BIOGRAPHY of ESTHER ENANGA HARRY
The Early Years
Esther ENANGA HARRY was born on Wednesday July 20, 1949, in Victoria, Cameroon, to Thomas Williams NGALI HARRY and Sophie NAMONDO MATUTE, both of blessed memory.
Esther attended the Prestigious Basel Mission Girls’ School (BMGS) Victoria, from January 1954 to December 1961, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC). At that time, the Baptist had just opened an all-Girls’ Secondary School in Victoria (today’s Saker Baptist College, Limbe) which buttressed the thought of her continuing her academic sojourn there. She would have been among the first batch of students in that Institution, but she was refused admission due to the fact that she was said to be too young to be a pioneer and was not a Baptist.. It was as a result of this that, her maternal cousin, the Venerated Motomby Wolete proposed first to her parents and then secured her admission into the Prestigious Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu, Nigeria. Thus, following in the likes of Queen Mama Gladys Silo Steane Endeley, Barrister Lydia Ndolo Ekaney ( Her Big), the Late Emmanuel Mbella Keke, she attended the Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu in Nigeria.
HER LIFE IN THE PRESTIGIOUS AGGREY MEMORIAL COLLEGE AROCHUKWU, NIGERIA
She attended Aggrey from January 1962 to December 1966, where she obtained her West African School Certificate and her General Certificate of Education in flying colours, obtaining seven subjects, (despite the fact that the Nigerian Civil war of 1966 had just begun).
Yes! It was at Aggrey that she nursed, nurtured and molded the traits which later made her legacy. She was exceptionally good in English Literature, English Language and Health Sciences. She was a member of the School choir for four years and was always designated to sing solos during church services and all special events of the school. She was a member of the Hannah House dormitory throughout her five years stay there. She was extremely good at drawing and calligraphy and represented her school in numerous competitions from which she won awards for the school.
In her final year, she had the following awards:
Best Student in English Literature,
Best Student in Health Sciences,
Best Student in Drawing,
The School’s most well-behaved student for the 1966 academic year, and Aggrey’s Student with a Golden Pen (the Student with the Best Handwriting).
To honour her, she was asked to write on the school’s Board of Fame upon leaving the Institution and she could still find her handwriting on that board four years later on visiting Aggrey.
It was therefore, no doubt that Nigeria’s famous educator, Statesman, Activist and Politician Dr. Alvan AZINNA IKOKU, founder and Principal of the Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu, Nigeria wrote the following words in her testimonial so unique, gentle, principled, courageous and charismatic. She would be outstanding in anything she does anywhere she finds herself.
WORKING/ PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Due to the fierceness of the war, she hurriedly returned home that same December, and as God would have it, she immediately got an opportunity to serve her Nation as she got employment with the Public Service.
As from December 1966 to October1973, she worked at the Ministry Of Interior Buea, Territorial Administration Buea (today’s Governor’s Office).
From October 1973 to March 1985, she worked at the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture Littoral in the Provincial Service of Waters, Forests and Wildlife (EauxetForets et des Chasses), Douala.
As from March 1985 to February 1994, she worked at the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture, Bamenda in the Provincial Services of Rural Engineering and Agricultural Hydrauliques, Bamenda and Provincial Service of Rural Engineering and Community Development, Bamenda.
As from February 1994, she worked at the Provincial Service of Rural Engineering and Community Development Buea, where she retired on August 1, 2004, from the Public Service.
State was a state trained Administrative Secretary (1967), and had Diplomas in Project Management (1995), Community Development(1997) and Christian Leadership (Haggai Institute 2007).
HER SPIRITUAL LIFE
Born into a staunch Christian family, she was very involved with all things which concerned the Almighty God from a very early age. She was one of the pioneer members of the English Choir of the Presbyterian Church Buea Station, where she worshipped till she was transferred to work in Douala. While in Douala, due to the influence of her boss who was Born Again, she started attending several fellowships under the National Evangelistic Fellowship which later was named the Christian Missionary Fellowship International with Brother Zachariah Tenneng Fomum as leader, which led to her being Born Again in July 1977. She was a staunch member of the very renowned His Ambassadors’ Choir in which she sang Soprano. She performed and travelled for all evangelistic outings of the choir and she would spread the gospel of Christ wherever she went. She was the Treasurer of that fellowship for several years and performed her duties faithfully. She later joined the Full Gospel Mission Cameroon and served as treasurer in her local assemblies in Bamenda and Buea Town where she served as a Deaconess. She remained an ardent member till she passed away.
HER TALENTS
She was extra talented. She could bake all types of cakes, do cake decorations, in fact do all that flour and oil could make and did it so well.
She was a seamstress and designer par excellence, she could trace patterns from Burda’s, cut them on paper and then sew the traced patterns to dresses by using her sewing machine or her hands. She could knit so well; she knitted so many sweaters and wrappers. She was very good at embroidery. She embroidered many table cloths, back rests for chairs in her home and some which she gave out as gifts. She always took time out to embroider cloths to cover the pulpit and communion table in the church. Esther was a very stylish person all through her life, despite her health challenges.
HEALTH
She suddenly, (and we must add ‘mysteriously’) fell ill (breathing with difficulties) at the prime of her life in 1970. She travelled in and out of Cameroon to seek medical attention, but no analyses then could explain what she was actually suffering from. However, it was later diagnosed that she was suffering from asthma. She suffered from this mysterious delicate illness all through the later part of her life, but we must vehemently say that God’s outstanding Grace saw and kept her through all the hurdles which the so called ‘asthma’ put on her way.
HER GIFT FROM GOD
Despite the serious health challenge that she faced, God blessed her with a ‘Miraculous gift’, Javea (Gift) Nalova (from God) in the late 80s. It was a surprise to the medical personnel who were in charge of her then. For this we really give God the Glory.
HER TRANSITION
Though she was a patient, this past six years was not easy for her. In July 2016, her health took a downward turn despite her frequent consultations in the hospital, she passed away quietly at 7:20am, January 2, 2017 at the age of 67.
Our gratitude goes to Dr Chuanga John who was there in her last days. She is survived by her beloved daughter, Ms Nalova Ngale-Kinge, two elder sisters Ma Dora Ebenye Ewusi and Ma Susan Efosi Mokeba, numerous nieces and nephews( and their offsprings), relatives, friends, colleagues, the Christian family as a whole and the Full Gospel Mission family to mourn her passing.
To God Be the Glory!!