MINUTES OF THE 3^RD NEXSA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING OF October 13, 2012 in Buea

By Jerry Ehabe (Secretary General)

The Meeting took place on October 13, 2012 in Buea in the residence of NEXSAN Regina Tendonge née Nasako, a non-EXEC member though. The Meeting was an enlarged one and was highly attended resources persons inclusive. Though it started quite behind schedule, it rolled out well with the following resolutions marking its outcome.

1.      A forth and last Executive Meeting will be held in Limbe on 17 Nov. 2012 at the residence of the Limbe Chapter President.

2.      The Annual General Assembly – AGM – of this year will take place on Sat. 1^st December 2012 in Limbe, an adjustment from the Limbe proposal of 27 Nov. 2012 to resolve the clash with the Presbyterian Church Day.

3.      The financial report gave an amount of 1.621.600 F CFA in the accounts. The details of this sum plus whatever will be transacted in the last EXEC meeting on 17 Nov. will feature in the annual financial report that the Financial Secretary will post online as well as distribute copies to delegates at the 2012 AGM.

4.      The Secretary General will post online an annual report of the Association’s activities for the year 2012 before the day of the AGM for members to digest and raise matters from it during plenary.

5.      Social Security funds with respect to funerals need to be refilled and that chapter presidents should do their utmost to enforce the recovery before the AGM.

6.      Members should study the Constitution and Finance Charter to propose modifications to them during plenary at the AGM.

7.      Auditors for this year’s finances will be designated at the National Executive Meeting of 17 Nov. 2012 in Limbe.

8.      The resources persons, Alobwede Peter and Kode Samuel, will on the last EXEC meeting of 17 Nov and AGM on 1 Dec. make a power point presentation of the Microfinance project to refresh the Association on the facts and figures as we move make the project a reality next year.

9.      In this year’s last National Executive Meeting a finance committee will be formed to straighten out monetary issues.

10. The Meeting came out with a budget of 1.161.000 FCFA for this year’s AGM in Limbe.

A Statement from the Principal

The Principal of GHS Nyasoso, Nhon Kome Evaristus said, there was an improvement on both levels of the public examinations as we must have read from the media. He particularly underlined the superb performance in History where at the GCE “A” Levels, all the 61 students who registered passed. Though he committed efforts to teaching this course, he also acknowledged the assistance of his other administrative collaborators who joined the teaching staff to achieve the improved results.

He complained of the difficulty of actually keeping the campus clean because its sheer size is daunting to the students who though number 500 are not mature as in our time to clean it. Stones on the streets are all exposed. Staff houses need renovation as well as the dormitories too. The principal felt that besides manual weeding, chemical weeding could be a solution to eradicate weeds while concrete on road one should be re-enforced. That, the PTA and SMB have come up with suggestion of some projects aimed at giving the campus a facelift. Finally, he talked of the need of a school band and asked for NEXSA’s assistance.

Preparation of AGM by Limbe

Chapter President Ebah Ntoko Justice in reporting how Limbe is preparing the hosting of the 2012 Annual General Meeting, AGM, said from online reaction, he is surprised at the lackluster steam that is greeting the one of this year, relatively speaking. He intimated the floor of the work in progress so far, which included booking of the AGM venue; reservation of a catering service quite in advance in a period when and town where such services would be hard to get, identification of hotels especially negotiations with a NEXSAN-owned hotel, Trinity Hotel, for favourable rates, information on which had been previously posted online; alerting of fabrication of personalized documentation for all delegates, planning for overhead banners, tracing of procession trajectory, plan for tour to touristic areas such as Bakingili lava overflow spot, SONARA, etc., and arrangements for night club for relaxation after a long AGM day proper. In appreciation for gestures of kindness and fraternity, he acknowledged the receipt of 100.000 F (One Hundred Thousand Francs) CFA from Douala chapter to support Limbe in the hosting of this year’s AGM. Pleased with the level of preparation by Limbe thus far, the National President, Sone Ajang and Legal Adviser, Mado Mesape, pledged the sum of 100.000F (One Hundred Thousand Francs) and 50.000 F (Fifty Thousand Francs) CFA respectively to support the hosting chapter, Limbe. He wrapped up this phase of intervention by acknowledging the presence of Tiko and Buea Presidents to our preparatory meetings in which they made worthwhile proposals.

Chapter Reports

Buea, Limbe and Yaoundé reported that they had much in common underscored by indifference to alma mater issues and laxity to attend meetings despite ample announcements and reminders but for a handful of faithful otherwise their chapters would have stopped existing on the NEXSA map.

Yaoundé

Great Senge Ngede representing Yaoundé intimated that their meetings are mostly attended by students. She said her chapter is asking for the reimbursement of the stipulated Half a Million Francs CFA that NEXSA was supposed to advance to her when she hosted the 2011 AGM. All three chapters however reported that when it comes to financial contribution, a higher identification and participation is usually recorded.

  Buea

The President, Dorothy Forsac said, she is so disappointed by the lack of commitment that she had opted to resign but whatever number of members they have prevented her from doing so.

  Bamenda

Report given by President Sounjoh Samuel Suh disclosed that they are united and stable. They do rotational meetings with “njangi” scheme incorporated that comes up to half a million francs CFA each monthly seating. Each member contributes Twenty-five Thousand Francs CFA. Thirty-five Thousand Francs CFA is left with the host of the meeting to help defray hospitality cost. On the downside, they have been hit by a wave of transfers of some important members. The Chapter is thus left with 12 active members whose contribution of 120.000 F CFA he presented to the meeting variously for AGM levy and annual dues.

Tombel

President Prisco Ejolle said that, because they rotate their meetings from one member’s house to another, it has helped in sustaining them. That they showed solidarity at the funeral of Great Ngonde Lawrence at Ebonji and that has led to more commitment of members. That generally, the chapter is waxing strong.

 Douala

Vice President Ehabe Constantine acting for his president said attendance has improved thanks to Dr. Balbina Ebong who has sacrificed a lot to make things happen. That a couple of weeks ago, they picked the cue from others by starting a “njangi” scheme whereby the host that takes. The transfer of some members, especially of Nana Evaristus has adversely affected them. With their revival, they are gradually waxing back to old ways of commitment and while wooing more members.

Bangem

Chapter President Etube Charles Akame intimated they are “waxing well”. He continued that, prior to the AGM in Yaoundé, the Bangem chapter, which was well represented, was having a boost in their monthly attendance. But shortly after that, attendance has dwindled but however my chapter still remains dynamic with each executive member doing their bit. Another problem that undermines the full functioning of the chapter is timid attitude of some members who albeit are always willing to do everything they do. In their last meeting, the National President was present in the capacity of a member and has paid all his dues. He submitted 100.000F CFA as various dues that the National Financial Secretary recorded.

Kumba, Tiko, Ngusi, and Nyasoso were absent in this meeting.

