CAMEROON CHEVENING ALUMNI
A NEW LEASE OF LIFE
Scores of Cameroonian leaders and potential leaders who have benefitted from the prestigious Chevening programme of scholarships and fellowships have paid tribute to the British tax payer for consistently giving them the opportunity to help develop their country since 1983. At the 25th anniversary celebration of the scheme held in Cameroon’s seaside town of Kribi from 6 to 7 September 2008, the scholars and fellows, in the presence of the British High Commissioner, had an exciting interaction on leadership and elected a new executive bureau that promised to give the organisation a fresh lease of life.
BY TEHWUI LAMBIV*
When the Chevening scholars and fellows met in front of the British High Commission in Yaounde Saturday morning for departure to the seaside town of Kribi as planned for the commemorative activities to mark the occasion of 25 years of the scheme in Cameroon, there was some apprehension as news came that the bus that had been hired was no longer available because of a breakdown.  But the fear was short-lived as a solution was found with two smaller buses that were ready after 90 minutes of waiting. And as the Chevening passengers hit the road, there was a sigh of relief. The delayed take off from Yaounde meant that the programme had to be affected in one way or the other which is why on arrival in Kribi, the participants immediately went into business over launch with an insightful talk on leadership presented by the Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Chartered Bank, Cameroon, Mr. Mathieu Mandeng who held the audience spellbound for close to 30 minutes with an enriching talk which gave a signal that the trip to Kribi was not just going to be for leisure, wining and dinning for the Chevening 25th anniversary. Mr. Mandeng’s presentation was followed by some questions, answers and comments with a unanimous request that it should be made available to all those who listened to him. 
After a short break during, it was time for interactive sessions featuring speeches from: a Chevening fellow, Mme Helen Galega who welcomed the participants in the anniversary activities on behalf of the organizing committee; the British High Commissioner to Cameroon Syd Maddicott who presented a keynote speech and Prof. George Nkeng Elambo, chairman of the occasion. In a keynote speech that clearly outlined the criteria for selecting scholars and fellows, the objectives and expected results from the Chevening, scheme, the British High Commissioner underscored the need for the beneficiaries to return to Cameroon and contribute to the country’s development by making a difference in their respective spheres of activity. He emphatically stated that if he could know by any means that scholars and fellows would not return to the country after their studies and training, ‘they will never be selected’! For his part, the chairman, Prof. George Nkeng Elambo, a Chevening scholar from 1984 to 1989, an associate professor of chemical engineering in the University of Buea and the Director of the National Advanced School of Public Works, recognized the usefulness of Chevening scheme. He expressed gratitude to the British taxpayer on behalf of all the Cameroonians who have benefitted from the scheme.
Another Chevening fellow, Mme Alice Lima talked on female leadership in Cameroon, a talk that generated heated exchanges from the participants characterized by diverse and divergent views on gender issues.  But in conclusion, the consensus was that all Cameroonians irrespective of their sex should and must be given an equal and fair chance to contribute in the development of the country with Chevening fellows and scholars being the torchbearers. The last speaker was Mr. Michael Dailly, Scotland’s Solicitor of the Year who delivered a presentation on ‘Leadership and Law’. Mr. Michael Dailly, had been in Cameroon for just a month and had visited six of the country’s ten provinces. He highlighted the complexity of the Cameroon legal system and announced his organisation’s support for the creation of Pilot Community Law Centres in Cameroon – a project that received a wide acclamation from the floor, particularly from Chevening scholars and fellows involved in human right issues. In his closing remarks the chairman Pr. George Nkeng Elambo noted the consistent and rich nature of the speeches and discussions.
After an hour’s break for dinner, there was a Chevening Alumni General Assembly where the main resolution was to put in place a new executive bureau with a mandate to increase the group's activities and make it more self-sufficient. The first full day of the Chevening scheme 25th anniversary celebration ended after 11pm in a lighter mood with a traditional dance performed by vibrating-body women in the guise of sea mermaids. With such a full day of activity, there was very little to be done under the item ‘Kribi by Night’, as everyone preferred a deserved rest in preparation for the next and last day.
The second and last day for the Chevening alumni stay in Kribi marked a turning point in the life of the association. After breakfast, a Chevening family photo and an ecumenical service led by some Christian members of the alumni and a local imam, it was time for the most important item on the agenda of the morning’s activities – the election of a new Cameroon Chevening Alumni Executive Bureau. With an independent electoral commission made up of Mr. Giles Montagnon of the British High Commission and Mr. Andrew Alang of the British Council the election was conducted and the following scholars and fellows received the mantle to give the alumni a new lease of life: Prof. George Nkeng Elambo (President); Mrs. Beatrice Ngufor Tamasang (Vice President); Ephraim Banda Ghogomo (Secretary General); Ms Olivia Tumanjong (Treasurer) Mr. Chancel Ako Takem and Justice Esther Ngo Moutngui (auditors). In his acceptance speech, the president-elect promised to deliver the expected results with the support and collaboration of all the alumni scholars and fellows. He was thankful to the outgoing executive bureau under Mr. Christophe Mahop for laying the foundation of the alumni. After a two-minute consultation of the new executive, the president-elect announced the co-option of Mme Patience Ntemgwa and Messrs. Dion Ngute, Pius Njawe and Manu Jaji as publicity secretary and advisers respectively. Just like the departure from Yaounde to Kribi, the departure for the return journey at about midday on Sunday was brisk with no time for other planned items on the programme such as the tour of the town and the visit to the Lobe falls.
 All in all, the commemoration of the silver jubilee of the prestigious Chevening Scheme in Cameroon was serious business and little leisure, to the satisfaction of everyone who participated.

*TEHWUI LAMBIV is a 2002 Chevening scholar and is a journalist working for the Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV, Yaounde.

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