About Bertrand
Dr. Bertrand Fote entered St. Joseph's College, Sasse on September 11, 1986 at the tender age of 10, just one month after the fateful Lake Nyos gas disaster that claimed thousands of lives. The small, skinny child from Yaoundé was initially struck by the cold weather. He quickly adapted to boarding school life and asserted himself as a little kid with a big mind.
Some of the highlights in His time in Sasse include his role as official school journalist from Form three up to Upper Sixth. Even at that tender age, his communication skills were evident as he routinely gave live commentaries in English and French during soccer games.
On May 10th, 1991, Dr. Fote had a life changing event that has played a major role in his life up to this day. He received the then newly minted Victor Anomah Ngu award for academic excellence and was given the tile "Sir Fote" by the Principal of SJC Sasse - Pa Ferdinand Ngando. That gesture, became his earlier motivation to seek to become a physician and make a difference in the lives of many. It nurtured a passion to give back, culminating in his work to create a Scholarship Endowment Fund and provide scholarships to students in SJC Sasse.
Dr. Bertrand Fote, SOBA America Vice-President and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for Sasse Alumni Association, is our endowment fund champion. His testimony below underscores the lasting effect that Sasse Alumni scholarships can have on the lives of these young men.
Bertrand Fote receives Victor Anomah Ngu Award for Academic Excellence from Principal (Left) as his proud dad (Right) looks on (May 1991)
“Some twenty seven years ago when I was a student at Sasse College, something changed my life. I was an ‘A’ student but I really did not take school seriously, let alone think of my future. I took things for granted until the third term holiday (summer holiday) going to Form 5 (12th grade equivalent in the USA). My parents lost all their savings when their bank – Cameroon Bank- went out of business and was liquidated. There is no FDIC in Cameroon, so Cameroon Bank customers lost everything when the bank went under. For the first time, I felt a sense of responsibility. I wanted to do something to help my parents out. I knew about the Dr. Victor Anomah Ngu scholarship that had just been instituted the year before. I figured that if I worked hard and won that scholarship, which was for the Best All-Rounded Student, I would be able to help my parents out with my tuition. The prize was substantial and, even though my parents did not tell us much, I knew they’d appreciate any help and would be proud of me. I had a goal, for the first time, and I took my school work seriously for once. I won the scholarship that following year!
I felt the biggest impact of what had happened when the principal asked me to have my father come from Yaoundé, several miles away, to accept the award with me. I had never experienced such reward for hard work. More importantly, I had never received such a gift at that point in my life before. I wanted to know who Dr. Victor Anomah Ngu, a Sasse College alumnus who sponsored the scholarship, was. I read about his life and accomplishments as a physician both in Cameroon and England. I read about his accomplishments in medical research – I was intimidated.
My intimidation turned into motivation when I saw the look in my father’s eyes as we received the award on the steps of St. Joseph’s College, Sasse (See picture!). I could see a burden lifted. I saw tears in my father’s eyes – he was proud of his boy! I will never forget the words he told me: “Son, if you work hard, you too can be like Professor Victor Anomah Ngu. You can touch lives like he has just touched ours.” That was a life changing moment. I suddenly felt a purpose – I was going to be a physician like Professor Victor Anomah Ngu. One day, I was going to make a difference in young students’ lives, and touch them like he had touched us. That was my goal. That was my early motivation to pursue a career in medicine.
Today, thanks to God, I have a successful career as an emergency physician. I have been involved in my community here in the US. I have given back to my community here in the US, including giving scholarships to students in my local community college. All of these are possible largely because of the impact that receiving the Victor Anomah Ngu Award had in my life. I still feel an obligation to fulfill my dream of making a meaningful impact on the lives of young students in St. Joseph’s College, Sasse. That act of kindness through Dr. Victor Anomah Ngu scholarship which I received over 25 years ago has not touched only my life. It also touched the lives of thousands of patients that I have cared for. Why? Without that moment, who knows where I would have ended up? I want to help other young students find their dream. That is our motivation for creating this Scholarship Endowment Fund. I know the prize money may not be great for each scholarship, but I believe they can still have a blessing that goes beyond the money. Due to my life story and experience, this is an idea I have championed since 2009. It has been a long journey but one worth taking. I know what it will mean to those students. We can achieve this and help many students. Together we can make a difference. This is my story. This is my testimony.”
Our SOBA America Scholarship program will provide annual need based and merit based scholarships to over fifty students in different categories and based on specific criteria. We want to help the needy and also encourage hard work and excellence. In order to achieve this, we need to create a sustainable and viable structure that will ensure that the scholarships are available forever. Consequently, we are creating a Scholarship Endowment Fund. The endowment fund will ensure that these scholarships are always available to students. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to set up this fund. We will fund the annual scholarships with interest generated from the funds, without touching the capital. As a result of this, once the fund is fully funded, the scholarships will be self-funded.