Reactions to Chapter Reports

The house suggested that Limbe should widen as much as possible the list of various hotels available so that delegates are not limited to patronizing Trinity Hotel, the attractive rates and centralized location notwithstanding.

That those members who do not attend meetings but do contribute should know that identification with the alma mater is a whole package that comprises both attendance and contribution. That NEXSA, after the 2012 AGM would be expecting a waiver of cost from Limbe. That a finance committee will be formed before the AGM to look into the pending reimburse of Yaounde’s 2011 preparatory funds as well as allied issues.

Attendance:

The following tendered in excuses to the National Secretariat in time for absenting:

The National Treasurer, Kang Glorine Munge Elage, because of clash with a teachers’ meeting of which she was the host.

2nd National Vice President Michael Njumbe Simen because of a clash with Christian Men’s fellowship in which he was acting for his president, who was absent.

The National Public Relations Officer, Divine Ebong-Pende and the President of Nyasoso chapter, Zachary Mesue Epie, were both absent because they were attending their cousin’s burial in Ngusi.

Tiko president Monkam Joseph was absent because of scheduling issues: meeting schedule conflicted with his work schedule.

 

Roll call:

No	Name	Position	From
1	Ekungwe Christopher	Cultural Adviser	Buea
2	Fred Fombi	Adviser	Bamenda
3	Prisco Ejolle	Fin. Sec./pdt. Tombel	Tombel
4	Etube Charles Akame	President Bangem	Bangem
5	James Ewane Sumelong	Technical Adviser	Kumba
6	Ediage Lucia Dipita	Social Secretary	Bangem
7	Sounjoh Samuel Suh	President	Bamenda
8	Nhon Kome Evaristus M.	Principal GHS Nyasoso	Bamenda
9	Ebah Ntoko Justice	President	Limbe
10	Dorothy Forsac Tata	President	Buea
11	Sone Ajang Joseph	Nat’l Pdt	Ebolowa
12	Ngenko Daniel Lissock	Nat’l Legal Adviser	Kumba
13	Balbina Ebong Mesue	Deputy Nat’l SG	Douala
14	Ehabe Mpang Constantine	Vice Pdt.	Douala
15	Mesape Mado	Nat’l Legal Adviser	Yaounde
16	Senge Edith Ngede	Secretary Yde	Yaounde
17	Tanjoh Jerry Naah	Web Moderator	Yaounde
18	Ehabe Jerry N-m	Nat’l SG	Limbe
19	Kode Samuel Metuge	Resource person	Bamenda

 

The Meeting closed at 6:00PM on a note of satisfaction.

 

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THE REPORT OF THE NEXSA/NS3 SPONSORED PRIZE-AWARD CEREMONY OF G.H.S NYASOSO ON May 18th, 2012

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

Minutes of GHS Nyasoso Ex-Students' Association meeting

MINUTES OF THE 3RD QUARTER NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING ON 16 OCT. 2010
By
EHABE Jerry Nnange-Masango
Secretary General of GHS Nyasoso Ex-Students’ Association

16 members attended this meeting that held in the Conference Room of Capitol Hotel commencing 2:30 PM.
The adopted agenda featured
1. Prayers
2. School song
3. Scholarship
4. Preparedness for the AGM
5. Clash AGM / Presbyterian Day
6. Branch reports
7. Business venture
8. Re greening of the campus
9. Audit
10. Miscellany
11. Close
In his opening speech, the National President remarked that this is the first National Executive Meeting after the change of hands in GHS Nyasoso Administration. That a stronger partnership, hopefully, be forged between the School and NEXSA. NEXSA is assuring the School of her unflinching support.
After correcting the fact that the National President gave a non refundable sum of One Hundred Thousand Francs CFA for the continuation of the re greening project of the campus, the minutes of the last meeting were adopted. In matters arising from the last minutes, it was decided that the reactivation tour of chapters should be embarked upon as soon as possible. It was lamentably noticed that none of the pledges to sponsor the tour has been redeemed. However, Douala Chapter, upon learning about the reactivation tour online, did pledge too and so far have raised 35.000 FRS which their treasure is going to hand to National NEXSA.
Major challenges on the agenda included:
THE CLASH in date between the forthcoming AGM and the Presbyterian Church Day---It was resolved that the 13 Nov 2010 for the AGM is maintained. The reason being that any other dates before or after was even more highly unsuitable because of further clashes.
SCHOLARSHIP: The prescription for eligibility for the Diaspora scholarship based on merit and need was considered unsuitable to be relied upon as a yardstick for short listing awardees. The Meeting is asking for possibility of Home / Diaspora NEXSA to jointly review the criteria for eligibility. Scholarship was considered related to merit, while need was considered tied to assistance. To use merit and need to award scholarship was in NEXSAN context, going to pose problems to determine who gets the scholarship. That if NEXSA intends to help the needy, we should tag the word Assistance without any academic meritorious undertones, while scholarship as a separate tag should be reserved for academic excellence irrespective of whether the student is poor or not.
BUSINESS VENTURE: proposals for any business ventures should be well researched and professionally written. Chief Peter Sanga the National Technical Advisor will at the AGM present a paper on the “other side of business” to enable us ascertain the feasibility of any business we will be engaging in.
PREPAREDNESS FOR THE AGM: Presented by Mewanu Divine from Kumba. That for the past 3 months they have focused their attention on the AGM. They have been having regular meetings and will have a last one before the AGM. They had tasked themselves and have realized their target. But they somehow over budgeted because they projected an attendance of 250 at the AGM. Drawing experience from past AGMs, the Meeting advised Kumba to foresee a population of 150 and, to adjust the budget accordingly. Kumba’s idea to produce special AGM T-shirts to sell to raise funds was discouraged on the grounds that though lofty, it will not yield as much profit as the making of a simple gadget like pin-ups to be sold at 500 FRS each and members will buy without much ado. Clarification was made on publicity: The National Executive as the Coordination Committee will handle publicity at the national level while, the hosting chapter will handle at the local. Kumba has already acquired the AGM venue which will double as venue for gala instead of the night club as was initially intended. This change has come about because of a previous lesson learnt from hiring a night club, besides being exorbitant. Kumba has requested the National Executive to be present in the last meeting they are going to have and will communicate the date of its holding. They concluded on a promissory note to do their best to make general NEXSA happy.
AUDIT: At the AGM, ad hoc auditing will be done and a report will be presented on that day. The two auditors will be determined in the AGM.
THE REGREENING OF THE CAMPUS: Reported by Epie Zachary. Of 80 willow trees planted, there is 35 % loss due to neglect by former Administration when this reporter was away for further computer training in Buea during last summer vacation. Also, goats are a problem to the trees. These goats even defecate in classrooms. In certain areas, the willows are not doing well because the soil fertility there has been depleted by eucalyptus that previously occupied those areas. The depleted areas will thus have to be left to fallow for a while to restore fertility. With Esong Jacob’s help of recruiting village hands, the eradication of elephant grass is largely successful. Epie Zachary, the NEXSA Home President cum Chief Discipline Master of GHS enthused that with the School now in NEXSA’s hands, the duo of him and the Principal as carriers of the vision will not sleep.
In response, the Meeting said
In order to protect our endeavours, that is, the planted trees:
- The School should request the Division Officer of Tombel to permit the School to pass an administrative injunction warning against stray animals on campus.
- The School should hedge the plants
- The School Administration should sensitize the school population on the environmental import of the trees.

