At life victory celebration: Mourners celebrate late George Mbarika for contribution to growth of nation.

Described as a remarkable community leader and business tycoon who positively impacted lives, the late George Mbarika was celebrated at a ceremony held in Yaounde.

The heavily attended ceremony, dubbed “Special ICT University Life Victory Celebration”, was held at the Yaounde Conference Centre.

It came a day after the London-trained printer was interred in his native Zang Tabi village in Momo Division of the North West Region.

Sunday’s life celebration event was attended amongst others by Minister, Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Elung Paul Che; Senate Bureau Member, Senator Fon Chafah Isaac XI of Bangolan; the Vice Chancellor of the ICT University, Prof Jean Emmanuel Pondi; and renowned journalist, Eric Chinje.

Speaking during the ceremony, the President of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and pioneer Vice Chancellor of the ICT University, Prof Sammy Beban Chumbow, said he first met the late Pa Mbarika in the early 60s “1964 to be exact after he had come back from training in Britain with the enviable diploma and title of Her Majesty’s printer”. 

Prof Beban Chumbow who said the late George Mbarika, contributed enormously to the greatness of Cameroon, stated that: “He impacted this nation in many different ways”.

Describing the late George Mbarika as a humble, dynamic and efficient senior government printer, he said the deceased throughout his career, distinguished himself as a government printer with the government printing press in Buea after training as a printer with the Bassel Mission Printing Press in Victoria now Limbe.

Prof Beban Chumbow said the late George Mbarika will be remembered as a pacesetter in the printing and publishing industry in Cameroon.

“He was a humble spiritual giant with a laudable Christian testimony, quietly doing great things for the church with no publicity. He used his resources as a printer and entrepreneur to print books and church songs pro bono or at a reduced rate,” he continued adding that: “He was very committed to giving to the church and sharing with the needy whatever he had. For him to give was divine duty”.

Earlier, Prof Jean Emmanuel Pondi, simply described the late George Mbarika as a great man who lived an accomplished life.

The distinguished Professor of International Relations said Sunday’s event was organised to honour Pa Mbarika who served as pioneer treasurer of the ICT University.

He said the late Pa Mbarika “was also the pioneer representative of the president of the Board of Trustees and yet another third title which is not always well known which is permanent special adviser to the president of the ICT University”.

Prof Pondi recounted that: “The first time the president of the ICT University introduced me to his father, he had two words. He said ‘this is my father and this is my hero’. I knew that the best advice concerning the functioning of the ICT University will be gotten from him that is why today, the ICT University is mourning him because he was one of the pillars of the ICT University”.

Enter Prof Mbarika

Speaking at the close of the Sunday’s event, one of the sons of the late George Mbarika, Prof Victor Mbarika, described his late father as a disciplinarian.

Prof Mbarika said his late father “was so disciplined in helping the financial management of the ICT University”.

“He was active even on the day of his death. Daddy lived his good life and cherished all his children including his biological and extended children. He taught me the importance to fear God and to be successful,” Prof Mbarika said, noting that: “My father was a walking bible”.

George Mbarika in a nutshell

George Munya Mbarika was officially recorded as being born on December 10, 1934. After completing his primary education, Pa Mbarika convinced his father to allow him to move to Buea to live with his elder brother, Frederick Ndang of blessed memory. 

In Buea, he began an apprenticeship with the Basel Mission Printing Press in 1950, which eventually earned him a scholarship for further training in Lagos, Nigeria. 

Despite the challenges he faced during that period, Pa Mbarika persevered, eventually securing a British Technical Aid Scholarship. 

In 1964, he traveled to the London School of Printing, where he completed a full course in printing and general administration, graduating in 1968. Upon his return to Cameroon, he joined the National Printing Press.

In 1968, he established the first private printing business in the Federal Republic of Cameroon, known as Express Printer, which was later renamed Agwecams. While at the National Printing Press in Buea, he served as a professional printer and administrator. 

In 1979, he was promoted to the National Printing Press in Yaoundé and later transferred to the Ministry of Information.

After declining a position at Radio Cameroon, he was appointed Director in charge of printing services at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, a position he held until his voluntary retirement in 1988.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3268 of Wednesday October 23, 2024