A year after the passing of Mfoome Stephen Ndzerem Njodzeka, widely known as Paa SHUMAS, family, partners and the Catholic faithful gathered in Bamenda to honour a life that reshaped humanitarian work across Cameroon.
The first anniversary memorial was marked on Sunday 12 April 2026 with a special thanksgiving mass during the second service at All Saints Parish Bayelle. The liturgy drew a large turnout of relatives, Nso elite, staff of the Strategic Humanitarian Services, SHUMAS and members of the wider community.
Beyond remembrance, the ceremony carried a forward-looking message. SHUMAS used the occasion to make a special offertory in support of the construction of the Santa Marta Mater Dei Mission Station church, a gesture that parish authorities described as both timely and symbolic of the late humanitarian’s commitment to community development.
The anniversary programme extends beyond the church service. Activities scheduled for Saturday 18 April 2026 include the unveiling of a monument at the SHUMAS Head Office in Mile 6 Nkwen, the launch of the SHUMAS Legacy Magazine, and a commemorative mass at the family residence in Up Station Bamenda.
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Yaa Billian Nyuykighan (in yellow) Executive Director of SHUMAS and wife of late Mfoome Ndzerem leading support procession
Mfoome Stephen Ndzerem Njodzeka, who died in 2025 at the age of 54, was the founding Director General of SHUMAS, an organisation credited with impacting millions of lives through education, health, water and livelihood projects across Cameroon. His work earned national recognition, including elevation to Officer of the Order of Valour.
At his funeral in April 2025, tributes from partners such as Building Schools for Africa and government officials underscored a career defined by scale and compassion. One year on, that assessment remains largely unchanged among those gathered in Bayelle.
For many present, the memorial was reaffirming a collective responsibility to sustain the work he began.
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web
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