Cameroon’s Oldest College Honours 99-year-old Alumnus

The oldest secondary school in Cameroon, Saint Joseph College Sasse, celebrated its 85th anniversary Saturday, December 14, paying homage to its oldest living ex-student, 99-year-old Joseph Njombo Abwa-Mboh.

The 1945 batch member received blessings from the Bishop of Buea, Mgr Michael Bibi and Bishop Emeritus, Emmanuel Bushu.

This was during the school’s anniversary celebration at the Sasse College campus in Buea.

Born in 1925 in Kumba, South West Cameroon, Joseph Abwa-Mboh schooled at Sasse College for four years (1945–1949).

He then left for Nigeria where he got his London GCE Ordinary Level certificate from the Kalabari National College in Cross River State.

After spending almost a decade in Nigeria, Joseph Abwa-Mboh returned to Cameroon where he enrolled in CCAST Bambili.

He obtained the London GCE Advanced Level Certificate in 1965 at CCAST and taught in several secondary schools.

He also worked in the Agricultural department of Nigeria and the then West Cameroon as a field overseer from 1952-1963.

The Sasse Old Boys Association (SOBA) says Joseph Abwa-Mboh has remained a committed member of the association in the Kumba chapter despite his advanced age.

He is among thousands that St Joseph College Sasse has trained since 1939, when the school went operational.

Run by the Roman Catholic Church, Sasse is an all-boys dormitory college.

Among renowned people who trained at the school include Archbishop Cornelius Fontem Esua; and former PM Peter Mafany Musonge.

Others include first-ever Bayelsa State Governor in Nigeria, Alfred Papapreye; Gendarmerie General, Ivo Desancio Yenwo; former Cameroon Minister of Special Duties, Prof Ephraim Ndeh Ngwafor; human rights lawyer Agbor Balla, among others.

During the celebrations of the college’s 85th anniversary, attendees expressed that the school has consistently maintained quality and standards in training.

The Buea Diocese launched the Sasse technical university to crown the anniversary celebration.