Cameroon: A Healthier SOBA Emerges From North Carolina Convention

By Joseph Besong

Ex-students of Saint Joseph’s College Sasse Buea-Cameroon in the United States of America met in North Carolina-USA, for their annual convention from May 25 - May 28, 2023, to chart a way forward for the continuous growth of the association. Sasse is among the first secondary schools in Cameroon created by the catholic Mill Hill missionaries in 1939.

President Bertrand Fote, in his address, highlighted the need for community service, the raising of funds for the SOBA America scholarship endowment fund, and the strengthening of the SOBA brotherhood & also mentioned his administration's successes & a trajectory for the path forward for the next two years.

The Fote administration has as its major goal to give back to their alma mater, S.J.C Sasse. With its philanthropic arm – Sasse Alumni Association, Inc. is a 501 C3 non-profit organization operating under the law and goes a long way towards changing the lives of young SOBANs in Cameroon.

This citadel of learning has produced Alumni who distinguished themselves in all works of life – politics, health, clergy, engineering, legal, and accounting, just to name a few. Ex-students of Sasse College, known as Sasse Old Boys or SOBANS, have served as leaders in different areas both in Cameroon and throughout the world.

The Queen City of Charlotte, NC, with its rich culture, food, entertainment, adventure, and friendly people, gave SOBANS in the USA and Canada a memorable convention. During the convention, North Carolina saw an increase in the number of SOBANS and SOBANESE for four days.

The Charlotte convention witnessed an All-African cultural display in colourful style and attires, with displays of cultures of the Central, North West, and West Regions in Cameroon, as well as the rest of Africa.

The convention was centred on the theme "building a healthier SOBA America," with a presentation made by Dr Fongong Achu Mofor about health & wellness, and the benefits of preventive care for SOBANS & their families.

Ayuk Iyok, President General of SOBA, thanked SOBA America for the contributions they made towards the road project & emphasized the importance of SOBANS coming together in a brotherhood. Anticipation is thus high for the 2024 convention to be hosted by the Arizona chapter on Memorial Day weekend.