Zachary Nkwo’s Memory-enlivening Scholarship Launched

A scholarship fashioned to indefinitely enliven the memory of Cameroon's finest sports commentator, Zachary Nkwo, has been officially established in Buea, Capital of the South West Region of Cameroon. 

The Zachary Nkwo Scholarship, introduced during the icon’s massively attended Funeral Mass on Saturday 5 August in Buea, was officially unveiled on Tuesday 12 September, 2017, in a Press Conference at Chariot Hotel.

The event was organized by members of the Scholarship Board, headed by the Commercial Manager of Source du Pays Mr Amo Khater.

Now, chances are wide open for fresh journalism students of the Universities of Buea and Yaoundé 2 from the academic year 2017-2018. In each University, two students (both gender) will be meritoriously awarded the scholarship, spanning three years.

  

The mortal remains of the journalistic star who died on the 4 June 2017, aged 69, are lying six-feet deep at his brother’s Camp Sic Residence in Bokwaongo-Buea.

Talking to reporters at Chariot Hotel, the Secretary General of the Zachary Nkwo Scholarship Board, Mrs Mabel Yufanyi said:

“The Zachary Nkwo Scholarship was born as a result of some brainstorming, given that we had a legend like him, a man who made Cameroonians love football through his beautiful commentaries. That kind of person should not go like that, his memory should not disappear.”

“Through this scholarship, the students we are going to train, can keep the memory of Uncle Zach always alive,” Mrs Yufanyi added. 

She further detailed that brochures and fliers of the scholarship will soon reach the public, so that potential candidates are informed. 

According to her, a selected candidate is annually entitled to FCFA 550,000, which will cover feeding, lodging and books. She was so unequivocal on the fact that no room will be given for academically unserious awardees.

The brother to the late iconic sports journalist, who doubles as one of the advisers of the Scholarship Board Professor Victor Julius Ngoh said:

“Immediately the list of admitted students is made known, interested candidates should apply, because there will be a time limit of one month.”

Candidates applying must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Must be Cameroonian, must show proof of admission into either the Journalism Department of the Universities of Buea or Yaoundé 1, must submit two recommendation letters (from a Secondary School Principal and a mainstream religious authority), must be an underprivileged, among others.

After an intense debate with reporters,   the Board however promised to review the criterion where only recommendations from pastors/priests of mainstream churches will be accepted. 

But the Board emphasized that such criterion was aimed at ensuring authenticity of candidate’s background and follow-up in case of future issues.  

The scholarship is fully funded by Source du Pays, and falls within the company’s social responsibility policy. 

Other members of the Scholarship Board are Mr Njomo Kevin, Nana Walter Wilson and Agha Isidore.