Tribute to Dr. Elias Matthias Nwana by Anthony Ndi.
Dr. Elias Matthias Nwana, was a legend even in his own lifetime. He was a baobab and belonged to a generation of Southern Cameroons elite born at the dawn of independence, who were mightily conscious that their mission was to give effective leadership to the new nation and indeed, but for the political intrigues of the time, they played their roles with unwavering selflessness and dedication. The toll bells announcing his demise also sadly marked the demise of a whole epoch of anglophone educationists.
He and Mr. Sylvester Dio, took over the administration of CCAST Bamblili with the backing of Dr. Tanyi, Dr. Bokossa and other heavy academic and administrative weights from the American administration of Mr. Stanley and Dr. Laird, who already set in motion the machinery for converting that institution into a veritable American-type University College as the anglophone arm of the Federal University of Cameroon. This dream was stifled by the Ahidjo Government. Dr. Nwana became Executive Vice Principal of CCAST, then moved to Buea as the Cultural Delegate and Provincial Delegate of Education for the Southwest Province. Even in retirement, he became Vice Chancellor of the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST) into which, with Dr. J. N. Foncha and others, he had invested so much energy. Whatever Dr. Elias Nwana undertook to do, he put in his heart and soul.
The point is not so much the high positions he held in the educational ladder where he made remarkable contributions to the system of education, but the nature of administration he injected into the system emblazoned with transparency, firmness and paternity, hence it was termed an administration with a ‘human face’, paternal, kind and just but firm, and resolute. Yet, the CCAST he administered was far superior to some universities. CCAST students earned allowances, stayed in hostels not exceeding five per room, had their dresses washed and ironed, shoes polished, rooms cleaned, and beds made by workers. They ate standard meals of two, three and four courses. Indeed, he should actually have been addressed as Vice Chancellor by all comparisons.
The Cameroon College of Arts, Science and Technology, (CCAST) nexus was part of the National Union Cameroon Students (NUCS, Africa) and the students’ affairs were run by a powerful student Government with an elected and highly respected Student Union President, while the Students Representative Council or Parliament was presided over by an elected Speaker. Campaigns for the various posts were a very serious affair. Like in all Nigerian universities especially Ibadan from which the cream of the lecturers were recruited, CCAST was an autonomous institution. This left the school administration with a very limited supervisory role. Since the institution was previewed as the Anglo-Saxon component of the Federal University of Cameroons, the chief administrator of CCAST, who Dr. Nwana was, was conventionally and by right, Vice Chancellor and not an “Executive Vice Principal “ when he took over from Mr. S.N. Dio, who went on sabbatical. Evidently this Foncha-Jua institution was a ‘monster’ too high and too complicated for the Ahidjo Government, which did everything to dismantle it.
This is the establishment which Dr. Nwana administered prior to being appointed Cultural Delegate of the South West Province. He was a man of few words , who unlike his predecessor said little but moved mountains by his deeds.
A significant incident that epitomized Dr. Nwana as a paternal administrator was the tact he engaged in handling the announcement of the brutal death of Mr. Alfred Nfor Ngala in a car accident in Yaoundé on 10 May, 1974. Alfred, a brilliant graduate from Ibadan University had taught under Dr. Nwana in CCAST before his transfer to the University of Yaoundé as part of the academic outfit intended to give that institution a bilingual trimming. He was easily one of the most personable intellectuals, beloved to all who knew him. The issue was how Dr. Nwana, the Cultural Delegate would break this devastating news to his young bride, who was a student in GTTC Kumba. To avoid any untimely leakage, Dr. Nwana immediately dispatched his driver to bring her to Buea so that he could better manage the situation. This he did with consummate skill giving Mrs Esther Ngala, the impression that her husband was yet battling for life. This successfully bought time and prepared her mind gradually to receive the final blow, otherwise, the result would have been catastrophic.This was patent in his administrative style.
In his numerous capacities, Dr. Nwana’s pen wielded national and international influence, opening all doors, through the thousands of certificates and documents he signed. It was unique and did not require stamps for authentication. Thus, I brandished and continue to treasure the testimonial he issued for me in CCAST, where I held the illustrious position of Speaker of the Students’ Representative Council. For conduct, it simply stated, “Excellent, admired by staff and students alike”. I have clung to it all my life,even though I have had the privilege to sign for others myself, I cherish that which Dr. Elias Nwana signed for me as Executive Vice Principal of CCAST. He was such a charismatic figure that numerous categories of people went to him for advice.
At the personal level, he was my mentor until the outbreak of the raging war in the North and South West Regions. I never missed any opportunity whenever he was around to visit and sit at his feet in his Nji’mafor residence to drink from the fountain of his wisdom and humour. Sometimes, I visited him with priests and religious so we could pray together because he was a source of both spiritual and intellectual inspiration. In this regard, though assured of his place in the celestial kingdom, I will for always miss him here on earth because there was still much to garner from his rich stock of knowledge and experience. May Dr. Nwana’s gentle soul and cheerful disposition be amply rewarded by his Creator with eternal peace and perfect bliss in his celestial kingdom.