Branch reports
NYASOSO:
Members are slow to respond to calls, except for festivities which are few and far in between. They are planning to welcome the new NEXSAN Principal and his team. His Chapter executive collaborators are not as committed as pledged. By the time they welcome the new GHS staff team, they will be able to ascertain the number of NEXSANs that will attend the Kumba AGM. The tendency of his members is to pay their levy at the heels of the AGM. The School is now being administered by those who bemoaned the School sometime ago; Principal Nhon Kome Evaristus, a seasoned History teacher; Vice Principal Nzuonkwelle Donald, a seasoned Mathematician who though not a NEXSAN, is however, a son of the soil; Mr. Ekiti, a seasoned Philosophy teacher and, one who is of the 1981 class of the school; Mr. Bughe J., a seasoned Physics and Computer teacher with a strong love for the School and finally himself Epie Zachary, a seasoned French Language and Computer teacher and one who was there at the very beginning of the School.
One of the first tasks the new Principal embarked on was to align his forces with existing efforts in the fight against the stubborn elephant grass on the campus. The second project was to stem the indiscipline that had gained hold of the School. Students have been stopped from going home during break. The canteen has been revived and food is sold in the refectory during break. With cooperation from the Principal, he the Chief Discipline Master engages overdrive to bring back the status quo ante, “retour en arriere” as he had once described it online. The boarding house has regained exemplary discipline. In short, discipline is near perfect.
With the methodical eradication of the elephant grass, restoration of discipline inter alia, he assured any impromptu visitors on campus will appreciate the change that has taken place.
The new Administration has identified the following priority needs:
- Painting of classrooms and other buildings
- Maintenance of roads
- Provision of hydroelectric generator
- Equipping of the computer laboratory.
- Lobbying for teachers at the Regional Delegation
- Motivation of staff at the end of the year.
The Meetings realized that by the sheer weight of these priorities they will be best handled by Government with NEXSA acting as lobbyist.

BAMENDA:
Report submitted by Chapter Vice President. That Chapter is functioning smoothly. Have newly registered members who are devoted. Have a monthly “njangi” where members are fully committed. But have observed that since the elections, former President Mr. Fombi has never attended Chapter meetings. Attempts to bring him and some other members in have failed. They pleaded the AGM scheduled for 13 Nov 2010 is moved to another date because of the National Presbyterian Day on 14 Nov 2010. Most of their members will not be in attendance if the occasion holds as scheduled. They also pleaded that whatever has to be published on the Internet should be censored or edited properly by the National Secretary because the minutes of the last National EXEC meeting raised a lot of dust in their Branch. They extended sincere condolences to the National President’s family for the death of their son. While pledging their loyalty to NEXSA, they wished her long life. Bamenda handed in 86.000 FRS (Eighty-six Thousand Francs) CFA for various contributions towards national NEXSA.

BUEA:
As reported by Chapter President---The Chapter was represented in the last National Executive Meeting in Kumba. The Chapter has not yet received contributions for Melle’s death from Yaoundé, Bamenda and Douala. The Chapter President lashed at the fact that the same 4 or 5 faces attend meetings. But during contributions, some absentees participate.

BANGEM:
The chapter requests that the National Executive visit them first in the planned reactivation tour.

TOMBEL:
The Chapter President reported that contributions towards the AGM are still being done.

YAOUNDE:
The Chapter held elections 2 months ago for a new executive. They try to mobilize ex-students to join the Association but those in senior positions are part of the Chapter’s low turn out to meetings. Of 30 registered members, 15 attend meetings regularly. They are yet to implement their “njangi” scheme since the fiscal year had advanced when they elected to embark on it. On socials, they offered a reception to Mr. and Mrs. Simen Michael who were in Yaoundé for a teachers’ meeting. When the National President was bereaved they sent a delegation for the removal at the mortuary in Buea and for the burial in Muebah.

KUMBA: Reported by Mewanu Divine. That Chapter is active with regular monthly meetings. Attendees are committed. For contributions towards the AGM they are going to host, their levies were open and this served as a motivation to not-so-well -to-do NEXSANs. Their “njangi” is still waxing strong and this serves as a binder, especially as turns to take is done by lot. The impending AGM has attracted ceremonial NEXSANs and they are open to them.

Having noticed non uniformity and digression in chapter reporting, henceforth, reporting will have to be harmonized. Consequently, it was decided that the General Secretariat should prepare a reporting format to enable the Association fulfill her vision and avoid digression in reporting. This format is going to be made available to chapters before the AGM so that reporting at the event and beyond will have to be in that format.

MISCELLANY: Internet connection. For a wide as possible network coverage, NEXSA has opted to procure 2 modem sticks, one from CAMTEL and the other from MTN, for ubiquitous Internet connection in the laptop. CAMTEL which is the main option will be rechargeable on a Pay-as-you-plan of FIVE THOUSAND FRANCS per month while MTN TWO THOUSAND FRANCS per month. This gives a total of SEVEN THOUSAND FRANCS CFA for NEXSA’s Internet monthly connection.
Stationery: As promised, the PR (I) Ebong Pende presented stationery for the National Secretariat. The items comprised papers, exercise book, pens, folder, envelops, stapler, trombons, cello tape and other sundries.

ATTENDANCE:
Excuses for absenting were received from:
- Ebah Ntoko Justice who was attending an important tribal meeting in Limbe
- Kang Glorine who did not get the long repeatedly publicized invitation
- Etube Valentine who could not make it
- Ejolle Joseph who could not be reached by phone in IT deprived Tombel due to power blackout.
- Bide Cletus who could not come because of involvement in organization of upcoming Agric show in Ebolowa.
Chapters represented at the Meeting were Bamenda, Kumba, Yaoundé, Buea, Bangem, Tombel and Nyasoso.
Detailed attendance:
No.
Post
Name
Base
1
V.P. Bamenda
Njong Margaret
Bamenda
2
Finance Secretary
Mewanu Divine
Kumba
3
PR (I)
Ebong Pende
Limbe
4
National President
Sone Ajang
Yaoundé
5
Pdt Nyasoso
Epie Zachary
Nyasoso
6
Pdt Buea
Forsac Dorothy
Buea
7
Lay member
Ewanzang Austin
Buea
8
Pdt Tombel
Ejolle Prisco
Tombel
9
PR (II)
Nwanja Sam
Yaoundé
10
National Technical Advisor
Sanga Peter
Buea
11
National Legal Advisor
Mesape Mado
Yaoundé
12
Deputy National S. G.
Ebong Balbina
Douala
13
Web Moderator
Tanjoh Jerry
Yaoundé
14
Pdt Bangem
Kome Etone Elvis
Bangem
15
Lay member
Ngone Divine
Bangem
16
EXEC Buea
Ehabe Eugene
Ekona
17
National S.G.
Ehabe Jerry
Limbe
The Meeting officially closed at 6:30 PM with entertainment of snack sponsored by the National President.




