August 18, 2016
PORTRAIT OF THE FALLEN IROKO OF EGBEKAW CHIEFDOM
His Royal Highness, Nfor Ebai John ETTAKPAMBANG, was born in Mamfe, Manyu Division, in 1934, to Pa TATA ETTAKPAMBANG, and Mama Helena EBAIBI.
He did his elementary education in Government School Mamfe town, where he graduated with distinction in 1951.
He attended Government Technical College Ombe, in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, where he obtained a diploma in building construction in 1957. He proceeded to the famed YABA Institute of Technology in Lagos – Nigeria, where he acquired a Higher National Certificate in Building Construction and an Advanced City and Guilds Certificate in Structural Engineering in 1962.
Upon his graduation from the YABA Institute of Technology in Nigeria, the young and prolific engineer ETTA began a formidable career in civil engineering in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He immediately became the town planning officer of the Ikeja Town Planning authority from 1959-1964. His experiences as town planning officer gave him considerable professional abilities and leverage, enabling him to supervise gigantic structural building projects in Lagos, Nigeria.
His ability and resourcefulness within the higher echelons of the Nigerian Federal government propelled him to accept a lucrative opportunity in the private sector with Guffanti Consortium in Lagos Nigeria in 1966. As the chief engineer in charge of materials, he employed veritable technical expertise leading to the successful construction of a 10 lift flyover at Ijora course way junction, in Lagos Nigeria in 1967.
Nfor Etta returned to Cameroon in the early seventies, now a seasoned professional and pioneer in the field structural and construction engineering and architecture. As the Chief engineer and Director of Operations for most of Nangah Company Limited's trademark construction achievements in the 70's and early 80's, Engineer Etta's major architectural achievements included amongst others, the construction of the first phase of the Dschang University, the CAMSUCO Sugar Factory in Koteng Mbandjock and the Governor's office in Yaoundé in 1979.
Armed with this vast array of experience and achievements, Nfor Etta deemed it timely and necessary to found his own building construction company - EDELITE Enterprise. The advent of Edelite enterprise in 1979 ushered a period of independence and prosperity for Nfor ETTA, propelling him into the annals of successful businessmen in Cameroon, through the diligent execution of major governmental and private sector building construction contracts.
With Nfor ETTA at the helm of EDELITE, the following projects were successfully accomplished : The Mamfe Council market, the Eyumojock Council chambers, Hotel des Finances in Mamfe town, the delegation of SONEL at Ndokoti Douala, Labogenie building in Bonaberi, as well as many other governmental offices within the Ndokoti neighborhood in Douala and in Manyu division.
More than 2500 employment opportunities were created both in Manyu and other parts of Cameroon by EDELITE enterprise beginning from 1981 to 1989.
His Majesty Nfor ETTA, took over the throne of Egbekaw chiefdom in 1979, after the death of Nfor Jeremiah ENOWNYAGET in 1978. He ruled Egbekaw village for over 36 years without an iota of resistance or objection from any angle.
His composure, astuteness, and clairvoyance are those spectacular values that propelled him to higher heights. A veritable peace maker, he worked diligently to avoid confrontations over land disputes with neighboring villages of Nchang, Kesham and Eshobi.
For 36 years, Nfor ETTA was able to maintain peace, order and stability in a village surrounded by neighbors with whom she shared a challenging history. This longevity at the helm of the Egbekaw Chiefdom unequivocally reflects the aura of a great leader blessed by the annointments from above and guided by all the great cosmic forces shone on him by his ancestors.
He saw education as a veritable foundation for the building of a modern Egbekaw and urged parents to sacrifice and send their children to schools. He equally encouraged his people to cultivate agricultural crops such as cocoa, plantains, cassava, palm oil, and coco yams in order to foster the education of their children. He opened up the vast forests of Egbekaw to indigents for the possibilities in large scale commercial agriculture.
A few years ago, Chief ETTA sacrificed a large portion of his personal plot of land to the Egbekaw community, for the building of a village community hall. This gigantic structure at the heart of Egbekaw village is genuine testimony and legacy to the selfless nature of this great leader, sometimes at the detriment of his own family. The Egbekaw health center, the University Teaching hospital in the pipeline, and the tarring of the main street in Egbekaw Village, unequivocally portray a committed servant who lobbied exceedingly to give his community a spectacular facelift.
As the undisputed servant of the people of Egbekaw for over three and a half decades, he was placed at the highest level of the Ekpe society ‘Sessekou”. The Nfor of Egbekaw did not depend much on the Ekpe hierarchy to settle disputes. He greatly and often drew on the wisdom of King Solomon's teachings to always arrive at a consensus.
Nfor ETTA, was equally a staunch political colossus of the Cameroon people’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). He was given a certificate of recognition after the 1996 Municipal election following an avalanche score by CPDM in Egbekaw Village.
He was equally a fervent Christian with the Presbyterian Church, and was baptized in Nfortabe Tinto, Subdivision in 1947.
For the past few years before his departure to the world beyond, Nfor ETTA endured the challenges to his health brought about by complications from diabetes, until he finally succumbed to it on July 18th 2016.
His Majesty Nfor ETTA John ETAKAPAMBANG was married in 1960 to Anthonia MBIARREY EGBE, of Nchang Village, and later to three other wives, Mary EKO, ELizabeth TIKU, and Mary TAKANG.
These unions were graciously blessed with 20 children - 9 boys, 11 girls, and 24 grand Children as well as 2 great grand Children.
