01/02/2026
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NSA
It is often said some people were born great, some achieved greatness while some had greatness entrust in them. This statement holds true to the Noni Students Association which was born great, and has been able to produce and enthrust greatness into the lives of the Noni people. The founding fathers and the pioneer president of this prestigious association did not for any reason make a mistake for the birth of this great child. It is therefore evident that only a great man could give birth to such a great child such as NSA.
As a form four student in Sasse College, in 1957/1959 academic year, KONGLIMNYUY Joseph KWI was made a library attendant., thanks to his brilliant results. As a serious and curious student, he spent his time reading books, while serving as the then library attendant. In the course of reading, he came across a document titled Roman Catholic Student movement in Rome and quickly thought of creating a Roman Catholic Student movement in Nkor. He, mindful of the fact that the Roman Catholic Student movement in Nkor will only be limited to Catholic Christians, quickly diverted the idea to Noni Student Union, which later became Noni Students Association, which was also going to involve all denominations, even pagans. This association was aimed at promoting education in Noni through literacy campaigns.
Without hesitation, he shared his idea with some Noni students who were schooling at BTTC Kumbo like Mr TAH Christopher, late Pa TANKOH Joseph, late NJAKOI Gabriel YISI and Bernadette TATA. His ideas were duly welcomed. Hon. KWI as he is popularly called carried the same information to Kumba where he met a group of Djottin students ; Scholastica BIYEH NKONG, WAMEY Theresia, Titus TANJONG BAN and Barnabas DINCHAW.
Everthing being equal, his idea was also accepted in Kumba. Hon KWI rode his bicycle and went back to Sasse where he prepared circulars which he eventually distributed to all the Noni studdents all over the national territory. In that light, the first meeting was planned for the December break, 1960 to be held in Djottin where a majority of the students came from.
All the necessary arrangements were made for the Noni student folk, parents and traditional authorities from Din and Djottin to rally at the launching of the convention in Djottin, which did not however witness the presence of all the traditional authorities, but the general turn out was quite impressive. The meeting was chaired by the founder and pioneer president, KONLIMNYUY Joseph KWI, addressed by the then most educated Noni man and adviser to the group, Mr WAMEY Michael, under the auspices of the two fons of Djottin and one from Din. Activities such as sports, literacy campaigns, traditional manifestations were the order of the day. It is also said that one of the then fon of Din played the bass guitar for choral music that was led by the Djottin choir. Everything went successfully as planned and the next meeting was scheduled for the December break of 1960 in Nkor.
Being the great child that she is, NSA gave birth to the then Noni Empowerment Union (NEU), WHICH LATER BECAME THE THEN Noni Development Authority (NDA), which was later converted to the Nkor Development Authority (NDA).
As if that was not enough, NSA became the first student association to be documented in the history of Bui Division in particular and the Southern Cameroon as a whole. She also initiated and practiced the idea of clean up campaigns, which was later copied by the municipalities of the then Southern Cameroon. The good news of this great child gradually spread all over the national territory, leading to the creation of branches both home and out of the Division. Other villages emulated the idea and also created student unions and associations. The main idea which was to promote education continued till date.
It is astute that NSA is the mother of all associations in the history of Bui and the then Southern Cameroon, and has also influenced the lives of Noni sons and daughters in inparticular and Bui as a whole.
Hon. KONGLIMNYUY Joseph KWI did not give birth to a great child as NSA but equally taught and raised great people like Prof. BOLE BUTAKE, Chief INONI Ephraim (former Prime Minister of Cameroon), Herman MAIMO (former Minister of Public Works), etc. what else can we say to this great child that to vow to keep growing at all cost.
C/O: NSA