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THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE NYASOSO EX-STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (NEXSA) IN BAMENDA ON SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2009 by Fred Fondang Fombi

THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT
THE NATIONAL EXCO NEXSA
THE BRANCH PRESIDENTS
FELLOW NEXSANs
It is my distinguished pleasure to stand here today on behalf of NEXSA, Bamenda Branch, to welcome you all who have come from all over the country to this annual general meeting which our Region has been given the privilege to host this year 2009. In a very loud voice, I say welcome Great NEXSANs!
We pray that the Almighty God will be our special chairperson during our deliberations so that by his grace this noble alma mater shall grow from strength to strength.
I want to congratulate all of you for your presence. In fact, we know the numerous commitments that entangle us in our daily lives and it takes a lot of sacrifices to have kept this rendezvous.
Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to give yourselves a big clap for being here once more---you are welcome to the North West Region.
I take this opportunity to make it known to you that the Bamenda Branch has got up from slumber, and I bet you, the sky is our limit. We went through a lot of trial periods in the past, but we thank God that today, the storm is over, because in one accord, we have been able to gather the bits and pieces of our alma mater that were in the drain, and as you can see for yourselves, today we are full of life. Our intention is to keep ploughing ahead and never looking behind. We invite you all to do the same in your various branches so that together, we shall be able to transform the present GHS Nyasoso to what it was in our days.
I want to thank the National EXCO for their all round support to keep NEXSA alive as a whole, and the Bamenda Branch in particular, especially the National President who has been coming on weekly basis to realize the success of this event. We acknowledge your prompt reactions to our various issues and worries which have gone a long way not only to keep NEXSA Bamenda alive, but also to make us more committed. We are very grateful to you.
And to you from the other branches, we appreciate your generosity of always sharing your branch ideas with us, so that we will not be left behind while you forge ahead. You may not know it, but some of the ideas you shared with us have become the corner stone of our Branch activities. We owe our gratitude to you for that.
I also want to thank all others, who in one way or the other, have been a source of support and inspiration to us. Our NEXSAN wives and husbands have been so wonderful. We appreciate your willingness in allowing your spouses to be part of us.
Ladies and gentleman, on a sad note, we regret to say that within this year, we lost one of our pillars, Paul Nwana, who left us limping until his position was filled by the present secretary, Mr. Peter Alobwede.
Great NEXSANs, let us not only say we are great in theory, but let us be great practically. Let us be more committed and enjoy this noble alma mater.
I wish you a nice stay here in Bamenda. I invite you to relax and enjoy yourselves and may the good God who safely brought you here, take you back safely to your various stations.
May God bless our alma mater.
Thank you.

A Tribute to Wana Paul Chebele

Tribute to Wana Paul Chebele
By
Fomenky Nobert Nkafu
Well Paul, so you are really gone. I would have written this letter earlier; but I thought at the Mortuary in Bamenda, on seeing your corpse, like Lazarus and Jesus, you will get up and tell me you were only sleeping.That never happened.
At the graveyard I still nursed hopes that it could happen. It never did and my tear glands went crazy.Fare thee well, friend, and remember us to Fortoh Tom, Epie Sabastine, Njomo Aloysius, Forzah Felix, Ekwoge Dave, Ekwo Samuel Malongo, Mah Maureen etc.
When I last called you a fortnight before your departure, you could have told me that you were to visit Heaven.I would have rushed to say bye-bye. Pray for us as we do same here, but please plead with the Almighty to reduce the death rate in the World.

Mr. Fomenky Nobert is a classmate and a good friend of the Late Wana Paul--May our good friend, Late Wana Paul, live in Peace and prepare heaven, which he has gone to, and which we shall all be going, for us.__._,_.__ __,_._,___

Presentation by GHS Nyasoso Girl's Senior Prefect

A PRESENTATION BY Ms. KADIRI SOLANGE-- THE SENIOR PREFECT GIRLS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE SILVER+10 JUBILEE GRADUATION AND PRIZE AWARD CEREMONIES ON THIS 23RD DAY OF MAY 2009

The Senior Divisional Officer, Kupe Muanengouba,
The Divisional Officer Tombel Sub –Division,
The Hon. Parliamentarian,
The Lord Mayor Tombel Council,
The Divisional Delegate Secondary Education Kupe Muanengouba,
The National President NEXSA,
The PTA, Principal, Staff and Students of G. H. S Nyasoso,
Graduating Students and prize Winners,
Distinguished Guest, ladies and Gentlemen

It is with profound pleasure and honor that I stand here to express my gratitude to the school for the confidence bestowed on me and my team of school prefects to allow me deliver the welcome address on the thirty fifth (35th) anniversary of our school’s existence. Permit me praise the marvelous innovations that are being carried out by Nexsan President and the association to make our school a place to be. Today’s event marks the second time Nexsans are coming for Graduation and Prize Award ceremonies in Government High School Nyasoso. We want to thank you very much for your largesse.
As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the existence of G. H. S Nyasoso in this Silver+10 Jubilee, graduating the 35th and 17th batches of Form V and the Upper Sixth respectively, and awarding prizes to most hardworking deserving students, we feel very happy, and we wish you well and hope Nexsa will continue to strive to make the alma mater, G H S Nyasoso more pleasant, beautiful and a place to study more than ever.
We happily welcome Great NEXSANS and wish you a very happy stay during this short visit. It has always been the great wish of all the students to see this great day.
Our able Principal, Mr. Ngah Danny Kome has always reminded us to work hard and has equally done well to provide us with the essential materials to make learning a pleasure here at G.H.S Nyasoso. We thank you and your team of staff for your efforts. He reminds us always that he wants nothing less than a 100% at the GCE 2009.Our teachers have also done their best, not only to teach but also to cover much of their syllabi. The ball now is in the court of the students to prove that all the hard work by staff shall not be in vain.

To the graduates who will pass the GCE 2009 examination, we say Bravo and pray that they continue to further their studies in order to become future responsible Nexsans. To the students who will win prizes today, we praise you and ask that you continue in your hard work towards excellence. And to those who will fail the GCE 2009 and those who will win no prizes, we advice them not to be discouraged. They should rather be inspired by those who will win prizes and those who will finally succeed during the end of course examination.

