Rest In Peace

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Biography

Life accomplishments

ORIGIN

Mr Njapba Ngu Julius was born in Mbot Village in Nkambe Central Subdivision of Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region of Cameroon on September 10, 1957 to the family of Pa Njapba Ntoabve and Mami Ancela Wepke.

EDUCATION

Mr Njapba attended Catholic Primary School in Upper Mbot from 1963 to 1969, graduating with the First School leaving Certificate. Upon completion of primary education, Mr Njapba’s mother, already a widow, had a vision of training him as a trader. As a launching pad into this envisaged profession, Mama dispatched him to Nkambe to commence his training as a trader.

The young Julius started this training with all honesty for his mother did not for one second imagine that her son would ever see the four walls of a secondary school. She had cautiously gathered a capital of 10,000 FRS with which the young Julius would use to commence the purchase of his own merchandise for trading after training.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

In 1969, his mother’s vision to train him as a trader turned into something bigger. The young Julius emerged as the best candidate in the Government Common Entrance in Donga Mantung Division. This outstanding performance ushered him into secondary education at Bilingual Grammar School Molyko, Buea. Julius did not joke with this God-given opportunity and studied well. After five years in BGS Molyko, he obtained his GCE O/Level in 1974. He gained admission into CCAST Bambili where in two years, he obtained his GCE A/Levels in 1976.

HIGHER EDUCATION

In 1976 he moved to the University of Yaoundé. His stay in Yaoundé was short lived due to some health challenges. He was forced to withdraw from Yaoundé in the same year. This gave him the opportunity to teach in JMBC Ndu as a young mathematics teacher. At the end of that year he left to Nigeria and gained admission into AMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY.

Mr Njapba’s dream was to do Chemical Engineering, coming from a world of Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry. Mr Njapba actually gained admission to read his dream degree in order to become a Chemical Engineer. Because of financial difficulties after having taken up studies, he was forced to withdraw. He however switched to do Chemistry. In 1980, he completed with a First Class Honors Degree, beating a ten year-record in that department.

He returned to Cameroon with such an exceptional result, hoping that he would easily get a scholarship for post graduate studies. This did not happen, so he tallied till 1983, when he was offered a scholarship by the University of Saskatchewan in Western Canada. He studied inorganic Chemistry and obtained an M.Sc in it. He proceeded to the PhD level.

Mr Njapba had actually studied and passed all his courses with distinction for a PHD in Chemistry. In the final year, he was asked to take two additional years to work for a new project. He turned down this offer, after taking so many things into consideration – one of which was the passing into glory of his dearly beloved mother, which had a heavy toll on him. Mr. Njapba could not stay in Canada any longer and returned to Cameroon in 1988, with the hope of leaving the country to finish the initiated job – completion of his PhD. This was not to take place anymore.

PROFESSIONAL LIFE

In 1977, Mr Njapba taught Mathematics in Joseph Merrick Baptist College, Ndu as a young teacher with A/Levels before leaving for the University.

After returning from University, he taught Mathematics and Chemistry in the then Bui College of General Education now known as PCSS Kumbo, for a period of two years. While teaching in BCGE, he took some part time teaching at St. Augustine’s College Nso. His teaching performance led the then Principal to pull him out of BCGE to St. Augustine’s College as a full time teacher. He taught Chemistry in St. Augustines College for one year before leaving for his graduate studies in Canada in 1983.

On returning from Canada in 1988, the principal, the late Father Anthony Fontegh came after him to make sure that he should come back to St. Augustine’s College. He accepted the job and taught there for two years.

In 1990, his University friend and brother, who was the then Educational Secretary of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, Mr S.T Welang, practically carried him away from St. Augustine’s College to join the Education Department of the Cameroon Baptist Convention as a Chemistry teacher. Within three years, he acted as the senior discipline master and Vice Principal at Baptist High School, Buea.

In 1994, one year after the creation of the University of Buea (UB), Mr Njapba picked a part-time job with U.B. Observing the efficiency in his teaching, the then Registrar of U.B, the late Dr. Herbert Endeley insisted that he should accept a full time job with U.B. The late Professor Fanso Free came after him to make sure that he should drop his employment with the C.B.C Education Department and join the University as a full time staff. Upon seeking and receiving sound advice from Pa Becke Samuel, he accepted a full time job with the University. At the same time Pa Becke made sure that the authorities of the C.B.C Education Department maintained him as a part time Chemistry teacher, which position he kept for a number of years.

In 1999, he was appointed the Head of Admission and Record Division of the University of Buea. Mr. Njapba Julius is known to have worked selflessly, assigning himself assiduously in this position to the admiration of all and sundry. His commitment to God was seen in this position where transparency was the hallmark of admission into UB.

RESEARCH LIFE AND PUBLICATION

Mr Njapba Julius was interested in Chemistry in general but his research concentration was on inorganic Chemistry. He is known to have authored the following articles:

Publications

1. Njapba J. N. (2001). Activation of cyclopentane in aqueousmedium and room temperature using tris-bypyridine ruthenium complex as a photosenstizer. African J. of Sc, Tech.(AJST), Vol. 2, 12-16 [Link to article].

