Born
into Royalty in Awing Palace about 1941, grandson of HRH Fon Ayafor of Awing,
Santa Division and HRH Fon Kouete Mekong of Bamesingue, Bamboutous Division,
Mofor Paul Tembong was a prince of two villages. His father, TATA Mofor Nchende
Peter Abraham. and mother, MAMA Ngwemeta Martina had seven children. Five died leaving
him and his sister. The years that followed saw him distinguish himself in
school and the military and ultimately rise to become the exemplar of a man who
cares for society, family, and God. He grew into a distinguished pillar of
society and a role model for all who knew him, or about him. Even his neighbors
“felt safer when he was in residence.”
That
journey began in 1950 when his brother Mr. Maurice Ngongeh came home and took
Paul to Bamenda through the hills of Mendankwe to Nkwen.
Education: Paul started school in January 1951 with the CBM Nkwen.
In 1960, he was admitted in B.T.T.C. Soppo for Probationary Teachers Course. In
1962 – 63, he returned to Soppo after teaching in Kumba and in Bomboko. After
teaching for some years, he joined the school of Sports and Physical Education
Yaounde (INJS) in 1970. He completed three years in Sports school from
1970-1973.
In
1980, he was admitted into the military academic (EMIA) Yaoundé. He came out as
a Sub-Lieutenant of the infantry as Reserve Officer. In 1986, he was called up
to be an active military officer but declined to focus on his family and
continued with Youth and Sports and Reserve Officer in the Army.
WORK: Paul Mofor was no stranger to hard work. As a young
man, he learned to hunt, sell, and man. He sold colanuts, mushrooms and coffee in
primary school. He would go hunting and sell beans and coffee from Awing to
Bamenda up station and returned to Awing same day, on Sundays. He worked in
Santa coffee estate, weeding 100 stems of coffee at one shilling and six pence
a day.
After
teaching and completing his training in the school
of Sports Yaounde, he was appointed as a Divisional Chief for Sports in Donga
Mantung Division in Nkambe. He worked for two years and was transferred to Fako
as Divisional Chief of Sport from 1975-1979. Paul Mofor was a starter of many
things, forming several new concepts and teams such as inter-quarter sports competitions.
He dissolved P.W.D, Press Book, and Victoria Star clubs to form the Victoria
United Opopo leaving out Power Camp which became Electsports.
All the
sports property of these clubs went to Victoria United and players from the Inter
quarter teams built up the united team. He rebuilt the Centenary stadium in
Limbe, opened literacy classes in C.D.C camp and reopened the Canoe Race
sponsored by Guinness. Build Holiday Camp at Mile 6 Beach and located a
permanent office for Youth and Sports Divisional Office.
With
Victoria / Fako as a Centre of attraction along with SO.NA.RA competitions he formed
the FATRADANCA – Fako Traditional Association before transferring to Ndian in
1979. While in Ndian, he also opened competitions for Pamol Camp.
After
his military training in EMIA, he became 2nd Lieutenant of the
Infantry. The First Army Company was opened in Mundemba and Mofor became Chef
de Section, that is, second in command of creek patrol Mundemba in 1981.
When
he left Mundemba, he went to Buea as the first Director of Youth and Animation
Center. Built the rest house there and formed Literacy classes in Buea.
Promoted consistent and competitive handball, volleyball, basketball games at
the center. In 1989, he was appointed Chief of General Administrations till
December 2001 when he went on retirement.
AWARDS: Awarded a medal, Cameroon Order of Valor and
Cameroon National Order of Merit.
FAMILY
LIFE: Mr. Mofor Paul was married to
Helen Mengentoh with eight children, many grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
He became sick with prostate inflammation from 2012. Visited many hospitals out
of the country and within the country for treatment. He finally went to the
Regional Hospital where he was admitted, where he took his final breath and
transitioned into glory on the 22nd of March 2024.
He
is mourned by many across the country and abroad.