Distinguished guests, we the students have been facing numerous problems; amongst them are: shortage of teachers in the domain of Physics, Mathematic, Chemistry and so on, fewer computers making the teacher and learning of computer very difficult. In the same vein, there is the absence of modern toilets in the campus creating a sanitation and environmental hazard. Also, as the saying goes, ‘’learning without playing makes Jack a dull boy.” G. H. S Nyasoso is lagging behind when it comes to social aspect. The school band is bad, leaving the school helpless in the social domain.
We earnestly appeal to Nexsans and other people of good will to fight for the transformation of G. H. S Nyasoso as Njomo Kenyata fought for the independence of Kenya .We beg you not to leave any stone unturned in the process. We promise to work in collaboration with the school Administration to take very good care of whatever you will place in our school to ensure that G. H. S Nyasoso becomes a paradise for studies as it was in the past.
On behalf of the entire student body, I wish you a happy stay in Nyasoso and a safe journey back to your various destinations. Forget not to keep the next rendez-vous in 2012 just like Olive Twist. I will join you in 2012 as a Nexsan We shall always need a lift from the Great NEXSANS.

Long Live G. H. S Nyasoso
Long Live Great NEXSANS
Long Live the Ministry of Education

GHS NYASOSO EX-STUDENTS CELEBRATE THEIR SILVER JUBILEE+10 IN NYASOSO FROM MAY22nd-24th

GHS NYASOSO EX-STUDENTS CELEBRATE THEIR SILVER JUBILEE+10 FROM MAY 22nd – 24th 2009 IN NYASOSO
By
Jerry Ehabe Nnange-Masango

In the life of humans, institutions, associations, organisations and nations, there is the tradition of commemorating or celebrating certain periods. Most institutions fall in the bracket that celebrates 25, 40 and 50 years interval of existence called silver, ruby or golden jubilee. GHS Nyasoso, under the auspices of NEXSA, was supposed to celebrate her silver jubilee in 1999 but for some managerial inadequacies at the last minute. This failure had an attendant effect in that thereafter, the Association fell into inactivity. The moribund Association thus became overweighed by the debt of not celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Alma Mater. Renascent in 2007, the Association charted a road map that comprised, inter alia, the paying of the debt by organising the celebration of the botched silver jubilee 10 years after.
From 22nd – 24th May 2009, Nexsans from far and wide and from all walks of life, stormed GHS Nyasoso their Alma Mater in their numbers to pay that debt by celebrating 35years of existence dubbed Silver + 10 Jubilee. While the 22nd was for arrival and preliminary shows as showed in the programme of activities and, 24th for farewell and departure, the D-day itself of 23rd started as early as 7:30 AM when Nexsans resplendent in their uniform (“ashuabi”), processed from the village to the campus in hierarchical order of admission. 31 batches in all distinguished themselves with sign boards during the procession and photo sessions.
After the breakfast and photo session, the ceremonies officially began at 10 AM under the chairmanship of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of the Division (Kupe-Muanengouba), while the Directors of Ceremonies were NEXSA’s Public Relations Officer, Ebong-Pende Divine and the Vice Principal of GHS, Mr. Nkwelle Alexander. The inscription on the wall “Your presence is re-assuring: your actions like a soothing balm” welcomed delegated and guests into the hall. Prayers were offered by PCC Nyasoso Rev. Pastor Ngomo Dibo and NEXSA’s Buea-based PCC Pastor Ndando Nelson. Underscoring the fact that NEXSA “has gone through thick and thin”, the duo drew inspiration from Jeremiah 31:17 “there is hope for your future says the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country” in the prayer they offered. This was then followed by pouring of libations (i.e. traditional method of praying to God) that was done by the traditional chiefs of Nyasoso I and II. They asked God to bless Nexsans for thinking of their Alma Mater with a view to bringing back the lost glories.
It was essentially a two-phase ceremony that comprised the prize-award and the Silver + 10 Jubilee activities. The prize-award was preceded by priceless speeches and discourses. Though all the talking was important to the students, of invaluable import to them were the two discourses delivered by Nexsans as well as the two presidential addresses that sandwich them; from the Home Chapter President and the National President respectively. The speech of the Home President, the discourses and the speech by the National President in that order, and like those in a similar occasion exactly one year ago, were coincidentally not only brain ticking and conscience pricking but also had a common message, DISCIPLINE, without the different authors knowing a forehand what the other prepared.
1974 (1st Batch) Class Epie Zachary Mesue, addressing the audience in his capacity as the President of the Home Chapter (i.e. Nyasoso) and host of the occasion, delivered a welcome cum history lesson cum wake up call speech. Drawing from his experience as pioneer student and 20 year serving teacher in his very Alma Mater, he made the audience laugh, sob and shed tears and as he delicately negotiated various turns and twists in his speech.
Picking the cue from the President of the Home Chapter, Diaspora Ewane James Sumelong from Botswana, who had come home purposefully for the Jubilee, presented the first discourse entitled Learning, Living and Cheating. When the physically rotund 1975 (2nd Batch) Class NEXSAN mounted the lectern and read out or rather spoke out his discourse in rsp, the rotundity of his intellect was obvious to one and all. He clinically diagnosed the why, the when and the how of cheating, exposed its nefarious effects while prescribing a treatment for it. If you have been living strictly by the adage “the end justifies the means”, this discourse debunks that fallacy. More importantly, after the discourse had hovered over the heads of the target population, the students, like a good sermon it landed on NEXSA where the phenomenon of cheating is a cankerworm.
The 2nd discourse came from 1979 (6th Batch) Class Ebong Balbina Mesue. This much more than a pretty face holder of a PhD, in a second successive time in the history of NEXSAN sponsored graduation/prize- award ceremony, invoked her Muse of creative writing, to painstakingly make available not only for the students but for humanity as a whole, a compendium of well-articulated maxims on Discipline worth having for keeps.
The National President’s address concluded speeches from Nexsans while going ahead to expound on the meat of the occasion. It is a speech that touched on all the nooks and crannies of our Association and pricks our conscience about our duty to ourselves instead of rendering lips service. Here it ties very well with Ewane James’ discourse on cheating.
These speeches and discourses are attached here for you to relish. Requests are rife that these “papers” should feature in the 3rd edition of the NEXSAN Magazine; the 2nd edition called Special Edition as it was dedicated to the Silver +10 Jubilee was launched during these ceremonies.
The S.D.O’s address came at the hills of the National President’s speech. He said he was pleased and happy to be part of these ceremonies and wished he was a NEXSAN. He talked of the change of budgetary head from construction of classrooms to renovation of buildings and the execution of the renovation which was evident on the chapel, administrative block and refectory. He however said there was much to be done and called on Nexsans continued partnership because Cameroon has moved from “l’etat qui fait tout to l’etat entrepreneur”.
The other speeches by the Principal, the PTA and the Girls Senior Prefect will be posted online after you have digested the first batch of speeches mentioned above.
As it has become the tradition of GHS Nyasoso, the award of prizes kicked off with the award for Discipline and the novelty in it this time around was that there was a prize for discipline for each of the 5 first cycle classes instead of one for the whole school as was the case last year. A curiosity about the laureates of the prizes for discipline was that they were all girls! As far as the other prizes were concerned, another novelty this year was that there were only the first prizes unlike last year where there were first, second and third prizes. A third novelty this year was that instead of pooling all the prizes like last year, special prizes were awarded according to the wish(es) of the donors. These special prizes ended the prize-award exercise. These special prizes were:
From Mme Tembe Anne: Best economics student Form V.
From Mrs. Gladys Inoni:50.000 FRS (Fifty Thousand Francs) CFA to the best all round Form 5 male student that did 5 years in Nyasoso.50.000 FRS (Fifty Thousand Francs) CFA to the best all round Form V female student that did 5years in Nyasoso. Also,100.000 FRS (One Hundred Thousand Francs) CFA was given to best all round Upper Sixth student that did 7 years in Nyasoso.
NEXSA did award prizes of NEXSAN ashuabi (uniform) to members of staff too as follows: the Principal, the Vice Principal, the Secretary Grand Jimmy and the longest serving academic staff member. NEXSA equally awarded ashuabi to the chiefs of Nyasoso I and II. Meanwhile, Bume Ada Olive Ngolle redeemed her pledge at the fund raising gala by donating a brand new Pentium 4 computer to the school. On the wall of the chapel was a promise the students had for NEXSA. It read: “With marvellous prizes from NEXSA, we shall be responsible future leaders and ‘the sky is our limit’”.
Various stages of the ceremonies were lightened with pauses ballets, choral singing and traditional dances during which Nexsans, overwhelmed with joy sprayed the actors with banker notes.
At the end of the ceremonies in the chapel, the S.D.O. led the planting of the tree near the administrative block to symbolize the green recovery of the lush greenery of the school. It is worth noting here that though in a penultimate preparatory meeting in Nyasoso, the Nat’l Exec earmarked 100.000FRS (One Hundred Thousand Francs) CFA planting of trees and flowers, Ewane James upon arrival from Botswana and in the ultimate preparatory meeting he attended in Buea donated 100.000 FRS (One Hundred Thousand Francs) CFA cash on the spot and asked that the previously earmarked money be put back to the coffers to assist in other aspects of preparation for the jubilee! In Nyasoso during the Jubilee celebration, he equally donated 6 packets of beautiful flowers seeds to the school.
In the football match that followed suit, the staff again edged NEXSA by 7 goals to 6 after penalty shoot outs following a full time 60 minutes virgin draw. The NEXSAN team had one female player on the squad in the person of BUME ADA OLIVE NGOLLE; she even missed scoring two goals, one in the early first half and another in the early second half.
The occasion wrapped up with a gala dance in the newly renovated chapel which the NEXSA National President, Lt. Col. Sone Ajang Joseph, had on a personal note transformed to a semi-modern night-club with gadgets he hired all the way from Douala.
24th May saw delegates bidding farewell and departing to their various destinations while being hopeful that since we have gone thus far, the celebration of the ruby in five years time would be a possibility. But Great Nexsans, why don’t we think of transforming the celebrating of the ruby from a possibility to a probability! How? By ceasing to be ceremonial Nexsans and refraining from paying lips service.


