Ngobesing Suh Romanus: Veteran Journalist, SHESA PG
The General Assembly of Sacred Heart College, Mankon, Ex-students association, better known by its acronym SHESA has been scheduled for Douala from February 6 to Sunday February 8, 2026. Our reporter reached out to the President-General of this August organization, the veteran Journalist, Ngobesing Suh Romanus, to get more information about the event. This is how their conversation went:
I am delighted to be your guest. The Herald Tribune has been breaking grounds in journalistic reporting and it is a joy for me to be here. Our AGM is coming up in our economic hub, Douala, from Friday, 6 to Sunday, 8 February, 2026. This is the AGM that was supposed to take place in November last year, but because of the unfavorable environment at the time, we were compelled to postpone it. Now, it is coming up in February from Friday, 6 to Sunday, 8 February, 2026. The environment is now more conducive and we are happy to hold it
What shall you be doing for three days in Douala?
Our program is full. Let me break it down. On Friday, February 6, we shall have sporting activities in the afternoon, mostly football and tennis. In the evening, we shall have Batch meetings. Each batch from the oldest to the youngest shall assemble in their favorite spot to reconnect, have fun together, and strengthen their bonds as classmates. Imagine a scenario where more than 50 batches are meeting one night in 50 different places in one town. Imagine how they can energize the town!
On Saturday, 7 we will start the day with Holy Mass. You know, for sure, that Sacred Heart College Mankon is a Catholic institution. The spirit of prayer was instilled in us while we were there and Holy Mass is the highest prayer in the Catholic Church. So we always start our AGMS with Holy Mass.
After Holy Mass, we shall have photographs, followed by a march past which shall be done batch by batch. After that we shall take breakfast and then converge in the hall. SHESA, being a universe of great minds, we have experts in almost all fields you can think of.
Some of us are medical experts and some of those available in the country will give us health talks to help us stay healthy. We usually say health is wealth.
After the talks, our wives will leave us for their traditional AGM excursion while we continue.
Do you mean that your wives attend your AGMS?
Surely! Our AGMs offers us an opportunity to let our wives come with us and have some good fun. While we are racking our brains to discuss and set the programme for another one year, we let them go out and relax and enjoy themselves. This will happen after the health talks. When they are gone, we shall hold our deliberations, review the past and plan for the future. Being an elective General Assembly, we shall elect a new President General (PG) and vice to lead the organisation for the next two years. We have five candidates vying for the post of PG and five for the post of VPG. That is five lists with a PG candidate and Vice. The person who becomes PG will announce the rest of the bureau members. This list should have been prepared before hand. They will become the new Executive Bureau.
In the evening, we shall have a cultural evening/gala night which will permit us to wine, dine and have fun together, no batch distinction, no status distinction, no geographical distinction. Everybody together to live our oneness.
On Sunday, February 8, we shall have a Thanksgiving Mass in the morning. After that if there is breakfast, we shall have it and then disperse, ending the 2026 AGM weekend in what I fondly call the New York of Cameroon or the Shanghai of Central Africa.
How are the preparations going?
Preparations are going pretty well. We are aware that preparation is the key to success for any endeavor. We are paying careful attention to make sure it is a seamless AGM.
We usually talk of cutting the T’s and doting the i’s. Of course, nothing is perfect, but we SHESANS always do our best.
What is the vision for this AGM?
The vision is an unforgettable experience. We envision a gathering that ignites minds, stirs hearts, and lights fires of possibility, where SHESANS from all corners come together, united in mind, heart, and action. It shall be a moment to reconnect, recharge, and rediscover our collective strength. We envision an AGM that prioritizes joy, and positivity – a people-centric event where every SHESAN leaves with unforgettable memories and a renewed sense of purpose and pride in our association.
If I understand you well, you are saying that the AGM this year will be very special.
Exactly! It will not just be another AGM. Douala 2026 will be the AGM of the decade. An AGM that will not only energize SHESANS, but also other alumni associations and in fact, it should energize the entire country.
What will make it so special?
Douala, our host, is our economic hub, our Douala branch is one of the strongest branches in the country. It has iconic SHESANS and we expect much from them. To whom much is given, much is expected. Actually, they have indicated their readiness to demonstrate their prowess. SHESANS will converge from far and near to make unforgettable memories. We’ll showcase SHESA’s best. Mind you that it is actually the spirit that determines everything. We are upbeat and ready to make it stand out. We are encouraging the batches to come strong. If the batches energize themselves on Friday night, then Saturday cannot fail to leverage that momentum.
