Prof Nkuo Theresa Akenji unveils grotto project in memory of parents.

This was during a memorial mass for the UBa VC’s parents, which held on Saturday June 29. The memorial mass took place at the Saint Felix Catholic Church in Ntenefor-Bamenda. 

The emeritus Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Cornelisu Fontem Esua, was the chief celebrant of the mass. 

Priests who assisted His Grace Fontem Esua in the memorial mass were; Rev Frs Ignatius Waindim, Benedict Nsom, Clemens Waindim and William Shakespeare.

The parents of Prof Theresa Nkuo Akenji viz; Jude Thaddeus Nkuo, her father, died on February 20, 2020, while Catherine Nkuo, her mother, journeyed to the world beyond on May 26, 2024, at the age of 91. 

Both parents, the UBa VC said at the event, held the grotto project in high esteem while alive. The launch of the project, it was said, is in keeping with the desire of her parents who were very much attached to God and service to humanity.

A host of personalities joined the family of Prof Theresia Nkuo Akenji to witness the launch of the project. Attendees recollected fun memories of the exemplary lives her parents lived. 

Among them were the Governor of the North West Region, Adolph Lele L’Afrique Tchoffo Deben; the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu; the Commander of the Third Joint Military Region, General Agha Robinson; the Member of Parliament, MP, for the Bafut/Tubah Constituency, Hon Agho Oliver among others.

Speaking during the memorial mass, Prof Theresia Akenji recollected the exemplary lives of her parents and commitment to raising their children in the fear of God. 

She also told the audience how attached her parents were to Christian education and promoting the things of God. 

Prof Akenji recalled her mother’s role in instituting the Christian Women Association, CWA, of the Catholic Church in her native Njinikom village. 

In addition to serving God selflessly, she also said her parents were outreaching, especially to the needy in society.

At the event, Prof Nkuo Akenji cited her father’s autobiography, published on October 28, 2000, as having traced the idea of the grotto project to a lifetime pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Southern France, in 1987. 

Memories and the spiritual importance of that exercise triggered the grotto project which reality, the UBa VC has set rolling.

Originally conceived for Njinikom in Boyo Division, the grotto scheme, Prof Nkuo Akenji disclosed, was moved to Bamenda due to the armed conflict in the two English-speaking Regions. 

She thanked other members of her family for being flexible to move the project to the North West Regional capital. 

She also thanked God for gracing her parents with long life while the sojourned the earth and for bountifully blessing the family.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No: 3156 of Tuesday July 02, 2024