2. Njapba J. N., Amitava C. and Rao C.N.R (2003). An organically templated open-framework cobalt germate. Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 170, 124-129 . [Link to article]

3. Nfor E. N., Asobo P. F., Nenwa J. Nfor O. N., Njapba J. N., Njong R.N. and Offiong E. O. (2013). Nickel (II) and iron (II) complexes with azole derivatives: Synthesis, crystal structures and antifungal activities. Int. J. of Inorganic Chemistry, Vol. 2013, Article ID 987574, 1-6. https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/987574 [Link to article]

4. Mainsah E. N., Ndifon P.T., Nfor E. N., Njapba J. N. (2013). Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties of some Transition metal complexes of (1H-pyrrol-2-yl) isonicotinoyl -hydrazone. Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiopia, 27(3) 395-404. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse. v27i3.8. [Link to article]

SOCIAL/ CULTURAL LIFE

Mr Njapba identified himself with his native Mbum ways of life and communed with all his people. Referring to himself as a proud Mbot boy, he did not hesitate to establish the Mbot Family Meeting in Buea and hosted it in his house for several years. He committed himself in the Wimbum Cultural and Development Association – WICUDA Buea.

Particularly, he was a member of Botari– a meeting which contributed generously to donate desks to schools in his native Mbumland. He served as the Pioneer Financial Secretary in this group.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

Mr Njapba was a member of the Cameroon Baptist Convention worshiping with Ebenezer Baptist Church Soppo Buea. He was a very active member of the Men’s Fellowship. He served as the treasurer of his local group for a long time. In his house, he had a hand made Khaki bag in which he stored all the money including coins. He was equally the treasurer of the Men’s Fellowship at the level of the Association. On his sick bed, he arranged every Franc that was with him, invited other EXCO Members and handed such to them. Mr Njapba strongly believed that every franc collected for God’s work must be accounted for to the least franc.

He was an usher in the church. A service he was so proud of and did it with passion. On arrival from U.K where he went for his treatment, he introduced himself in the church in the following way with pride “I am Ngu Njapba of the Ushers Ministry”. On his sick bed he kept on praying that one day he would get up to put on his Ushers uniform at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

HEALTH

Mr Njapba had a very active life. However on retirement, on September 10, 2017 things changed. He was diagnosed with Prostate Inflammation which was later on discovered as being cancerous. He had a surgery at the Baptist Hospital in Mutengene on October 5th 2017. He received treatment at the the General Hospital in Yaoundé for a number of times and while in Yaounde a second surgery was recommended. This was done in Baptist Hospital Mutengene.

As a regular follow up of the sickness, Mr Njapba was assigned an oncologist at the General Hospital in Douala by Dr Luma Henry, the Present Director of the hospital. He made regular trips to Douala. His children were still convinced that he needed a thorough examination and possible treatment of the cancer. This took him to the Birmingham Prostate Centre in the U.K. He returned from U.K. with the bad news that the disease had advanced to a very high degree.

Mr. Njapba was not defeated despite the revelation in the U.K. He kept on encouraging his Family and Loved Ones with a very positive attitude even though he knew that each additional day he had was a gift from God. His last endeavor was to the Cameroon Oncology Centre in Douala where he spent weeks for treatment.

Palliative care was provided by the Baptist Hospital in Mutengene. His Family remains very grateful to the palliative care staff. The family is highly indebted to Dr Kyota Steve of the same hospital, who practically adopted Mr. Njapba as his Father and did everything to reduce the pain.

Mr. Njapba returned to His Creator on October 15th 2020 at 12:30 p.m. at the Baptist Hospital Mutengene. He is survived by his wife, Mrs Njapba Josephine, his children, grandchildren, three elder sisters, and a host of children that he took care of and loved ones.

May his soul enjoy the favour from the Lord that he served here on earth.,

The dead in Christ will rise again

Resting from all labors

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tributes

Read tributes from Mrs Njapba, children, in-laws and other well-wishers

Celebrating PA Njapba

Funeral Programme

Friday November 20, 2020

4:30 pm – 5:30pm : Wake keep without corpse at the family residence in Mile 15, Lower Bokova.

Saturday November 21, 2020

07:00 – Removal of the corpse from the Buea mortuary

08:00 – Laying of the corpse in the family residence

08:15 – Viewing of the corpse in the family residence

10:45 – Departure for the University of Buea for Academic Honours

11:00 – Academic Honours at the University of Buea campus

12:30 – Departure for the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Great Soppo

13:00 – Church service, followed by burial at the family residence in Mile 15, Lower Bokova

– Entertainment and departure of mourners

download a copy of the funeral service programme including tributes

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CONDOLENCES

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we are grateful

appreciation

We, the entire Njapba family, wish to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the church, relatives and friends who held our hands during this painful moment of grieving. Even though the pain was beyond measure, your prayers, moral, financial and physical support helped us to bear the pain. We are forever grateful to our God and all of you for helping us to go through it. May the Lord bless all of you as you return to your respective homes.