Fotabe University offers scholarships to IDPs, underprivileged girls.

The scholarships awarded the IDPs including underprivileged girls is a yearly largesse from FUNIC offered as part of the institution’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

Beneficiaries of this year’s offer received their scholarships recently in Douala. This was during a heavily attended ceremony attended amongst others by the BritishHighCommissioner to Cameroon, His Excellency Barry Lowen.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Founder of the Fotabe University Cameroon, Dr Elmine Fotabe, challenged the beneficiaries to make the best out of the offer.

The serial entrepreneur and corporate trainer told the awardees that: “Through this scholarship program, I want you, IDPs, teenage mothers, and all of you in similar circumstances to remember never to give up on your dreams. But unto those dreams, add hard work, perseverance and prayer so that one day, those dreams will become a hope for future generations”.

Dr Elmine Fotabe recalled that for the past nine years, she has had the privilege of awarding scholarships, not only in her capacity as the Founder of FUNIC Cameroon but also as Founder and President of Association for the Promotion of Decent Work for Women and Girls, ASSPRODEC. 

She told attendees that “every single time I have done so, I have felt a deep sense of fulfilment. The same fulfilment I feel at this moment. I know, you may be wondering why I take so much pride in awarding scholarships. The answer to this is found in one word: Empathy”.

Dr Elmine Fotabe recounted that in 2016, when the socio-political crisis hit the South West Region, as is in her nature, she “persisted in educating Cameroonians, despite the warnings to stop!”

“After receiving death threats, one day, I came face-to-face with death! On that day in 2018, I fled my home in Buea and moved to Douala,” she recounted, noting that the Buea campus of FUNIC which was already becoming a reference in professional and entrepreneurial education was shut down. 

British High Commissioner, FUNIC Founder, Dr Elmine Fotabe (middle) during ceremony 

“I became internally displaced, went through months of wondering what I did to deserve losing everything, to months of asking myself where to go from here. Everything seemed to be falling apart, but the empathy of friends and family members gave me the strength to keep on and today, I stand before you,” she added. 

Dr Elmine Fotabe said she has had the “rare opportunity of meeting and exchanging with many of you. I have witnessed your struggles, seen the fear in your eyes, felt your pain and heard your stories. And I am here today to tell you that your dreams are still valid”.

Enter British High Commissioner

Taking the cue during the Douala event, the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, H.E Barry Lowen, felicitated authorities of the Fotabe University for promoting inclusive education through the scholarship scheme.

The senior British diplomat said he was particularly pleased to have noticed the massive presence of girls amongst the beneficiaries of last week’s scholarship offer.

“…we all do better when women can contribute fully to society. I hope that you will join the large number of successful women entrepreneurs I have already been meeting in Cameroon,” Barry Lowen said. 

He stated that: “As you pursue your careers, I hope that you will have an impact and make a difference to Cameroon. I hope that you will choose the UK as a business partner. Let me stress that word win-win partnership. As a Cameroonian proverb says ‘one hand can’t tie a bundle’”.