Chief Nhon Zachee Nzohngandembou

AN ACCOMPLISHED SOUL

Chief Nhon Zachee Nzohngandembou, popoularly known as Chief  Nzoh-Ngandembou, was born on August 13^th, 1958 in Boka-Bajoh, Bangem. Now of blessed memory, Chief Nzoh-Ngandembou has gone to join his father, Nzoh-mbou Nzoge and mother-Mama Ntube who had gone before him to the land of eternity. Chief was the last child of four and the only male of his parents. Three sisters gone and left him to complete their work.  This birth position meant that he started shouldering the responsibility of his family at a very young age and that also propelled him to take a much more grounded approach to life.

To this end,  chief Nzohngandembou, big brother attended primary school in Ekanjoh Bajoh, but quickly moved to Besongabang to attend the Presbyterian Secondary School where he obtained his London General Certificate of Education Certificate (GCE O/L). Still infused with the desire to accomplish his dreams of education, he moved to Buea where he attended Government Bilingual High School (Lycee) in 1978 and obtained his GCE A/L.

Still not satisfied with where he was academically, he moved to Lagos, Nigeria to commence his journey in the field of journalism education. In 1979, he registered with the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and obtained a certificate in Sub-editing. In 1982, he moved to the United Kingdom where he earned a Bachelor (BA) degree in Mass Communication from the University of Berkshire School of Journalism and Television. He would return again to Nigeria in 1984 to pursue more qualification in his favorite area of studies at the University of Jos, where he obtained a Master degree (MA) in Journalism.

Now armed with all the journalism education that he could garner, Chief Nhon Nzoh-Ngandembou soon developed an interest in community development and this required competence in that field. This then led to further studies, resulting in a Certificate in Writing Skills for Distance Learning, obtained in 1991 from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. In 1997, he moved back to the United Kingdom- at the University of Reading, where he obtained a Certificate in Rural Development, in 1998 he was in The Philippines for a Certificate in Social Forestry for Sustainable Development and in the same 1998 he crossed over to Japan for a Certificate in Quality Management for Africa.

Having spent a good part of his life studying, chief finally settled in what has now become the blueprint of life’s work- CERUT –Centre for the Environment and Rural Transformation. Now CESUD, CERUT is a national NGO in Cameroon with headquarters in Limbe, Southwest Region. CERUT’s goal is to empower local people through education, training and extension work for the enhancement of the human self and his environment. He has been the Director of CERUT since it was founded in 1990. Through CERUT, Chief Nhon has been able to transform lives at the community level which enabled him to successfully achieve almost all his dreams in life.

His career in community development actually started with INADES/ IDRC Project on Rural Communication in 1988 which was a training ground for his later interest in founding CERUT. INADES FORMATION was an International NGO working to train local people in Africa. With the grounding he gathered from his years with INADES FORMATION, Big brother Pa Ngande then launched CERUT in Limbe

CERUT or CESUD was not the only personal engagement. Since he was still being nagged by this love for journalism and storytelling, he returned to his journalism roots in 2004 with the creation of the Eden Media Group. Eden Media Group includes a Newspaper- Eden Newspaper; a radio station -Eden FM Radio 98.1- a popular private radio station in the South West Region; and Eden-Xtra - which attends to an international audience. He was the CEO of Eden Media Group and Publisher-in- Chief for Eden Newspaper and Director of the Eden FM Radio
.

Nhon’s professional life actually  commenced in Nigeria with stints; Garu Enterprise Ltd. from 1981-1982 as its Public Relations Officer; Senior Sub-Editor for The Democrat Weekly Newspaper Ltd from 1983-1985; and in 1985-1987 he was the News Analyst/Features Writer of New Nigerian Newspaper Ltd. Owned by the Nigerian Federal Government, the New Nigerian Newspaper Ltd is a leading publishing house in the country, producing 300,000 copies daily, 450,000 copies for Sunday New Nigerian and 100,00 copies in Hausa Language. In addition, Nhon Zachee worked for several other news organizations in the country  where he played a key role in the assurance of quality before returning finally to Cameroon.

A hard worker and an accomplished democrat, conservationist, communicator, Chief Nhon was passionate about transmitting the knowledge he had gained over the years at workshops and conferences. He travelled the world over disseminating his knowledge in almost all the continents of the world. He has presented and participated at conferences in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria; Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago; Nairobi, Kenya; Bangui, Central African Republic; New York, USA; Rome, Italy; Geneva, Switzerland; Accra, Ghana; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Brazzaville, Congo; London, England; Barta, Equatorial Guinea; Los Banos, The Philippines; Tokyo, Japan; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Washington, D.C. USA; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Brussels, Antwerpen, Leuven and Ghent, Belgium; Bujumbura, Burundi; Libreville, Gabon; Paris, France; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Kinshasa, DRC; Banjul, The Gambia; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Kampala and Kassese, Uganda; Dakar and Gore, Senegal; Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique and Mumbai (Bombay), India. Nhon Zachee’s last presentation at an international conference was in India and he took his last breathe in the same country. In addition to his many presentations at conferences all around the world, Chief  has credit to more than 15 published articles in reputable journals around the world.

Chief Nhon  had a very active community, sporting and political and even religious life. He was an avid CMF member, a Councilor with the Limbe Council One, a sports organizer and promoter with his Chief Zachee Competition Cup. He belonged to so many community groups in and out of Fako Division, and was also affiliated with many domestic and international organizations. He was an extremely busy man, trying hard to always have an impact on the lives of those who came across him. Never the one to be deterred or put down by any setback in life, Chief transformed challenges to opportunities. He got involved in many community projects in his place of birth which resulted in him being crowned Nhon and Chief, by his Bakossi men and women in Fako Division of the South West Region of Cameroon in recognition of all his efforts in bringing development and always being there for them in both raining and sunny days.

But most especially, Chief Nhon  took pride in his family and friends. He will be missed by his lovely wife Plora Mesode Nzohngandembou, with whom they have been married for more than 40-years and were blessed with -four-children. His brothers, sisters, numerous friends and classmates, colleagues, employees, collaborators, meeting members, the Bakossi and Kupe Maunenguba Division people and acquaintances all over the world would remember a worthy man who came to this world and made a difference.

Nhon could be said to be a man who fulfilled his mission here on earth as he did not only transform his own life from his modest beginnings, he has used education to move local community fellows through the rungs of society, uplifting them along the way. Chief Nhon Zache Nzohngandembou still had a lot to offer to the world, but he leaves the scene an accomplished man. He accomplished far more than it would have been expected from a man with humble beginnings.  He will be greatly missed by all, but when God calls, nobody can say No.

Chief Nhon Zachee Nzohngandembou, was happily married and had three sons and a daughter and a granddaughter. A very big extended family of uncles / aunties and cousins / nieces and nephews to mourn him.   

To Mum, Mrs. Chief; “I know your husband must’ve been an amazing man because you always beamed with pride whenever you spoke of him. Sending you an abundance of love.” “I’ll always admire the love shared between you and your husband. You shared a one-of-kind bond that can never be broken.” “I’m deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved partner. You complemented each other like no other couple I know. May your precious memories bring you comfort.” “Your husband, Chief Nhon Nzohngandembou was such a special person. He will live in our hearts forever.”

 
For the family,

Nhon Dr. Ekomenzoge