Baptist Comprehensive High School Nkwen student wins national essay contest.

Apongnde was announced winner and awarded during a ceremony to mark the national celebration of the Commonwealth Day 2023 in Yaounde Monday March 13.

The event was chaired by the Minister of External Relations, H.E Mbella Mbella. It unfolded in the presence of several government officials, members of Commonwealth Nations accredited to Yaounde and other national and international dignitaries.  

The 2023 Commonwealth Day was observed under the theme “Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future”.

During the celebration, the winners of various competitions organised across the country were announced and awarded certificates and prizes in cash and items.

Quizzed after receiving the award, the BCHS Nkwen Lower Sixth student expressed joy and delight to have been declare winner of the prestigious award.

“When I wrote the essay, what I had at the back of my mind was to use social media to forge the message of a peaceful and sustainable common future,” Apongnde told reporters.

The laureate further explained that: “If we use the social media to spread the right information, we will be able to attain our vision and goal for the future. So, I am very honoured and happy to be part of this occasion”.

Quizzed on what the award represents for him, Apongnde said, “award carries much value for me not just as a student but as a person”.

“It is a very joyous and uplifting moment for me to be able to receive an award in the presence of such dignitaries. I am looking forward to more of such occasions and I hope that my hard work can bring me through to higher heights,” he added.

Praises school for knowledge impacted

Apongnde seized the opportunity to express gratitude to his school for impacting him with not just knowledge but also moral values to carry forth in life.

“This school has imbibed in me values that can hardly be gotten elsewhere. We are a Baptist institution, so we are not just into academics but also morals. I believe that it is this morals that has brought me to the level where I am now,” Apongnde stated.

Award represents quality of education at CBC

Speaking shortly after the ceremony, the Representative of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC Education Secretary, Stephen Nfor, congratulated the laureate for the lifting the flag of the school high at the national level.

Nfor said the prestigious award lends credence to the quality of education and caliber of students that are produced yearly by Baptist schools across the country.

“This is a plus to Baptist education. So, I am very much impressed by this award. I hope that in the subsequent edition of this contest, many more of our students will partake and win prizes just as Apongnde has done,” Nfor said.  

It is worth noting that the prizes award to the winner included a cash prize of 200,000 FCFA from the Ministry of Secondary Education, 35,000FCFA from the National Financial Bank, 35,000 from the Ministry of External Relations, a Samsong Galaxy from the Ministry of Finance, smart phone from the Telecommunication Regulatory Board and a certificate.

The 2023 edition of the Commonwealth Day observed every second Monday of March, was placed this year under the theme “forging a sustainable and peaceful common future”.

The celebration also coincides with the 50^th anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Programme, the 10^th anniversary of the Commonwealth Youth Council, and the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the Commonwealth Charter.