Mambe Njikofore Mande N.

Dr. Backe Ivo Itoe who was born on February 02 1959 passed onto glory on June 06 2021.

The one time University of Buea Banking and Finance lecturer’s funeral program will be as follows:

• Friday, June 25, 2021 from 6pm−10pm: Church service and wake, at the family residence, Miss Bright Street, Bomaka.
• Saturday, June 26,  2021 at 11:00 a.m: Removal of the mortal remains at the Buea Regional Hospital

   12:00−1:00pm: Laying, viewing and final respect at the family residence at Miss Bright entrance, Bomaka.

1:30pm −2:30 pm Church service, reading of eulogies at the Deceased residence, Miss Bright Street, Bomaka, Buea

04:00 pm−04:30 pm Burial, at Bokwango 

Biography of late Dr Backe Ivo Itoe

Upon his arrival on earth on February 4, 62 years ago, a great man was born and was named BACKE IVO ITOE.

He was born in Bonji Balue, a village under Dikome Balue subdivision, Ndian division, Southwest region of Cameroon to Pa Itoe and Mama Catherine Nakeli of blessed memory.

He was the only surviving son among twelve (12) children. As a young child, Backe Itoe loved education and always had the dream and ambition to get right to the ladder in the academic milieu and to make both his family and community proud of him.

Right from childhood, he was a kind, intelligent, peaceful, loving and jovial person. He attended primary school from class one to seven at Catholic Primary school Bonji Balue where he obtained his Common Entrance and First School Leaving Certificate.

He later moved to Buea, Fako division where he obtained both his secondary and high school certificates at Bojongo.

Backe Ivo Itoe worked with Pamol Plantation for a couple of years at Lobe Estate, but due to his unending appetite for knowledge and desire to climb the academic ladder, he did not see himself to end at that level. So, Backe Itoe ambitiously moved to Nigeria in search of greener pasture where he fortunately got a job which enabled him to see his dream come true.

 Ivo Itoe was known then as coming from a family where both parents could barely sustain their livelihood basically through farming. To young Ivo, that was not his dream hence, he decided to be extremely serious with his education so as to become outstanding and change not only the living standard of himself and family but also that of the entire community as well.

From Nigeria, Ivo moved to India for further studies where he grabbed his First Degree, Masters and Ph.D. from Bangalore and Bombay Universities respectively.

He later on moved to Malaysia where he picked up a job as an Associate Professor in Banking and Finance, a position he held for a couple of years. He later moved on to the United States of America. While in the U.S. A, he got a Lecturing Job till September 1998 when he joined the United Nations and worked with them as a Senior Consultant. In that same year, Backe Ivo Itoe was posted to Africa, specifically in Senegal in the same capacity.

He then travelled to Ghana where he taught Banking and Finance in Valley View University for some years. 

Backe Ivo ITOE finally returned to his home country Cameroon in 2006. In October that same year, he was recruited at the University of Buea as an Assistant Lecturer. Dr Backe coordinated the Banking and Finance right up until 2014 when he finally retired.

Filled with so much zeal, vision, and purpose, Backe created the SAWA Cooperative Credit Union in 2016. Despite been heavily beaten by the current crisis, he stood the test of time and ensured the sustained and profound growth of the Credit Union where he served as the Founder and President.

Despite all his success and achievements, Dr Backe Itoe was battling with his health condition after being hit by a first stroke attack in 2014 and the second attack in 2016. Nevertheless, he still stood  his ground until  the  last sickness  came upon  him in November  2020 which  he battled with till Sunday, June 6, 2021 when he finally gave up the  ghost.

 Dr Backe Itoe leaves behind a wife, four (04) children, two (02) sisters, relatives, the entire Ndian community, Balue Development Organization (BADO) and a host of friends to mourn him.

He was a strong, courageous, ambitious, and great man.

As a great warrior, Backe Itoe fought a great fight.

ADIEU DR BACKE IVO ITOE                                                                                                                               REST IN PEACE

By Justice G.O. MUKETE

 The news of your demise pierced my heart like a sword. “No, it can’t be true, it can’t be true,” I screamed. To me, it was hard to believe because just the Sunday before you passed on that Sunday, the 6th June 2021, I had visited you in your residence at Miss Bright street Bomaka Buea.

Yes, you were sick but there was nothing to suggest to me you were to leave this world. We were all waiting to see you get better soon .Ah yes, that is the mystery surrounding death. We know neither the day nor the hour.

Your death is a great loss to the family, the tribe and the nation. Your academic attainment (coming home with a Ph. D.) inspired many Balue boys and girls and gave them hope that they too can make it to the top even from a humble beginning like yours.

You will be remembered as Dr.Backe who encouraged many A∕L holders to come to the University of Buea and enroll to do Banking and Finance. You taught Banking and Finance and your passion for the subject led you to found the Sawa Credit Union and became its founder and President.

To you the whole business world revolves around Banking and Finance. Students and Corporators will miss your master’s touch.

