentioning the euphoria that greeted PTA teacher Ngolle Ngolle Hoffman (a NEXSAN), when he was called up (last) to pick up his motivation envelop. Though all the PTA teachers are professionals, his input, which has been extra ordinary all year round, received a thunderous applause, as the Directory of Ceremony, a disciplinary staff, described this language teacher as a personality that switches from Shakespeare (English language) to Victor Hugo (French language) with relative ease. In fact, in a PTA / NEXSA EXEC meeting, language maven, Simen Michael told him if he continues in that way, he was to go places!
Contrary to plans in the Yaoundé National EXEC meeting, Certificates of Excellence were not awarded because the certificate template was not forwarded to NEXSA Secretary General as was arranged.
On the flip side things, a junior form student presented a bust drawing of NEXSA National President to him. The near replica drawing of the National President attracted a round of applause for the young Pablo Picasso incarnate. Everyone was so amazed that GHS Nyasoso too has got talents!
GHS Nyasoso won Divisional Girls’ hand ball cup in this year’s FENASCO games. This cup was presented in this ceremony whereupon spontaneous euphoria led to instant cash spraying of the cup till money was overflowing! The programme officially ended at 4:00 PM and was followed by a meal for NEXSANs and guests in the refectory. An hour later, the campus was deserted as delegates immediately returned to their respective stations given the good roads, albeit it temporary. Since there was no gala foot ball match and dance night, it was the first time a graduation / prize-award ceremony was all done from arrival to return in one day.
Albeit the angst and anxiety in the beginning, from every indication, the NEXSAN / NS3 sponsored prize-award ceremony was no small success.
N/B: Of late, the rest of the country has just joined Nyasoso where power outages are a constant. But the rendezvous in Nyasoso was oblivious of this fact since the “NEXSAN” electricity generator supplied power for a hitch-free occasion.
Attendance:
As is customary, the hosting chapter always presents the highest attendance. However, the attendance of the young Tiko chapter of substance was impressive and was led by its president Great Monkam Joseph, whom general NEXSA was delightedly surprised to see after a protracted health battle. Some chapters did not at all send representatives.
Statistics:
Nyasoso------------14
Tiko-----------------04
Tombel-------------04
Yaounde------------02
Bangem------------02
Ngusi---------------02
Limbe--------------02
Kumba-------------01
Douala-------------01
Bamenda----------00
Buea---------------00
Attendees:
No. Name Chapter
1 Ebong Sylvester Nyasoso
2 Mesumbe Samuel Nyasoso
3 Ajebe Ngeh Nyasoso
4 Tejoka Nicolas Nyasoso
5 Ebong Mbinze Catherine Nyasoso
6 Ngole Ngole Hoffman Nyasoso
7 Etape Collette Nyasoso
8 Epie Zachary Nyasoso
9 Alobwede Marie Nyasoso
10 Ebong Edith Nyasoso
11 Epie Gladys Nyasoso
12 Nhon Kome Evaristus Nyasoso
13 Ekiti Matthias Nyasoso
14 Ediage Diana E Nyasoso
15 Monkam Joseph Tiko
16 Ntoh Bringo Tiko
17 Ngombok Gertrude Tiko
18 Forzong Benedicta Tiko
19 Ndene Scholastica Tombel
20 Ebondelle White Tombel
21 Prisco Ejolle Tombel
22 Ngome Ernest Akwe Tombel
23 Sone Ajang Joseph Yaounde
24 Mbulle Mbulle Valentine Yaounde
25 Elimpe Emmanuel Bangem
26 Etube Charles Akame Bangem
27 Ebong-Pende Divine Limbe
28 Ehabe Jerry Nnange-M Limbe
29 Etube Valentine Ngusi
30 Mebune Larry Ngusi
31 Kome Epie Henry Kumba
32 Kang Glorine Douala
33 Njume Emeh Leslie NSSS
Buea 0
Bamenda 0
