Late PA Napoleon Tabe Besong

August 6, 1957 – April 28, 2012

                                                                     

Pa Napoleon Tabe Besong was born in Akiriba Village on August 6th, 1954 to late Peter Besong and Mary Mbeng.  He was the first of  4 children.
After he crossed his hand over his head and touched his ears, as it was the school requirement for admission, he was admitted to the Basel Mission primary school  Fotabe. He completed his standard six education very successfully and was thereafter assigned as a  PT grade III teacher.  He first taught in PS Eyang and later attended the Presbyterian teachers training college Nyassoso where he graduated with a Teachers Grade II Certificate.

 He was posted to PS Bechati. The school was later taken over by the Government.  As a government teacher, he was sent to GS Sumbe. He did not stay there for long as the urge to further his Education took him to Nigeria. After teaching for a short while in the Bekwera Secondary school, and the Holy Child Secondary in Ogoja, he gained admission to the College of Education in OYO- Cross Rivers State, Nigeria.and obtained a higher Diploma in Education.

The Holy Child Secondary School hired him to be the Vice Principal for their college. He worked for only one year and later went for further education into the University of Nsukka in Nigeria.   He graduated with a BA (Hons.) in ED with a first honors.

  Thereafter he returned home and taught in PHS Kumba and was later transferred to PSS Besongabang as the Vice Principal. A year later, he became the Principal of PSS Besongabang where he administered for 7years.  He was then transferred to PTTC Mbengwi as the Vice Principal before he left for the United States.

         

ACHIEVEMENTS

In Besongabang  where he was the Principal, he did the following:

He was one of the people among others who created acquaintance with a school in Germany. An exchange program was formulated between the students and teachers of  PSS Besongabang and the students and teachers of  their German counterparts.  Students and teachers of these institutions paid exchange visits to Cameroon and vice versa.
- With this relationship, the school library was equipped with computers and books while improving on its infrastructure.
-The students had the privilege to enjoy the luxury and privilege of a school bus provided by the Germans.
-Through this good relationship with the Germans, a program named "the POOR and NEEDY was formed which catered for the needs of the underprivileged to assist them continue with their education conveniently.

 

Later on he won the DV lottery of 2001 and migrated to the USA with his family. He worked with the Atlanta Journal Constitution for a couple of years and relocated to Jackson Mississippi where he taught French Language in the N. Jackson public school.

He was called "PAH" Napo or Besong for his fatherly love, advice and his gentle approach to every problem he was confronted with.  He was like a hen that brought the chicks together.  He was the first Pro-founding President of the Upper Banyang community in Atlanta, Georgia and an active member of MECA Georgia.  He was a well known friend to the Congolese Community in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a Pah of the people. Even the AKIRIBIANS will bear witness of his countless efforts to unite them in Europe and the Americas. He organized teleconference calls with all the Akiribians in Diaspora to discuss the development of Akiriba village.  He was always in contact with those at home for news of any kind – announcement of births, deaths and progress of the development of the village. This was a man who relentlessly sends e-mails to all and sundry.  We hope this lofty example will be emulated upon by someone someday to project his courage and determination.

Being a man of God and a community leader, when he went to Jackson Mississippi, he quickly affiliated with the Mount Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and the African Christian Fellowship (ACF).  Until the time of his death he was the Vice President of ACF.  He was the founder of the Cameroonian Community Group in Jackson.

With all the zeal and the determination to serve his people, he found himself struggling with the pain of cancer.  His conviction and belief until his last breathe was that "It Is Not Over Until The Lord Says It Is So". And on April 28, 2012 the Lord said it was time to come home and he returned to his Maker – no more sickness – no more pain.

 He leaves behind his wife, eight children, seven grandchildren, brother, sister, uncles, aunties, cousins, friends and well-wishers.

 REST IN PEACE TILL WE MEET AGAIN