Secretary General –Nexsa

A Thank you for contributing to the Diaspora Scholarship Initiative and towards a successful Jubilee +10 and Graduation and Prize Award Ceremonies

Thank you to all for your contributions

The Jubilee +10 and Graduation and Prize Award ceremonies have come and gone and while we wait for the Secretary General of the association to send out his elaborate report of the event as he has always done in the past, I want to herewith, thank members of the Diaspora who participated through our small but organized effort to make the events a reality. And to those who decided to participate directly with the Home Front rather than with the Diaspora Executive, we say to you thank you as well. The Diaspora initiative was based on achieving two goals; (a) to contribute towards the ceremonies, and; (b) to raise funds for the Diaspora Scholarship Initiative. Even though the amount we raised was disproportionate to the number of members we have in the diaspora, we still achieved our goals with the few members that participated.
Even though the ceremonies have passed there are still enormous responsibilities we all owe to our alma mater. Each of us should regard our participation in our alma mater events with pride, as a philanthropic act which, as you know, is a gracious mechanism in nation building. In the months ahead, the Diaspora leadership shall elaborate on the Diaspora Scholarship Initiative which is geared at providing supplementary or partial financial aid support to needy children. We shall be counting on you for your support to make this project a success. Secondly, we shall be counting on all of us to pay our annual dues which I have asked the Nexsan Diaspora Executive Committee (NDEC) to adjust the amount due to the current hardship that most families are facing and also because we intend not to over-burden members with institutional projects as they have other responsibilities.
Before I elaborate or mention the names of those who contributed to the success of the Jubilee +10 event and how the money was spent, I beg to emphasize that this is not to ridicule those who did not contribute but it is an attempt to be transparent. We did ask individuals to make three types of contributions: Jubilee+10--$20.00, annual membership dues $100.00 and Diaspora Scholarship initiative—a minimum of $20.00 annually. The following contributed to the events: Mercy Manga ($220.00), Assumpta Ebung ($120.00), Irene Ejelle Koge ($50.00), Sheila Time ($50.00), Evelyn Epie ($50.00), Jackson Nanje ($120.00), John Epie ($120.00), Polycarp Mbongwo ($100.00), Divine Koge ($50.00), Dr. George Besong ($100.00), Henry Ekwogge ($50.00), Mathias Fowung ($100.00), and Dr. Mazami Tanji (80.000FRS)
(a) The National Executive Committee of the association levied each nexsan five thousand francs (5,000 FRS) towards the financing of the Jubilee +10 and the Graduation and Prize award ceremonies. And out of the more than three hundred (300) Nexsans in the Diaspora, a disappointing fifteen (15) members responded to the call to make this historic event a success. Each member was levied a sum of twenty ($20.00) dollars. The total amount that Nexsans in the Diaspora sent as their contributions to the event is 100,000FRS.
We all understand how difficult times are these days with the ruffled up economy making it difficult to come up with this small demand which was a request made for many months preceding the event by the National Executive Committee. We also understand that other family obligations might have prevented some from responding to the call from our alma mater for help. We also do understand that during the period that financial request was made by the Diaspora Executive many who were active in the e-group all of a sudden became inactive.
(b) The Diaspora Scholarship Initiative is a pilot project that we in the diaspora intend to make it a model one. The idea was conceived by a few members of the Georgia branch who thought giving some disadvantaged children the opportunity to go to school is prudent. The idea was echoed by Dr. Mazami Tanji in London who has been looking for private opportunities as Mrs. Mercy Esambe Manga to sponsor some disadvantaged children. We are quite grateful to these two especially and the rest of you who have responded to this overture resoundingly. Initially, we had anticipated sponsoring six (6) students this academic year beginning in September but donors decided to increase the numbers from six to twelve (12). The PTA shall select twelve students from the current Form One (those going to form two) through Lower sixth (those going to Upper Sixth). The selection shall also be a girl and a boy student from those selected classes. So, therefore, the incoming Form One and the Upper Sixth shall not benefit from this overture.
So far, we were fortunate to raise the total sum of 450,000FRS and the money was sent by the Diaspora Treasurer, Mrs. Assumpta Ebung Alobwede to Mr. Ewane James Sumelong, the Diaspora representative at the Jubilee +10 in Cameroon last Thursday who is expected to open an account at ECOBANK in Cameroon with the signatures of the National President and the National Treasurer. If and when that is done, it shall be made public to all. The total disbursement for this academic year shall be 300,000FRS. In general, the total amount that was sent by Diaspora members, that is for the scholarship and Jubilee +10 ceremonies was 551,000FRS (450,000FRS for the scholarship fund and 100,000FRS for the Jubilee+10 ceremonies).
We are extremely grateful to those of you who contributed and to those whose checks are still on the way. The Scholarship Initiative shall continue and we are therefore pleading with all of us to appeal to our inner consciences to contribute to this fund and to sustain this lofty initiative. The treasurer shall be contacting each and everyone for our annual donations.
Thank you all very much and may the Almighty God continue to provide us with abundance.

