TRIBUTE TO A FALLEN HERO, A VERITABLE ICON
I don’t know where to start nor the appropriate words to say, that will express the emptiness of life after I heard of the demise of my dear brother and mentor, Professor Ajaga Nji. The news came to me early one morning and it shook the very fabric of my being: Prof is dead? Who? Gone? Where? How? Why? I was in shock because having known him for over 30 years, I never heard he was sick. I know he was very conscious of his health, diet, did sports regularly and always did his annual medical checkup….so how could he die, just like that??
Prof was indeed a veritable brother and mentor to me. When I joined the staff of Dschang University Centre in 1985, he took me under his wings and educated me on the intrigues of the life of a young fonctionnaire in the public service. I learnt a lot from him about dignity, honour, integrity, striving for excellence, and defending what is right without fear or favour. As the father of distance education in Cameroon, he opened my mind to the passion of giving everybody everywhere the opportunity to improve on their educational status. Prof was also a reliable friend; I remember the wonderful pot-lock dinners and other self-sponsored gatherings he organised in his home; I remember how very active he was in church (lay preacher, CMF member, President of numerous committees, etc); how he and I used to pair up, sing the song “my brother, I no buy with money, which kind money I fit get for buy my brother?” and we would dance up to the alter, with the applause of the entire congregation; I remember…….o!! need I go on?
Well Prof, you’ve run your race with all your might, you’ve fought the good fight. I guess it’s time for you to go and rest in the bosom of your Creator; may you therefore rest in perfect peace from your labours. Your legacy will remain indelible in the footprints of time.
Adieu Prof; my brother, my mentor, my friend.
Professor Fonteh Florence Anyangwe