PA Tah NJAH JOHN; FIRST PRESIDENT,SPECIAL NEEDS ENTREPRENEUR GROUP
IN MEMORIAM PA TAH NJAH JOHN
On behalf of the Special Needs Entrepreneur Group Bamenda, We are deeply saddened by the passing of Pa Tah . Pa Tah played a very important role at the Special Needs Entrepreneur Group since the year 2000, as one of our original twelve founding members gathered in my grandmother’s house in Bamenda. He served as the first president, devoted adviser and was instrumental in bringing Special Needs Entrepreneur Group to where it is today.
Pa Tah was a role model and a friend to me for many years and he will be greatly missed by the entire Special Needs Entrepreneur Group family. When my grandmother passed on in the year 2002, together with the Special Needs Group family were always present with food and drinks in my grandmother’s home during the days leading to her funeral in Balikumbat village. His life with our Special Needs Entrepreneur Group family is an amazing story and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this time of mourning.
Pa Tah dedicated himself as an inspiration to people with disabilities, advocate and activist for the rights of people with disabilities and empowering them to be their own self-advocates on issues that concern them. When it became clear that people with disabilities were not able to use sports facilities in Bamenda town, under his leadership, he led the group’s activism efforts and received the governor’s authorization for the group to have exclusive use of the sport stadium for three (3) hours on Sunday mornings. Inspired by the International Independent Living Movement , of self -determination and people with disabilities having the right and the opportunity just as people without disabilities, fought continually to create awareness and empower people with disabilities to work as a strong group.
He oversaw the launching of Special Needs Entrepreneur Group branches in various North West Region divisions and sub-divisions, travelled tirelessly to meet with and recruit new members , supporters and helped raised the group’s global profile and its critical mission to strengthen people with disabilities human rights activism and advocacy.
Pa Tah was the epitome of humility and simplicity, was happy among people with disabilities and takes pride in all that is progress in the right direction.
He will live forever in the memories of us all. We thank him for years of steadfast support.
Special Needs Entrepreneur Group is a Bamenda based umbrella human rights activism and advocacy association for and by people with disabilities, inspired the International Independent Living Movement , of self -determination and people with disabilities having the right and the opportunity just as people without disabilities. We work to create self-determination and empowerment through social enterprise development , thus the name Special Needs Entrepreneur Group.
MARGARET GALABE
( FONDLY KNOWN AS MOM.)