Jackson Nanje
Veep Diaspora

A Desparate Plea by a Nexsan for Help

Great NEXSANS. I salute you all. I went, I saw and I wept. The Silver Jubilee+10 and Graduation and Prize Award ceremonies went on well, it was in deed memorable, but I cried when I went around our beloved campus. Our paradise in the jungle is gone!!!
Girls, there is no economic center!!!
Girls and boys, there are no flat pavements
Stones, stones, stones all along the campus
There are no flowers oh!!!! I wept
Grass, grass, grass everywhere
Farmland all along the right side of block Six(6)
No window-pane, no beds few desks oh!!! I wept
Ah! girls and boys all is not yet lost
We can do something. Can’t we?
Let us team up behind the association's leadership and do something
Class of 1975, can’t we?
Oh yes, we can with the Nexsan spirit.
Through God's help, we can.

Anne Tembe
1975 Class.

The piece below is from another Nexsan echoing the plea of Anne Tembe himself an eye-witness to the dilapidating structure of our alma mater.


Great Nexans, We can do something by taking actions; that is, assisting financially. Not just the numerous exchange of ideas and writings as it happened before the just passed occasion. Let's take it a challenge especially to diasporas. Let's say not less than 100,000frs each, but more than that will be welcome.

Njume Henry Kolle (8th batch)

__._,_.___

Commencement Address by Dr. Balbina Mesue on May 2008 Graduation and Prize Award Ceremonies in GHS Nyasoso.

Graduating into a Successful Life
(A Paper presented on the occasion of the Graduation / Prize – award ceremony in GHS Nyasoso on 24th May 2008)

     This presentation is done to help stimulate your minds and to set you thinking not only about your present success but your success into adult life. Some people go on through secondary / high school successfully while others drop out on the way. The question is – where do you want to belong? With those who have gone through and come out successfully or with those who dropped out and stayed down there?
So far your education has been done in stages. The main purpose of primary education was to give you a basis for education in general – a herald to learning on another level. In secondary / high school the emphasis changes. There is so much to learn that you have to be offered, and to accept, what ever most people can agree on as a fact – and this is where your teacher comes in. He chooses, interprets these facts and comes out with sensible explanations so that you don’t feel terribly puzzled about them. Teachers also act as a model of what you expect to be when you leave school. “Children”, it is said, “have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them”. Teachers therefore do their very best not only to be heard but to set good standards for you to imitate.

     Apart from taking your studies seriously (and this is mandatory) so that you can succeed, many other options count, like developing your talents in a safe and caring environment like Nyasoso. The paradox of education is precisely this; that as one begins to learn and become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he/she is being educated and tries to make that society better than he met it. You can make your present society better by exploring the options that are available to you in your school – in both the curricular and extra curricular activities beginning with the very basic activities like joining the school’s sport teams, playing in the school band, taking the lead in a school play, or writing in a school magazine. Yes, I mean writing, because even though we are brought up in a society where very few want to read what you have written, you still have to cultivate the talent if you don’t have one or develop it if you’ve got one. You have to strive to develop an independent mind although it is nearly impossible to become an educated person in a society so distrustful of the independent mind. Writing should give you the independence and the experience you need in life. Experience, it is said, is a private and a very largely speechless affair. Something no one can take from you.

     To succeed in life you should try as much as possible to develop your talents. Every person has specific gifts, talents and strengths. William Mathew, a writer, said “one well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged is worth a 100 shallow faculties.” When you graduate from here try as much as possible to do what your heart tells you. Deep down inside you, if you are a musician, make music, if you are a footballer, play football, if you are a teacher, teach and if you happen to become a street sweeper, (which I don’t hope for), then sweep them properly. Do the best with whatever you are doing. The hardest battle you will face in adult life and never stop fighting is to be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best day and night to make you someone else. The easiest thing to be in the world is you and the most difficult to be is what other people want you to be. Don’t let them put you in that position. Some of the most discontented people you know in life are those who are trying to do something they are not supposed to do. To succeed in life, dare to be yourself. The former US president Abraham Lincoln said” whatever you are, be a good one”! A great artist wrote this “my mother said to me “if you become a soldier, you will become a general, and if you become a monk you will end up as a Pope.” Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso!” Resolve to be yourself, always!!

     Nurture your talent for writing if you have the gift or cultivate one if you haven’t. The greatest significance of the present student generation is that it is through them that the point of view of the subjugated is finally and inexorably being expressed. Writing helps in another domain. With enough practice it can lure you into a profession. Of course, the price one pays for pursuing any profession or calling is an immediate knowledge of its ugly side. However, when you discover the ugly side to a chosen profession try not to quit. Storms, they say, come for a reason, but they also come for a season. If you discover the reason, you can grow wiser and when you outlast the season, you grow stronger. You never accomplish anything worthwhile in life if you quit because only losers quit.

     Another successful link into the future will be to start thinking about a future career. Do you feel as if there is a huge gap between you and your future career destination? Then you have to overcome the fear of making a decision. You probably feel secure now because your decisions are still made for you by your parents and teachers. How do you overcome the fear of starting when you need to make your own decisions? You reach big goals by taking smaller steps! Edmund Burke, a British statesman and philosopher once said, “Nobody makes the greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little”. If you don’t decide what is important in your life, someone else will decide it for you. A wise person makes his own decisions; an ignorant one follows public opinion. While it is tempting to think that the amount of time required is still too long, those days and years will pass and pass quickly. When the time comes, try to fight fear. Fear, is a poor chisel to carve out your tomorrows. If you are looking at your future from a position of fear, then your view is inaccurate and distorted. It is never safe to look into the future with the eyes of fear. One of the greatest discoveries you can make in life is to find out that you can do what you were afraid you couldn’t do. Try to conquer fear. Don’t put water into your own boat. The storms of life will put enough in on their own. Trust yourself and God and take the first step when the time comes for you to make a decision.

