Bote Mbitanda Joseph a.k.a Daddy was born in Bamunka, Ndop on
15th August 1954 as first born in a family of 4 boys. He lost his father and
little brother at a tender age and was brought up by his able mother. He worked
hard from a young age to sponsor himself and his brothers. He attended Council
School Ndop for
his primary education and
later secondary school at the St James College Ndop from 1970-1975. Upon completion in 1975, he taught accounting,
commerce and arithmetic for two years. In the course of his teaching he wrote
the Royal Society
of Arts stage Three in Accounting
and passed. As a
teacher, he met his wife Grace and they got married in October 1977. He started
his first job with the North West Corporative Association in 1976 and was send
to Camccul on
secondment in 1977. His
work ethics and brilliant performance in
accounting led him to be recruited in the Camccul network in 1978.
He
was assigned to the Kumbo Chapter as a Field
Worker where
he worked till 1982. He
had his first 2 children, Elvis and Catherine while in Kumbo. In
1982 he was transferred to the main office in Bamenda to head the newly formed project:
Small Farmers
production Credit in collaboration with the World Council of Credit Unions. To
prepare him for this position, he got training with INADET foundation on
effective agricultural techniques and poultry farming. Within this project, he
got the opportunity to visit and train in the USA and Holland. He was in charge
of training his colleagues during staff seminars to prepare them to train local
farmers under his general supervision.
His
training and love for agriculture reflected in his compound where he planted
several exotic species of fruit trees. In 1982-1987, he acted in the capacity
of the chief cashier whenever the cashier was on leave. He was trusted with
this position due to his reputation as honest and meticulous with finances.
This was how he got into finance that eventually became his core profession. In 1992, he was promoted and transferred
to Limbe to head the Credit Union Fako Chapter as Field Supervisor. He was a
father of 6 children then, 2 boys and 4 girls. In July 1994, he experienced the
tragedy of losing his immediate younger brother Bote Ignatius.
Despite the tragedy he pushed ahead and
in the same year, he travelled to the UK for a one year training program. In
1997, he was promoted and transferred back to Camccul headquarters to take charge of the
Finance department as Central Finance
Officer. In October 1999, tragedy hit
again and this time he lost his wife Grace after a protracted illness. He was
left alone to raise the children, a challenge he rose splendidly to the
occasion. He met and married his second wife, Florence in 2003 and
within the same year due to some internal restructuring, he was transferred to Kumbo Chapter as Field Supervisor. By 2005, he was transferred back to the head
office to head the Finance Department as Finance Controller.
He was the president of Ngoketunjia
Development and Cultural Association
Bamenda Branch for eight years. 2002-2004, 2004-2006, 2008- 2010,
2010-2012. He was
also the national treasurer of Ngoketunjia Development and Cultural
Association. In 2010, he organized the NGODECA football
competition in Bamenda and the cup was worn by Baba I during the finals between Baba I and Bamessing
In 2005, he was recommended for a Triple
labour Medal- Gold, Silver
and Bronze
for Exceptional Service. He was proudly
decorated by the Governor of the North West region during the 20th May celebration. After an exceptional
service, he was up for retirement in December 2014, but due to prodigious
service in the finance department, he was asked to serve an extra year before
retirement. He retired in December 2015.
His joy
of retirement was cut short by the pangs of illness. By February 2016, he was
diagnosed with throat cancer. It became an uphill battle, one he met with poise
and determination. After several hospital stays and surgical procedures, he
came out victorious and was declared cancer free in 2018 but without his voice
cord.
He adapted to a life without speaking but
kept his cheer and communicated through written words, partial sounds and
signs/gestures. With most of his children abroad, he enjoyed a good time with
his wife Florence until January 27th 2021 when he was taken to Big Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Kom. He
got the best medical treatment available but God said it was time and he was
called to be with the Lord on 04th February 2021. Daddy was an extraordinary son, husband,
father, brother, colleague and friend to so many. He is survived by his mother, wife,
brother, 6 children and 6 grandchildren
