Why we started the Ngek C. Jumbam Scholars Program

My father, Mr. Ngek Constantine Jumbam, was a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives and communities for the better. When I think back to moments that exemplified this, one particular moment stands out.

The first cohort of Ngek C. Jumbam Scholars. From left to right: Ngum Diom Meg, Fadimatou Idrissou, Godwill Mbunwe, Ngwang Christabel and Augustin Ateh Mandeh

On a Wednesday morning, my father and I met with the director and assistant director of Rain Forest International School in a small office room in Yaounde. I was there for an interview to try to gain admittance into the 8th grade at the prestigious international school which was reserved almost exclusively for the children of ex-pats and wealthy Cameroonians. Being from a low-income background, I had never imagined that I would ever have the opportunity to study at such a prestigious school but thanks to the generosity of some family friends, I could have the opportunity to do that. All I had to do was pass this interview.

My father, Babee as we affectionately called him, spoke passionately about my ambitions, my dedication to learning, and my educational goals. I sat there nodding my head as he spoke, though I was tense and anxious that I wouldn't be able to gain entry into the school. When my turn came to speak, I was so nervous that I completely forgot the answers to basic questions like where my current school was located. I could see the frustration in Babee’s eyes, he almost wanted to step in to answer on my behalf. After the interview, I was certain I had blown my chance at attending Rain Forest but a few days later we got the call that I had been admitted. I believe that this decision was mostly because of how passionately Babee had advocated for me.

I only learned years later about how Babee had overcome significant odds to complete his secondary school education in his village, Oku, before moving to Yaounde to obtain his undergraduate degree on a partial government scholarship. He then completed two master’s degrees from the University of Yaounde, working odd jobs, first as a guard and then as a construction worker, to pay his fees. He was the first in his family to complete undergraduate and graduate education. He knew that he could change his story and that of his family through education.

Babee working as a construction worker to pay for his masters degree.

When Babee was killed in the Anglophone crisis, I was especially heartbroken when I thought about the insurmountable odds he had overcome to get an education to enable him to build a home of his own just to have that dream wickedly torn apart by a senseless war. His passion for education would forever inspire me to make use of the privileges I have been afforded to help others in whatever small way I can.

Since the Anglophone crisis began more than six years ago, one of the most devastating consequences of the war has been its impact on the education of thousands of innocent children in the Anglophone regions. A whole generation of children is being denied their rightful future and dreams. Since 2017, the education of about 700,000 students has been disrupted by the war. Schools have been closed for years and children and teachers have been senselessly massacred in their classrooms just for trying to get an education. Children who have been affected by the anglophone crisis face a significant likelihood of being recruited into the war, facing gender-based violence, child abuse, and child labor.

When my mother and I founded the Jumbam Family Foundation in honor of my father, our goal was to help those who have been adversely affected by the Anglophone crisis. From the very beginning, we knew that we wanted to support students from the Anglophone regions. Therefore, in honor of Babee, we created the Ngek C. Jumbam Scholarship Program to offer educational opportunities to students from the Anglophone regions who have been affected by the war.

Launched in September 2022, the scholarship program offers full tuition, room, and board for selected scholars to complete their secondary school education. Furthermore, we provide the scholars with mentorship, career guidance, and mental health support. We have partnered with Open Dreams, a non-profit organization based in Cameroon, to provide ongoing mentorship and guidance on University preparations. The first cohort of five exceptional scholars began studying at Montesorri English Secondary and High School in September 2022.

Mr. Ngolefac Emmanuel, an Open Dreams mentor, during a mentorship session with Scholars Ngwang Christabel and Augustin Ateh Mandeh.

I owe much of who I am today to Babee’s commitment to my education. When I left for University in the US, Babee and Mama emptied their bank accounts and borrowed excessive amounts of money to send me. I was able to complete my undergraduate and graduate studies at some of the best institutions in the world and even work at Harvard for a couple of years. All of this is because Babee believed in me and invested enormously in my education.

My father was an inspiration to me and will continue to be a reminder of the importance of education and hard work in our lives. Through the Ngek C. Jumbam Scholars Program, his legacy - opening educational opportunities to thousands of young people in Cameroon to afford them the chance to live out their dreams - will live on.

This article was first published on the Jumbam Family Foundation website

To contribute to the Jumbam Scholarship Fund and support a scholar, please visit jumbamfamilyfoundation.org.