     In trusting yourself you have to overcome life-limiting thoughts. What do I mean by life-limiting thoughts? They are those thoughts that squash your self-esteem. Self-esteem has to come from “self”. That is why it is difficult to believe the good things people say about you when you can’t see them in yourself. Labels tend to stick. When we are young and our parents and teachers say things like “he’ll never be smart”, “she will never get far in school” “he is so slow” we tend to carry those life-limiting thoughts around for the rest of our lives. Fortunately, you alone can know your potentials. Others can stop you temporarily, but you are the only one who can do it permanently. There are thousands to prophesy failure for you! So buckle up, push up your shirtsleeves and tackle that thing that “cannot be done” and you will do it. The bookends of success are commitment and consistency. Without commitment you will never start. Without consistency you will never finish. Getting started is the hardest part.

     In future, think big. Go farther than you can see. Dare to think unthinkable thoughts and dare to see where no one is looking. Like they say if the shoe fits, do not wear it – you are not allowing room for growth. Successful people know about the ineffectiveness of “living within your means”. Actually, “means” means “average” and when you decide to live within your means, you have decided to live an average life. Do this: know your limits – your means, then ignore them and forge ahead. Act bigger, believe larger and associate higher. Your outlook in life determines your outcome. So make your plans BIG. But in everything you do put God first.

     In your adult life you will find that the road to success is always under construction and success and growth are unlikely if you always do things the same way you have always done. Can you count how many people you know who are literally on the same place today as they were 5years ago? They still have the same problems, the same alibis, the same opportunities. They are standing still! You have enough room to grow, to learn and to improve. Try to learn from everyone. From one person learn what to do and from another learn what not to do. You can learn more from a wise man when he is wrong than from a fool who is right. Wise people sometimes change their minds, fools never do. It is a sign of strength to make changes when necessary. Changes come with learning and learning goes with reading. Only hungry minds can grow so cultivate the habit of reading. W. Fusselman said “today a reader, tomorrow a leader”. It’s fun to keep reading. Reading leads to learning and learning brings life into your life!

     For you to succeed in life there is need for you to communicate. Communication makes the world go round. Being able to communicate effectively is what gets you through each day, both now and in your professional life. Communication is very important if things need to work effectively. A man was walking down the street when he saw another man struggling with a machine in the doorway of his home. He volunteered to help and the owner was very happy. After several minutes of fruitless struggle the man said to the owner “we’ll never get this machine in there” to which the owner replied in amazement “in”? I’m trying to get it out!! There was no communication between the two people from the beginning. Your success in life depends on your ability to communicate effectively.

     Another chance for you to succeed in life is to invest in relationships: Being connected to others is one of life’s greatest joys and so life’s best comes when we invest in solid relationships. Some of the most lasting relationships are the ones that are formed while we are still in school. Natural talent, intelligence, a wonderful education – none of these guarantees success. You don’t win fame, recognition or advancement just because you think you deserve it. Someone else has to think so too. An old adage says: “if you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl, but when you associate with eagles, you will learn how to fly to great heights”! Think! You become like those with whom you associate closely – for the good or the bad! Anytime you tolerate mediocrity in others it increases your own mediocrity. Like it is said, “if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas!” The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. So start investing in solid relationships because you will need real friends to celebrate your life’s achievements.

     Talking about life’s achievements, repeating the same lessons over and over means you are not learning enough. Study those who have succeeded where you want to succeed, in order to know what to do. Someone once said “learn from the mistakes of others; you will never live long enough to make them all yourself”. To climb to a successful height some of these guidelines may be useful
Don’t shrink away from the people whose experience and expertise are greater than your own. We all struggle in certain areas but if you shrink away, your insecurity may be misinterpreted as arrogance.
Don’t try to impress people by seeking to be their intellectual equal. If you find yourself in a discussion that intimidates you, listen carefully and ask questions. Talk only about what you know and listen attentively to what you don’t.
Don’t come to class unless you have done your home work. And by class here I mean every thing that is a challenge in your life. When you start going higher in life, prepare your speech, your wardrobe and your mind. Consult a trusted friend who understands where you are and where you need to go. If you can’t find one, then read until you grasp the basics. Thank God for the internet with its every available subject!

Talking about consulting a trusted friend; in life you will find that there are about three kinds of friends:
     The users – those who reach for your strengths but carefully avoid your weaknesses. When trouble hits your life, the users distance themselves. Don’t hold them against it. They are just insecure and self-serving.
     The cautious: these are in the majority in life. When you are in trouble, they will wait to see if you get out of it. And even then, they will keep their options open. Before they accept you, they will first check to see who else does.
     The committed; an old adage says “in the good times our friends know us, in the bad times we know our friends” Even a handful of committed friends are good for you. Protect these relationships through life and they will help you reach your goal.

     And if I’m not succeeding you may ask. Then think about this. There are about three success myths that ensnare us and which you will come in contact with as soon as you enter adult life.
We believe success is the result of opportunity. That is, being in the right place at the right time, so we wait. People who do nothing more than wait for opportunity are neither able to see it nor seize it when it comes.
     We think that success comes from having leverage, that is, the ability to influence what people do. So we work for it by looking for ways of manipulating people.
We believe that success comes from connections, so we strive to make them. People who believe in connections think “they would have made it” if only they had been born into the right family or met the right person. Knowing good people has its rewards, but connections alone won’t improve your life if you are off track, that is, if you don’t work hard.

     Hard work should however go hand in hand with integrity and character: Character is the real foundation of all worthwhile success. People who work hard on their image than on their integrity don’t understand when they suddenly fail in life. In ancient China the people wanted security against the barbaric hoards from the North, so they built The Great Wall. It was so high that nobody could climb over it and so thick that nobody could break it down. So they settled back to enjoy their security. During the first 100 years of the wall’s existence China was invaded three times. Not once did the enemy break down the wall or climb over it. Each time they bribed the gatekeeper and marched right through without a problem! The Chinese were so busy relying on their wall that they neglected to teach their children integrity!
     Image, or the outward look, promises much and produces little, integrity never disappoints. Someone once asked the question “would your reputation recognize your character if they met in the dark?” Your integrity or lack of it always has consequences. Integrity should help you make the right choice in your life anytime. There should be no inconsistency between what you appear to be in life and what your family and friends know you are, whether in good times or bad times. Socrates the great philosopher once said, “the key to greatness is to be in reality what we appear to be”. He was right!

     So graduates, the world is at your door steps. Successful people in life don’t necessarily have to be more educated. They just have to have enough enthusiasm. Fire cannot be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in your daily work lightens effort and turns even labour into pleasant tasks and this includes preparing for your exams. Nothing in the world will help you succeed as the knowledge that there is a purpose in your life. Good luck!!

Prepared and presented by
Balbina Mesame Mesue Ebong (PhD)
NEXSAN 6th batch (Class of 1979)