By Njah Maureen
Bishops of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference (BAPEC) held their 76th ordinary meeting at the Archdiocese of on the 22nd of August 2024.
The conference that brought together officials of the five dioceses (Bamenda, Kumba, Buea, Mamfe, and Kumbo) that makes up the Bamenda Ecclesiastical province started on Saturday August 17, 2024 at the Archbishop’s House with the Provincial Council of Education meeting.
The president, Archbishop Andrew Fuanya Nkea of the Archdiocese of Bamenda lauded his challenges in the meeting. The goal of the meeting was to evaluate the different academic Institutions in the Province so as to share challenges and best practices and give recommendations for better functioning of the 2024/2025 academy year.
The members of BAPEC regret that “there is yet a lot of violence, insecurity, kidnappings, torture, and senseless killings, sometimes of innocent people and children” and urge all warring parties to stop the ongoing violence “with immediate effect” They urge the community to “stop violence and work towards a more pacific resolution of this conflict.”
In recent times, cases of violence, kidnappings and killings have been on the rise in Cameroon’s troubled English-Speaking regions. His Lordship Bishop George Nkuo, Bishop of the Diocese of Kumbo and head of the Education Council, while coordinating the meeting, thanked the education secretaries and finance administrators in the Province for the sacrifices they make to see to it that Catholic Schools Continue to be pace setters. Education being the most powerful weapon that brings change to the world, the Provincial Council of Education it should be highlighted, focuses on holistic education in all the Catholic schools; with emphasis on intellectual, human, moral, pastoral and spiritual formation of the pupils and students.
It is no doubt that the Catholic education family is one of the bodies that are committed to providing excellent infrastructures and quality training in the country. Representing the other four dioceses were Bishop Michael Bibi; Bishop of Buea, Bishop Aloysius Fondong; Bishop of Mamfe and Bishop Agapitus Fon; Bishop of Kumba Diocese. The opening mass for the 76th ordinary meeting of BAPEC was held on Sunday August 18, 2024.
