HIS LIFE
Once in a lifetime comes a pillar to the family, a visionary to the community and a watershed of wisdom to a people. Indeed, we have lost a baobab of a father, a sea of a giving heart and a true rainbow of a gentleman, gone before us to be with the Lord. What a loss to the family and friends, what a chasm to the community that his loss leaves behind. Some called him Hon. Enyih, others called him Pa Enyih, while a multitude just called him Daddy – a simple and effective expression of the father figure that he truly was to them.
Hon. Paul Enyih Atogho was born on October 12th, 1944 in Soh-Ngwo, to Ando Ayoh Ntse Enyih (Father) and Christina Angato Atogho (Mother). He was named Atogho after his late maternal grandfather Atogho-Yebu.
Pa’s early activities centered on baby-sitting. In a positive turn of fate, his maternal uncle David Tabenda Atogho played a major part in his early life when he advised his father to send Daddy to school along with others who had preceded him. These humbling attributes of Daddy’s humble beginnings will remain a trademark of his character.
He completed Standard 4 in Ngwo and his paternal uncle, Jeremiah Asokwa took him to Yoke in the South West Region where he did Standard 5, a level which was unavailable in the village at that time. Hon. Enyih later joined his uncle, D.T. Atogho in Buea where he completed Standard 6 in Native Authority School Buea in December 1960. God was always and remained the NorthStar in Pa Enyih’s life as his transition from one uplifting station to another could only be one with the touch of God Almighty.
Pa was admitted into the Cameroon Protestant College, Bali in March 1961 from where he graduated in June 1965 with the GCE Ordinary Level. Versatile in nature, Hon. Enyih was employed in July 1965 as a teacher to teach English to young French-speaking Cameroonians in East Cameroon. Later, he was posted to teach English at the Government Secondary School, Sa’a, Lekie Division of the Centre Region.
In March 1966 and consistent with the NorthStar in his life, daddy was admitted on a USAID scholarship into Cuttington University College, Suacoco in Liberia. Attending to his studies with discipline, humility and an unmistakable focus on a bigger vision, he graduated 4 years later with a B.A. Degree in English Language and Literature. It is worthy to note that this was a time when less that 5 percent of Africans had a college education. Pa was always conscious of this privilege, mindful of his blessings and committed to employ his education for the service of his community and humanity.
He returned to Cameroon on December 19th, 1969 and was immediately employed by the Presbyterian Church Education Authority to teach English at his alma mater, CPC Bali. While teaching in C.P.C Bali, the Presbyterian Church offered daddy another scholarship to do a Master’s degree in Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone in 1970. On his return, he was engaged by the Ministry of National Education and posted to teach English at the Government Secondary School in Sangmelima, Centre-South Region.
It is remarked that after an inspection mission there, he rushed back to Buea, but was virtually forced to return to Sangmelima by Pa’s maternal uncle, D.T. Atogho. That act of obedience, a hallmark of his character was a pivotal and turning point in his life. From Sangmelima, his working and professional life took an upward trajectory. After a year of training as a Certified Graduate Teacher in ENS and the University of Yaoundé cumulatively, he was posted to GHS Bafoussam. From there, he began his appointments to posts of responsibility.
Hon Paul Enyih Atogho was appointed the first Vice Principal of GHS Wum in 1976, then Principal of GHS Mamfe in 1978, Director of Private Education in 1982 and National Inspector of Education in 1986. To him, service to humanity was love in work clothes. This was demonstrative in the fact that during his teaching and school administration career, he taught and made many of his students his admirers, some who have played and are playing very important roles in his working and retirement life.
His political appointments naturally flowed from the quality of service rendered at his every appointment, leadership and endeavor in the public sector. These began with that of Secretary of State (Minister of Government) of Education in 1988, Member of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM party since 1992 and Councillor in the Njikwa Rural Council in 2007. Hon Enyih Atogho never took the privilege of these positions of responsibility for granted, for he became a gift to his people that never stopped giving. Today, the sun never sets on the children Pa Enyih guided, assisted, sponsored, or directly impacted in one way or the other.
During his political activities, he led and was a member of many Political Delegations within and abroad, notably, in all the 10 Regions and abroad to the UK, USA, China and France. Being the master educator, Pa authored many political articles championed by a book titled Politics: A Call to Serve, published in 1999 by the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM party.
He retired from active service in 2004 at 60 and continued with other political activities. His lovely wife Susan too is retired. In May 2014 while on retirement he was appointed Board Chairman of National Institute of Cartography (NIC) and held this position until his demise. However, daddy spent his retirement happily, traveling and visiting his children and grandchildren at home and abroad.
The wise say “life is always of short and uncertain continuance”. In April 2021, Hon. Paul Atogho had become ill. As the end of April approached, the forces of the afterlife dialed as insistent as a wailing sound. We as a family together with friends and well-wishers mounted a fight, prayed ceaselessly and kept our faith. While we made plans for a recovery and a comeback, the world of our maker was ready to receive this dove of peace, and agent of progress. His courage, and strength towards the end, epitomized the calming Psalm 23, for truly a shepherd to Hon Paul Enyih Atogho was the Lord. He leaves behind his lovely and loyal wife Susan, his five kids (Paul Ando, Hans Ako, Robert Atengi, Charles Emene and Edna Ngba-Togho Sanga), their spouses (Achale Atogho, Siri Atogho, Joffi Atogho, and Nelson Sanga) numerous grandchildren and a cherished trove of relatives, friends, and loved ones.
Daddy was an embodiment of peace, a merriment of life and above all a fountain of love. A mentor, teacher and adviser to many. Daddy's quantum of wisdom was unique as could be seen from his practical solution to every human problem. His overwhelming love towards humanity can only be compared to an unending spring of pure water from where everyone drank to his or her satisfaction yet never ran dry. Daddy will always say, “do good at every given opportunity” and ask yourself,
●Is there a need to be met?
●Can you meet that need?
●Meet the need with LOVE irrespective of who they are.
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