Buea: Bamendankwe Dev’t & Cultural Association offers assistance to meritorious pupils, students.

The meritorious pupils and students were handed didactics to ease their schooling in the 2024/2025 academic year.

In an opening meditation, Gideon Abamukong, drawing inspiration from Ephesians 6:1-2, reminded the pupils and students of their Christian duties if they must succeed in life.

On her part, Forche Rosette advised the children to carefully select friends, because there are some friends who can ruin their lives or orchestrate their downfall. 

She told the children to be regular in school/class, copy notes, ask questions, be studious and avoid exchange of gifts from mates. Forche equally cautioned them against drug abuses, sexual harassment from mates and teachers. 

Forche highlighted that the responsibilities of parents are not limited only to the payment of school fees and buying of school needs, but stretch beyond to visiting the schools and getting information about their children. 

Another Bamendankwe elite, Ayumbi Clive, told the pupils and students that: “School enrollment is in hundreds, hundreds do graduate, but the job market is just for a few. The few are those who pass their examinations with distinction. So, strive for positive competition with your mates”.

Orientation on career choices

Meanwhile, talking on career choices between technical education and general education, Joseph Wanka, said: “General education is good but technical education is better. There is no one who is growing and will not want to construct a house. In building a house, technicians in many fields of life are needed. So, go in for the technical education, acquire skills and knowledge so that you will be able to design infrastructures that meet the changing times. By so doing, you will make much money”.

On his part, Pa Acho Sylvester, representative of the traditional ruler of Bamendankwe in Buea, told the children to be confident in their abilities for “confidence leads to success”. 

He lauded the initiative of the BAMEDCA Buea Branch president, Dr Theophilus Koti, to donate to the pupils and students. He told the children that as parents they are to provide everything that children need in and out of school, and so they should not steal.

Anne Munjong, member of Bamendankwe elite women association, known as Ngwarre, said the group of women gives scholarships to Bamendankwe students of Bamendankwe who perform excellently well. 

She was very happy that two years back, amongst those who benefited from the Ngware scholarship scheme at the national level, five students were from the BAMEDCA Buea branch. 

She advised the children to strive to benefit from this scheme every year. While praising the initiative of the BAMEDCA Buea Branch president, Anne Munjong added that there should be a follow up of the beneficiaries while at school. Tabufor Susan told the children to always put God first in everything they do.

Enter BAMEDCA Buea Branch president

The BAMEDCA Buea Branch president, Dr Theophilus Koti, said he conceived the initiative in January 2023 and it began in August 2023. 

“In August last year, BAMEDCA Buea Branch awarded back-to-school support to eight students. We are in its second edition and 15 students benefited from this vision. I hope and pray that in 2025, we will have more beneficiaries,” Dr Koti said. 

“I see this gesture to be a mustard seed that was planted. I pray this will continue even when my active working days as president are done. Conclusively, I therefore appeal to individuals or private sponsors to support this scheme. As I work and hope in faith, I know the third edition will be very colourful and bigger,” he added. 

He then wished the pupils and students God’s guidance, protection and provision while in school. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3220 of Thursday, September 5, 2024