Inspiring Excellence: Soban Humphrey Monono Speaks to Examination Class Students

By Dr. Humphrey Ekema Monono — Grand Officer Of The National Order Of Valor

Student no. 1806 is exceedingly happy to be amongst you today after more than five decades since we graduated from this academic citadel. You, sitting in front of me, are forms 5 and Upper Sixth students soon to face high-stake examinations — the Public GCE examinations for which Sasse has always been the standard-bearer.

When our Buea Mother Chapter President Mr. John Kameni designated me as one of the speakers during this Passion Week, I felt frozen with fear. I called the President several times to suggest a topic; he allowed me to build one by myself. Then, a simple yet profound idea struck through my mind's eye: we all are into this unconsciously from birth to death — and that is DEVELOPMENT. This is why I love SJC — an academic environment that challenges the intellect of the HAVES and HAVE NOTS. I therefore focused on the topic: THE BOON AND BANES OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT.

Development comes in all forms — physical, social, moral, individual, collective, technological, scientific, intellectual. Physical development refers to a biological state — height, size, voice quality and all metabolic visual changes that occur from birth. Yesterday, you were in form one at about the ages of 10 to 13 years. Today, you are in forms 5 and Upper Six within the age bracket of 16 to 19 years. The books you read increase the difficulty levels in a gradual manner as you age away into your present state.

Intellectual development (ID) encompasses self-development, physical development, socio-economic development, technological development, psychological development and more. Being intellectual is the ability to learn, understand and make informed suggestions and reasonable opinions.

Negative Intellectual Development (NID)

When we experience NID, unhappiness deepens within the individual, college, village, town, and nation. Some of the uncomfortable signals are indiscipline, disobedience, selfishness, rebelliousness, failure, stealing, cheating, debauchery, addiction, and criminality. Oftentimes the above ills of NID would lead a student to: dropping out of school; carrying out hookup activities; practicing prostitution; engaging in occultic practices; finding solace in scamming and the get-rich-quick syndrome; committing robbery; getting easily lured into homicide, suicide and murder; suffering from depression and madness. NID will certainly lead to poor GCE results. These vices should never be your portion.

Positive Intellectual Development (PID)

On the contrary, when we experience PID, the quality of life beams with light and love. It is associated with discipline, obedience, success, resilience, generosity, selflessness, progress, confidence, the mastery of the self, and truth. These attributes paint a vivid picture of brightness in the future with a sense of fulfilment and a remarkable contribution in developing oneself and one's society.

A boy who passes the A/Ls examinations sees the University doors open before him in and out of Cameroon. He may walk and not even feel the ground below his feet due to the height of joy attained. The college receives accolades for their achievement and work well done. He feels like a colossus. He is the name on every lip in the village.