Following his recent election as the new President of Sasse Old Boys Association, SOBA, America chapter, Dr Bertrand Pokam Fote has been extolling the virtues of his association and the members. In this exclusive interview, he says his administration will redynamise the platform for inclusion and innovation, adding that the students of the Alma Matter, Saint Joseph’s College, Sasse in Buea will be at the centre of their operations. The Emergency Physician also talked about a well crafted scheme that supports and protects fellow SOBANS across America. It is a thrilling interview conducted by WALTER WILSON NANA. Read on!!!
How will you explain your election as the President of SOBA America?
SOBANS saw a great vision of inclusion, innovation, accountability, global leadership and respect for SOBA America, and they overwhelmingly approved that vision. It was a hard fought campaign, and it came down to messaging. I think my campaign team did an awesome job to explain our message and our vision to SOBANS, and why we were the best team to lead SOBA America forward.
We also observed that the Presidency of SOBA America was hotly contested with several candidates. What was the motivation?
As you know, the previous administration led by Emeritus Frederick Itoe did a great job in re-branding SOBA America and bringing it back to the top of alumni associations in the Diaspora. SOBA America is looked upon by other associations for leadership. We are the largest alumni association from Cameroon and the number one from Africa. With such a large talent pool, the stakes were high and that is why the election was so hotly contested.
What is the Betrand Fote Administration bringing into SOBA America and
president of SOBA America
SOBA in general?
Our goal is to build an all-inclusive highly functional SOBA America that will work for all SOBANS. We have an ambitious platform of inclusion and innovation that includes initiatives such as mentorship program, business and investment opportunities for members, scholarship and other assistance for members in need, networking initiatives and many others, aimed at ensuring that our members see a benefit to belonging in SOBA America. We also have initiatives that will improve our SOBA America and SOBA brand. We will partner with SOBA General and other SOBA regional chapters to address matters that will ensure that we are all united and we can strengthen our SOBA brand. As you may know, a proposal championed by SOBA America for the creation of a new council or board made of Regional Presidents in the Diaspora and President General was recently approved by SOBA General’s Council upon the proposal of our President General, Prof Ephraim Ngwafor. It will be taken to our next General Assembly for approval. This is a significant game changer which will put Diaspora Regional Presidents on the decision making table.
What’s the state of SOBA America now?
SOBA America is in a good place. The Itoe administration, in which I proudly served as Vice-president, laid a solid foundation through its re-branding and restructuring initiatives. We are the largest SOBA regional chapter with over 600 members registered national and we will continue to grow and get better. As I mentioned earlier, we have many exciting new initiatives in the pipeline.
How much is SOBA America giving back to the Alma Matter – St. Joseph’s College Sasse?
SOBA America continues to give more to SJC Sasse than any other SOBA chapter. Our scholarship endowment program that saw the creation of SOBA America Day in Sasse during which we gave scholarships to 50 students is a good example. Unfortunately, the current crisis in Anglophone Cameroon has halted that program. We intend to continue when things get better in Cameroon. We are in the final phase of a band project that will see us provide a band for SJC Sasse. That will be delivered at the appropriate time. We will continue to work with the authorities to identify areas where we can provide help that will have a direct impact on the lives of the students; our focus is the students.
We hear SOBA USA got a vibrant scheme that protects and supports duly registered members. Tell us more about that…
We have several benefits to membership. We need to cater for our members. We have bereavement benefits for members who lose a parent, life insurance for interested Sobans and their families, fun drives to celebrate some milestones, networking for members, annual gifts and other benefits handled by local chapters…etc. We also have a membership discount program where members can get discounts on items they buy from over 2000 businesses in the USA and Canada. Our administration also has some new initiatives like business opportunities, mentorship, assistance that we will be introducing. We will also strengthen our networking initiatives and build a culture of promoting SOBAN and SOBANESE owned businesses.
Let us know more about you, Dr Betrand Pokam Fote. Who’s he?
I usually don’t like to talk about myself. I am a SOBAN of the 1986 class – Lake Nyos Class. I am an emergency physician practicing in the State of North Carolina. I am also an entrepreneur with a number of business interests. I am happily married to our First Lady Laura, who has been my source of strength and inspiration every day. She is simply an angel. I care passionately about SOBA. Giving back is a calling that I have stemming from my own life changing experience when I received the Victor Anomah Ngu award when I was a student in SJC Sasse.