What words of appreciation and encouragement do you have for the Douala branch?
I want to tell them the rest of the SHESA community holds them in high esteem. We are proud of them and look forward to enjoying not only their generosity but also their organisational expertise. I wish to thank them in advance for their dedication. I thank the branch President, the branch exco and every member of the Douala branch. I want to thank the big guns who are in that branch and who have decided to throw their weight behind SHESA, going beyond duty. I applaud and thank them. By their support, they are helping in transforming our vision of excellence into a living reality.
From every indication SHESA is a powerful alumni association. Is it because you have many SHESANS in high places? Or what makes it so powerful?
That is one reason. But there are others. Unity is our power – unity of mind, heart, and action. We know our purpose and are pursuing it. We lift one another. We try as much as we can to model the values of our alma mater, which we expect of every citizen. Among us, we stress that the success of one SHESAN is the success of every SHESAN. The blessings of every SHESAN are the blessings of all SHESANS. This spirit makes us one and people who are one are strong. Also, SHESANS have the giving spirit. Those who are blessed share their blessings freely with those who are less blessed. We spent the last four years building the intangible foundation that is the bedrock of every strong organisation but which many of our alumni associations are not aware of. Without that solid foundation no alumni association can go far. It’s a non-negotiable.
What message do you have for SHESANS at this moment?
I wish to tell them to be ready in mind and heart for the Economic Capital come February 6 to 8, 2026. Let us have many smiles in our luggage and get ready to walk the SAHECO way again in Douala. I want to tell them to come to the Commercial Heartbeat armed with positivity and prioritize joy and make this AGM a moment of connection, not stress. Let’s make it people-centric! Let’s come and electrify Douala with the SHESA glamour. Let the story of our passage through Douala be told for many years to come.
As a leader, how do you spread excitement in your community?
I have learned that leaders who want to inject excitement into their people, just need to be excited themselves. When I’m excited, that ripple spreads! I know that my people’s happiness must take center stage. Hence, I prioritize their joy so that we can create an experience that will last a lifetime. So I tell SHESANS, let’s maximize our time! About Douala precisely, I tell them in my messaging “Let’s come together, united, and make Douala 2025 the AGM of a lifetime.” I tell them this moment is ours and we cannot fail to maximize and optimize it. I call on them to reimagine what an AGM can be. Not just reports, minutes, debates and resolutions — but moments of laughter, of shared stories, of reconnection. A celebration of everything SHESA stands for: solidarity, joy, friendship, excellence, and purpose. We always have a 30-day count-down to every AGM during which our messaging builds up the desired momentum.
Before we end, what’s the final message you would like to address to SHESANS?
I would like to thank them for the opportunity they’ve given me to serve them for four years. I wish them to know that we can change the narrative in Douala in February 2026. As it’s my last AGM as PG, I am requesting that they give me the gift of a memorable AGM. We are innovators, trailblazers, not a status quo community.
Let the AGM be more than a meeting — let it feel like a time for renewal, and rejoicing; a time to laugh, and grow — together.
Let every SHESAN come to Douala with a smile on his face; a spirit ready to connect; an open heart; a readiness to celebrate
Many of us have been apart for too long.
For some of us, it’s a year since we last shared a laugh or a meal on the same table. For others, it’s a rare chance to reconnect with friends, mentors, and classmates who once felt like family.
In the Economic powerhouse, let’s revive old friendships, spark new ones, and create memories that will outlive the weekend. Leave your worries at home — bring only clothes, smiles and laughter; no stress. Bring your spouse — rediscover love and enjoy a well-deserved escape from routine – come and spend quality time with her. She will thank you!
Let this AGM remind us of who we are — and what we stand for. Let it be a celebration of community, connection, and shared vision.
Let’s keep the energy high, the conversations respectful, and the vibes unshakably positive. Let’s raise the SHESA flag high. Let’s make this AGM unforgettable.
Thank you very much for being our guest.
I am the one to thank you. I would like you to convey my warmest regards to your PDG, Mr. Richard Nde Lajong. I congratulate him and all of you on the marvelous job you are doing at The Herald Tribune and encourage you to keep going. Great things lie ahead.