His Royal Highness, Nfor Ebai John ETTAKPAMBANG, was born in Mamfe, Manyu Division, in 1934, to Pa TATA ETTAKPAMBANG, and Mama Helena EBAIBI.
He did his elementary education in Government School Mamfe town, where he graduated with distinction in 1951.
He attended Government Technical College Ombe, in the Southwest Region of Cameroon, where he obtained a diploma in building construction in 1957. He proceeded to the famed YABA Institute of Technology in Lagos – Nigeria, where he acquired a Higher National Certificate in Building Construction and an Advanced City and Guilds Certificate in Structural Engineering in 1962.
Upon his graduation from the YABA Institute of Technology in Nigeria, the young and prolific engineer ETTA began a formidable career in civil engineering in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He immediately became the town planning officer of the Ikeja Town Planning authority from 1959-1964. His experiences as town planning officer gave him considerable professional abilities and leverage, enabling him to supervise gigantic structural building projects in Lagos, Nigeria.
His ability and resourcefulness within the higher echelons of the Nigerian Federal government propelled him to accept a lucrative opportunity in the private sector with Guffanti Consortium in Lagos Nigeria in 1966. As the chief engineer in charge of materials, he employed veritable technical expertise leading to the successful construction of a 10 lift flyover at Ijora course way junction, in Lagos Nigeria in 1967.
Nfor Etta returned to Cameroon in the early seventies, now a seasoned professional and pioneer in the field structural and construction engineering and architecture. As the Chief engineer and Director of Operations for most of Nangah Company Limited's trademark construction achievements in the 70's and early 80's, Engineer Etta's major architectural achievements included amongst others, the construction of the first phase of the Dschang University, the CAMSUCO Sugar Factory in Koteng Mbandjock and the Governor's office in Yaoundé in 1979.
Armed with this vast array of experience and achievements, Nfor Etta deemed it timely and necessary to found his own building construction company - EDELITE Enterprise. The advent of Edelite enterprise in 1979 ushered a period of independence and prosperity for Nfor ETTA, propelling him into the annals of successful businessmen in Cameroon, through the diligent execution of major governmental and private sector building construction contracts.
With Nfor ETTA at the helm of EDELITE, the following projects were successfully accomplished : The Mamfe Council market, the Eyumojock Council chambers, Hotel des Finances in Mamfe town, the delegation of SONEL at Ndokoti Douala, Labogenie building in Bonaberi, as well as many other governmental offices within the Ndokoti neighborhood in Douala and in Manyu division.
More than 2500 employment opportunities were created both in Manyu and other parts of Cameroon by EDELITE enterprise beginning from 1981 to 1989.
His Majesty Nfor ETTA, took over the throne of Egbekaw chiefdom in 1979, after the death of Nfor Jeremiah ENOWNYAGET in 1978. He ruled Egbekaw village for over 36 years without an iota of resistance or objection from any angle.
His composure, astuteness, and clairvoyance are those spectacular values that propelled him to higher heights. A veritable peace maker, he worked diligently to avoid confrontations over land disputes with neighboring villages of Nchang, Kesham and Eshobi.
For 36 years, Nfor ETTA was able to maintain peace, order and stability in a village surrounded by neighbors with whom she shared a challenging history. This longevity at the helm of the Egbekaw Chiefdom unequivocally reflects the aura of a great leader blessed by the annointments from above and guided by all the great cosmic forces shone on him by his ancestors.
He saw education as a veritable foundation for the building of a modern Egbekaw and urged parents to sacrifice and send their children to schools. He equally encouraged his people to cultivate agricultural crops such as cocoa, plantains, cassava, palm oil, and coco yams in order to foster the education of their children. He opened up the vast forests of Egbekaw to indigents for the possibilities in large scale commercial agriculture.
A few years ago, Chief ETTA sacrificed a large portion of his personal plot of land to the Egbekaw community, for the building of a village community hall. This gigantic structure at the heart of Egbekaw village is genuine testimony and legacy to the selfless nature of this great leader, sometimes at the detriment of his own family. The Egbekaw health center, the University Teaching hospital in the pipeline, and the tarring of the main street in Egbekaw Village, unequivocally portray a committed servant who lobbied exceedingly to give his community a spectacular facelift.
As the undisputed servant of the people of Egbekaw for over three and a half decades, he was placed at the highest level of the Ekpe society ‘Sessekou”. The Nfor of Egbekaw did not depend much on the Ekpe hierarchy to settle disputes. He greatly and often drew on the wisdom of King Solomon's teachings to always arrive at a consensus.
Nfor ETTA, was equally a staunch political colossus of the Cameroon people’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). He was given a certificate of recognition after the 1996 Municipal election following an avalanche score by CPDM in Egbekaw Village.
He was equally a fervent Christian with the Presbyterian Church, and was baptized in Nfortabe Tinto, Subdivision in 1947.
For the past few years before his departure to the world beyond, Nfor ETTA endured the challenges to his health brought about by complications from diabetes, until he finally succumbed to it on July 18th 2016.
His Majesty Nfor ETTA John ETAKAPAMBANG was married in 1960 to Anthonia MBIARREY EGBE, of Nchang Village, and later to three other wives, Mary EKO, ELizabeth TIKU, and Mary TAKANG.
These unions were graciously blessed with 20 children - 9 boys, 11 girls, and 24 grand Children as well as 2 great grand Children.
May His Soul Rest In Perfect Peace.