A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF AUNT SARAH TONG NTUBAA Memorial Salute by His Eminence, Excellency Minister Rev. Dr. Akwo Thompson NtubaIn Loving Memory of Sarah Tong Ntuba — A Dedicated Educator, Family Matriarch, Builder, and Woman of Strong Character.

Today, I pause to salute and celebrate the life, legacy, and remarkable journey of my beloved aunt, Sarah Tong Ntuba, affectionately known to many of us as “Miss” because of her lifelong dedication to the teaching profession.

Aunt Sarah was a woman of substance, determination, discipline, and strong convictions. She devoted much of her life to education, serving as a Domestic Science teacher and rising through the ranks of Cameroon's educational system. Her teaching career took her across several communities and divisions, including Manyu Division, particularly Mamfe, Meme Division, Fako Division, and other parts of Cameroon. She taught in both primary and secondary schools, leaving her mark on generations of young people.

She was a stern teacher who believed in discipline, hard work, proper upbringing, and the importance of education. Her personality could be firm, outspoken, and sometimes controversial, but these qualities were part of the strong character that defined her. She was a woman who stood by her convictions and was never afraid to express herself.

A Daughter of the Ntuba FamilySarah Tong Ntuba was the last surviving child of the union of the late Libande Ntuba and Mukwelle Ntuba First. She was the younger sister of Minister George Ntuba Ntuba, the father of Dr. Akwo Thompson Ntuba, and also the younger sister of the late Governor Walson Mboe Ntuba.

Her place in the Ntuba family was special. As the last living child of her parents, she represented a living connection to an important generation of the family. Her life carried memories, experiences, and stories that connected the younger generations to their roots and family heritage.

A Woman Who Built Her Own LegacyBeyond her career in education, Aunt Sarah was a woman of remarkable independence and accomplishment. She worked hard, acquired her own land, and built a beautiful home in Kumba, close to the main river.

That home was more than a building. It was a testament to her determination, personal achievement, and desire to establish something lasting through her own efforts. Her property stood directly opposite the palace of her late brother, Governor Walson Mboe Ntuba, creating a meaningful family connection across the landscape of Kumba.

She demonstrated that a woman could work, acquire property, build a home, and establish an enduring legacy through personal effort and perseverance.

A Woman Who Loved Children and the Art of HospitalityAunt Sarah had a special love for children, even though life dealt her a painful personal loss when she lost her only child at an early age.

Her love for children remained an important part of her identity. She also possessed remarkable culinary skills. She was a gifted maker of pastries, cakes, and pies. Many of us will remember the delicious creations that came from her kitchen, particularly what we fondly called the famous Cameroonian meat pie.

Her baking was part of her personality and her contribution to family life. Through her food, she brought moments of pleasure, warmth, and togetherness. These seemingly ordinary family memories often become the extraordinary treasures we carry long after our loved ones are gone.

Her Journey to the United StatesAunt Sarah also had the opportunity to experience life beyond Cameroon through her memorable visit and stay in the United States.

She enjoyed travelling to several states and major American cities, discovering new places and experiencing a different environment. Her visit gave her an opportunity to broaden her horizons and enjoy experiences beyond her homeland.

Those journeys became another chapter in her remarkable life story, adding to the many experiences she accumulated as an educator, family woman, and independent individual.

Personal Memories: A Moment I Will Never ForgetFor me, Dr. Akwo Thompson Ntuba, memories of Aunt Sarah are both personal and deeply emotional.

I particularly remember the brief period I spent with her and, above all, one painful moment in Mamfe that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

I remember the day Aunt Sarah broke down in tears as she narrated to me the heartbreaking news that my younger brother, Ntuba Ntuba, had died and had already been buried in Cameroon without my presence.

It was an incredibly painful moment. Her tears, her emotions, and the weight of that revelation remain deeply engraved in my memory. It was one of those moments when family bonds, grief, and the realities of life come together in a way that words can hardly express.

That moment also reminds me of the importance of family responsibility and the need to stand by one another, particularly when distance separates family members.

In the years that followed, I continued to mobilize members of our family in the diaspora to support Aunt Sarah's needs and welfare in Cameroon, working alongside family members at home to ensure that she received care, attention, and support.

I considered this a family responsibility and an expression of love, respect, and appreciation for an aunt who had lived a long and meaningful life.

A Legacy of Strength, Independence, and Family HeritageAunt Sarah's life was not without its complexities. She could be stern, outspoken, and at times difficult to understand. Like every human being, she had her own strengths, weaknesses, opinions, and contradictions.

But today, as we remember her, we must look at the totality of her journey.

We remember a woman who:

Dedicated much of her life to educating children and young people in Cameroon.

Served as a Domestic Science teacher across different divisions and communities.

Maintained a strong sense of discipline and personal conviction.

Loved children despite the personal tragedy of losing her only child.

Developed exceptional skills in baking cakes, pastries, and traditional meat pies.

Acquired her own land and built her home in Kumba through personal effort.

Experienced the world through her travels and visit to the United States.

Remained an important link to the history and heritage of the Ntuba family.

Her story is a reminder that every life has its own journey, its own struggles, its own achievements, and its own lessons.

My Final SaluteToday, I salute you, Aunt Sarah Tong Ntuba.

I salute the teacher who stood before generations of Cameroonian children and instilled discipline and knowledge.

I salute the woman who worked hard, acquired her own property, and built her own home.

I salute the aunt whose tears once communicated the pain of family loss in a way that words could never capture.

I salute the woman whose kitchen produced cakes, pastries, and meat pies that remain part of our family memories.

I salute the last surviving child of Libande Ntuba and Mukwelle Ntuba First, whose departure marks the closing of another important chapter in our family history.

Though your life had its challenges and complexities, your story deserves to be told, your contributions deserve recognition, and your memory deserves a place in the history of our family.

As we bid you farewell, may your journey be remembered with dignity, compassion, and gratitude.

Rest peacefully, Aunt Sarah. Rest peacefully, our beloved “Miss.”

Your classroom may be silent, your home in Kumba may no longer hear your familiar voice, and your kitchen may no longer produce those memorable pastries, cakes, and meat pies. But the memories you created, the people you taught, the family you touched, and the legacy you leave behind will continue to speak.

You lived your journey. You made your contributions. You left your footprints.

May the Almighty God grant your soul eternal rest and comfort all members of the Ntuba family, both at home and in the diaspora, as we remember and celebrate your life.

With love, respect, and a profound sense of family gratitude,

His Eminence, Excellency Minister Rev. Dr. Akwo Thompson Ntuba

On behalf of the Ntuba family and in personal remembrance of a beloved aunt.

Editorial note: This tribute has been written to preserve the bona-ntua clan history, personal recollections, and individual character of Aunt Sarah, while celebrating her contributions to education, family, and community.