You will be missed by the family especially the children who will hardly get used to living without you at a time when their mother is overseas.

As for some of us your friends we will miss your in-depth analysis of social, economic and political events. Your contributions to such issues were not only pertinent but very educative and profoundly exhaustive.

When you came back to Cameroon after your studies, you evinced a burning desire to do politics and you immediately joined the political train at the next railway station. You made enormous sacrifices to attend all CPDM political rendez−vous wherever and whenever even at the expense of your health. You exited the political scene as a councilor of the Dikome Balue Council.

As a childhood friend, Ivo, I will miss you forever. Your transition has occurred at a time when I am also old and might not live long enough to see the children you have left go through their education. I will do the little I can while am still alive.

Adieu Ivo, Adieu Doc.

There are a total of 14 villages under the Dikome Balue council. Some people however think that all Balue villages are or should fall under the Dikome Balue council, which is not the case. below are the 14 villagesfound under Dikome Balue council.

1:  Difenda Balue             

 2: Mbombe Balue

 3: Dikome Balue

 4: Mofako Balue

 5: Ndonono Balue

 6: Ebobe Balue

 7: Betenge Balue

 8: Mekoma Balue

 9: Itende Balue 

10:Bonji Balue

11:Bona Balue 

12:Weme Balue

13:Bosunga Balue

14:Diboki Balue

Do you hail from any of these villages? You are one lucky person. Comment. Tell us whats special about your village or any of these villages you have visited before ; touristic site, daily activities, food, and all your favourite things about the village. Don not forget to mention which village you come from.

HRH Chief Sakwe Cyril Asuh, ruler of the people of Dikome Balue has announced that the Cultural festival (Dinunu) in Dikome Balue will be launched on May 24, 2021.

In his address to the people, he mentioned that this decision has been made in accordance to the resolutions of the February meeting that was held in Kumba “As a follow-up of part of the resolutions of the meeting that was held in Kumba in February, I had some consultative talks with the leaders of the Morimi cult during my 2 weeks stay at home (Dikome Balue),” Chief Asuh adressed his people from Dikome Balue.

HRH called for all Dikome balue sons and daughters to participate massively in the cleaning and rebuilding of various traditional and sacred parts of the village, “It was resolved that the DIBUNU for this year will be launched on Monday the 24th of May and will be celebrated all through to Tuesday the 1st of June, 2021.
Thursday 27th: Renovation of the Esone. A Special activity that requires the participation of all the men in/out of Dikome Balue,”

He is inviting Everyone to come , witness and participate in this special Dibunu after 3 long years of waiting and wailing.

He also reminds the people to, please, come along with some food items and locks to secure the houses which have been left open for some time now due to the unrest in the Southwest region.

This Cultural week festival comes just in time after a third clean up campaign was scheduled for May 20 to 25, 2021.

Rendez vous May 24, 2021.
The Chief is waiting for us. Come one come all.
From HRH Chief ASU SAKWE.

Sons and daughters of Dikome Balue town from home and abroad have come together to organise the third phase of Keep Dikome Balue clean campaign, slated for this May 20 to 25, 2021.

This phase comes after the second phase which took place from April 7 to 10, 2021 in Dikome Balue. It was 4 days of consistent community work in a bid to at least, clean the village after it had been abandoned for 3 years and counting. It comprised of clearing with both machetes and machines, and using grass killers on some of the grass found on public places like the village square and the chief’s compound.

After the community cleaning, the people appreciated the efforts and thanked their sons and daughters for their timely intervention to assist in the cleaning of the once vibrant town. 

The youth president, Mr. Eseme Dieudonne also observed “I thank every Dikome Balue descendant from every part of the world who has contributed financially, materially, morally and physically to make sure Dikome Balue becomes clean and habitable. The message I’m sending to those of you Dikome Balue denizens out there who weren’t able to reach here is that do not fight amongst yourselves. As our people say ‘rats living in the same nest do not fight with their teeth but with their tails’, so if you have issues, try to resolve them peacefully.”

The head council also voiced his heartfelt appreciation “I want to sincerely thank our brothers and sisters who came all the way here because they understand our plight. Thank you all for coming to make sure that we at the least clean our village. We have been working together for about a week. I am glad that when they came, they met people and together we have done a nice job till today. And for those who couldn’t make it here, we have felt your love and interest for our community through your contributions. We thank you all very much.”

Financial contributions have already commenced prior to the third phase, meanwhile a plan of action is also being finalized. It has been collectively decided that the water catchment in Dikome Balue will be the center of attention. The people have decided that after clearing here and there, the next thing to do is revamp the water system. This is to enable clean tap water to be available once again after three and more years since taps stopped flowing.

This phase hopes to bring more people to participate since the second phase recorded only approximately 50 persons excluding children who are not fit for community work. This was an awfully poor turnout given that a majority of the Dikome Balue population which comprises thousands of people did not show up for one reason or the other.

All roads lead to Dikome Balue this May.