Their Story

Bernadette & William

Love is indeed a beautiful thing. And for our Parents, Bernadette and William Che, their story began decades ago in the tiny village of Bafut in the North West Region of Cameroon, where they both grew up. They met during the holidays and as William chatted up Bernadette, they realized they had several things in common: they were both God fearing, they were both interested in school and furthering their education and they were both from poor families. So they fell in love, got married in 1968, built a beautiful family together in Faith and determination and the rest, they say is History. Clocking 50+ years of marriage is no joke especially these days. It is not 50+ days but 50+ years of Love, Tolerance, Patience, Endurance, Challenges, Perseverance, Understanding, Forgiving, Lasting memories and lots more that we have certainly learnt from you. So we could not be more proud of you and duff our hats and say; CONGRATULATIONS. Rest assured that we have taken great notes.

Daddy and Mama, we are so delighted and blessed by this God given opportunity to come together with the rest of the family and many of your friends who are equally family, to celebrate you in a very special way because you are very deserving of it.

As an infant, barely about three months old, our Mom, Bernadette lost her Mom. Thanks to the goodness of her late uncles; Papa Vincent Wanzie and Uncle Joseph Wanzie, who took her in and brought her up as their daughter. She did so well through Primary school and passed the Interview into the newly opened Prestigious all girls Catholic Secondary School; Our Lady of Lourdes College, Mankon Bamenda as one of the first batch of students in 1963 (hence a Golden Girl). She remains a proud member of the school Alumni Association; Lourdes Ex Students Association (LESA) till this day. Upon graduation from Lourdes College in 1968, she had a scholarship and went on to pursue higher education in the University of Sierra-Leone, Njalla and the University of Nigeria, Nsuka where she graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She then returned to Cameroon and began working for the Government first as an Examination Officer, then as General Discipline Mistress and then as Vice Principal of Government Technical College Molyko, Buea. But with a huge thirst for education she yearned for more.

So in 1980 she left for the United States to pursue a Masters Degree at the University of Wisconsin, Stout. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Food Science and Nutrition in 1982 and got a great job offer. But that tempting job offer and her eagerness to go further with a Doctorate Degree program was tainted by the love for her husband and children she had left behind . So she decided to return to Cameroon instead and continued her work with the Government in different capacities at CCAS Kumba, GBHS Limbe, and GBHS Tiko until her retirement. Upon Retirement, the desire to continue to educate children still burnt within her which led to the birth of her new baby, Saint Bernadette, International and Bilingual Nursery and Primary School, Tiko. A school representing a Gold standard of Education in Cameroon today.

Over at another corner in Bafut , a young man, our Dad, William Che was also actively pursuing his dreams. He finished Primary School and passed his interview into the renowned all boys Catholic school, St Joseph’s College, Sasse in Buea. A school he loved so much and is till date, a staunch member of the Alumni Association; Sasse Old Boys Association (SOBA). After graduating from Sasse and passing his GCE, he got admitted into the School of Agriculture in Bambili. Upon graduation, he landed a job with Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC). It was during this time that he married his Love, Bernadette Che and they both received Scholarships to study at the University of Sierra-Leone, Njalla. He graduated from Njalla University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and together with his wife, they earned another Scholarship to continue a Masters program in the United States. However, they considered the poor families they had left behind and in good consciences, chose to abandon the US scholarships, accepted their job offers at home in Cameroon which would enable them to begin earning income and uplifting their siblings and family. So off to Cameroon they returned where Dad continued working with CDC but this time, at higher Administrative levels which took him several times to Europe and Asia.

 He started off as Junior Field Assistant to Field Assistant to Rubber Manager to Palms Manager to Assistant Group Rubber Manager and then to Assistant Group Palms Manager (the latter two positions put him at 4th in rank to the General Manager of CDC) until he parted ways with CDC in 1994.. Then he picked up another great job with SOCAPALM in Douala as Director of Plantations ( 2nd in rank to the General Manager of SOCAPALM. Thanks to his Benevolent God Father, Late Mr John Neba Ngu.) where he worked until his Retirement in 2000. While working, he also invested in several Real Estate Businesses and upon his retirement, he kept himself quite busy , as staying busy is his nature, by managing their rental properties and a Palm Plantation they own. In supporting his wife in her SABIBI project, he got so interested in education himself, that he decided to add a Secondary and High School to the SABIBI project. And so today they both own and run the SABIBI Nursery and Primary School as well as the SABIBI Secondary and High schools. Stellar schools in Tiko that have consistently produced 100% at the Common Entrance and First School leaving certificate Examinations and at the GCE Exams. Mom and Dad, Congratulations for you must be doing something right.

It is a blessing for us, the children to have Mr William & Mrs Bernadette Che as our Parents. Two individuals with a heart of Gold, who through their hardwork and God’s abundant blessings have been afforded a very comfortable life but ensured that Humility, Love and Compassion, remained the order of their lives and our household. Qualities we grew up with and treasure till this day. They are God fearing, devoted and caring Parents, friends, Care givers, dependable siblings, Role models, Advisers, Bosses, and colleagues whose main desire is to make the world a better place. They have been blessed with 12 Children (Mr Peter & Dr Claire Minang, Dr Ngwa and Mrs Ewande Ebongalame Che, Dr Meyahnwi & Dr Tunisha Che, Mr Akongnwingong & Mrs Lizet Che, Mr Tarbinlam & Mrs Afanwingong Lafon and Mr William(Small Akong) & Mrs Shella Che Djoukang), 13 Grand Children, a host of adopted Children, lots of extended family and a sea of beautiful friends like you.

Our Mom, Bernadette, is the true rock of the family and her character, calm disposition, hard work and deep connection to God has been our inspiration and the driving force for most of the successes of our family.

Our Dad, William Che, a hard working man and devoted Father would give anything for his children for they remain his pride and we are just as proud of our Dad as he is of us.

Mom, Dad, together with the rest of the family, we want to take this time out to celebrate you, to appreciate you and to say we love you dearly because you are truly an exemplary couple, wonderful Parents, Formidable friends and phenomenal role models to all around you.

Yes, You are our Parents in whom we are well pleased.

May God continue to bless you and fill you with Love, Joy and Peace.