By Noela EBOB BISONG
Prof. Pauline Nalova Lyonga, Cameroon’s Minister of Secondary Education who was recently appointed at a high level within the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement CPDM party, has come home to her people of Fako Division.
The iconic Academic and daughter of the Fako soil was appointed Substantive Member of the Central Committee of the CPDM and Head of the Fako Permanent Divisional Delegation PDD of the Central Committee of the party last March 25, by the Chairman of the party, H. E. Paul Biya, president of the Republic of Cameroon.
In a grand Homecoming rally organised in her honour on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Limbe, militants of the CPDM, including Parliamentarians, Mayors, Members of the PDD, Section presidents and the administration, converged on Manga Williams Avenue to receive the one who now champions the political course of the CPDM in Fako Division.
First to take to the rostrum was Limbe’s City Mayor, Paul Efome L. M. Ngale, who described Nalova as an adorable mother and a square peg in a square hole. Celebrating Nalova’s huge wealth of experience, administrative charisma, political stamina, managerial competence and her educational eloquence, Efome said Limbe has benefited greatly from her long list of resounding achievements. Citing her support to flood and landslide victims in Limbe, the promotion of sports and reforms in the Secondary Education subsector, the City Mayor said, “This mark of confidence bestowed on you by our national president is eloquent proof that H. E. President Paul Biya had had you in his spying glass all this while.”
Speaking on behalf of the seven YCPDM Section Presidents in Fako, Oscar Akale Mukete, YCPDM Section President for CPDM Fako II Section (Muyuka) told Nalova that her appointment is not by chance, “but a reward of an extraordinary service that you have been rendering to the nation”. Mentioning that as head of the CPDM Divisional Campaign Commission since 2018 whereby Prof. Nalova has ensured the party’s landmark victories in all elections, the youth representative noted her footprints in the education sector, where he said the Minister has transformed the Secondary Education subsector with prominence in technical education.
The WCPDM representative, Ngundu Mary Ewunga from Fako V Section (West Coast) said Prof. Nalova’s appointment is testament to the CPDM’s unwavering commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women in nation building. Presenting the strides of Fako women in politics and the social economy, Ewunga said, “Mami Prof. Nalova Lyonga embodies the brilliance, resilience and dedication that defines the Fako woman… Her achievements are a source of inspiration…”
Representing the men’s wing of the party and on behalf of his peers, the Section President of CPDM Fako IA, Ludwig Makaka Williams said, “The CPDM party in Fako Division is elated to have the noble personality of Prof. Nalova Lyonga champion our political cause in the Division. Our gathering here today brings to the limelight a noble person and her remarkable achievements, cutting across the socio-political spheres of Fako Division and the country at large.”
According to Makaka, Nalova’s appointment comes with hopes of uniting the Sections for frank collaboration in order to successfully face challenges ahead.
Enters Prof. Nalova Lyonga
In her keynote address, the guest of honour, Prof. Nalova Lyonga celebrated CPDM’s national president, Paul Biya, for the appointment. “To our legendary national president of the CPDM, I register my deepest gratitude for the confidence and immense trust bestowed on my humble self to steer the political affairs of the CPDM in Fako Division”, she said.
The Central Committee Substantive member and Head of Fako PDD pledged to “dedicate all my efforts to fulfilling his vision to our party and Cameroon our nation.”
While stating that her double appointment is a privilege which she accepts with utmost humility and solemn dedication, the CPDM Fako leader said, “I embrace the full responsibility of leadership and service for the entirety of Fako Division… As a mother cherishes each of her children equally, so too do I hold dearly each of the seven vibrant sections that comprise our beloved Fako”, she said.
Prof. Nalova, in a simple and straight-forward manner stated that, “There shall be no preference in my leadership… everybody is equal in my eyes… All Sections will be treated as children from the same mother.”
The CPDM Fako boss furthered that, “I stand before you as an embodiment of unity, progress and opportunity for all, without exception.”
Urging for total unity on the part of militants in the interest of the CPDM party in Fako Division, Prof. Nalova pointed out that, “The time for action is now… This moment is pay back time! The President has given us, now we have to give him”, she said, urging all militants to channel their energy, dedication and steadfast loyalty to the singular cause of securing a resounding victory for Biya in the upcoming presidential election. The CPDM bigwig also requested for support from her comrades to strengthen her in her new engagements.
Prof. Nalova Lyonga was given a lamp by the Queen Mothers of Fako to light her path in her new assignments and a gift by Fako women.
Prof. Nalova’s big announcement
At the homecoming rally, the CPDM Substantive member of the Central Committee and Head of Fako PDD, Prof. Nalova Lyonga announced the imminent construction of an Ultra modern state of the art CPDM Party Secretariat in Limbe, which will have modern offices for dedicated PDD officials, a well -equipped board room, grand hall with a thousand capacity, CPDM shop, restaurant etc.
Her good works
Prof. Nalova’s interventions which have brought smiles to her people of Fako Division and beyond include amongst others; successful coordination of the 2021 CPDM Party reorganisation, donation of over FCFA 20 million for flood victims in Buea and Limbe, gifting of over 1,000 CPDM fabrics to militants in Fako, sponsoring printing of customised Paul Biya exercise books to promote learning while immortalising the party’s national chairman, sponsoring the organisation of capacity building workshops for CPDM militants in Fako, efforts to push road rehabilitation works across the Division, etc.
CPDM Fako is made up of seven Sections including Fako IA (Limbe I), Fako IB (Limbe Il), Fako IC (Limbe III), Fako Il (Muyuka), Fako III (Buea), Fako IV (Tiko), and Fako V (West Coast).