He has been a pillar in his 1986 class, also known as the Lake Nyos class. He has been the class moderator for several years, leading efforts to bring his class together and be each other's keeper.
Dr. Fote has given a lifetime of service and dedication to SOBA America. Here is a summary of some of his contribution and service to SOBA America.
Dr. Bertrand Fote’s innovations and leadership of SOBA Carolinas
1. St. Joseph’s Feast Day BBQ: Under his leadership SOBA Carolinas has an annual St. Joseph’s Feast day BBQ where SOBANS, their families and the community bond together.
2. SOBA Carolinas Awards: Under his leadership, SOBA Carolinas is the first and only chapter that gives academic achievement awards to SOBAN kids here in the Carolinas.
3. SOBA Carolinas Day: Under Dr. Fote’s leadership, SOBA Carolinas will be the first SOBA America chapter to provide annual scholarships to Cameroonians kids in the community. They will also perform community service on that day.
4. Scholarship endowment fund: Under Dr. Fote’s stewardship, SOBA Carolinas is the only chapter to directly raise funds for the Scholarship endowment fund, donating $2,500 to the cause.
5. Valentine’s Day SOBANESE honor: Under Dr. Fote’s leadership, SOBA Carolinas became the first chapter to honor their spouses on Valentine’s Day at an intimate catered dinner and shower them with gifts. The spouses also did the same the following year, and this is now becoming a tradition.
6. Gift to SJC: Under Dr. Fote’s leadership, SOBA Carolinas has resolved to make a gift of lawnmowers to Sasse early next year.
7. Pioneer president: As the founding president of SOBA Carolinas, Dr. Fote has worked hard to bring SOBANS in the Carolinas together to form a strong chapter. It is now one of the most active chapters in SOBA America.
Dr. Bertrand Fote’s innovation and leadership of SOBA
1. Scholarship endowment fund: As main architect of the Scholarship endowment fund, inspired by his own personal story, Dr. Fote led the effort to provide scholarships to students in Sasse. Over 50 students have been blessed with scholarships.
2. SOBA America Website: As the main architect of the Itoe administration’s rebranding project, Dr. Fote led the process of designing and developing a new state of the art website for SOBA America. This has helped put SOBA America at the helm of Cameroonian alumni associations in the diaspora and made it function more efficiently.
3. SOBA America membership cards: Dr. Fote conceptualized and implemented membership cards for SOBA America. He took time to research and get the equipment and still makes the cards for SOBANS year in year out.
4. Voting devices at SOBA America convention: As part of the Itoe administration’s efforts to streamline our conventions, President Itoe commissioned VP Fote to come up with a plan. VP Fote delivered by suggesting the use of electronic voting devices, researching the best device and deal for SOBA and implementing it.
5. More professional look at SOBA America Conventions: As part of the Itoe administration’s efforts to improve our conventions, President Itoe commissioned VP Fote to come up with a plan. VP Fote delivered by suggesting the use of delegate badges, badge holders and voting devices. This has made SOBA America the envy of other alumni associations.
6. SOBA America structure: Dr. Fote led the effort to re-organize SOBA America as commissioned by President Itoe. He helped set up the current structure and worked tirelessly behind the scene with lawyers and other professionals to ensure that we have a robust structure that allows SOBA America to function lawfully in the US and Canada.
7. SOBA USA to SOBA America: As Vice President under the Fondungallah administration, Dr. Fote was instrumental, working with President Fondungallah, in bringing our brothers in Canada into the SOBA America family. Under their administration, SOBA USA was transformed/changed into SOBA America to include chapters in Canada and other North and South American countries if and when they are created.
8. SOBA 1986 Class (Lake Nyos class): On October 12, 2002, Dr. Fote created one of the first SOBA Class groups – a yahoo group for his class, to bring his class together. Other class groups later followed and a lot of classes have WhatsApp and/or Yahoo groups. He is a visionary leader.
9. SOBA 1986 class: Dr. Fote has been a strong leader of his class for over 15 years. He is the moderator for his class and continues to play a major role in keeping his class strong. He led efforts to help classmates in financial difficulty, a former teacher in financial difficulty, organize fund drives in times of sorrow and coordinates these among his classmates all over the US.
10. SOBA America: In his first tenure as Vice President of SOBA America (2001-2007), he led efforts to start a Sick Bay project and revamp the sick bay. That was later on passed on to SOBA UK to take the lead. He also personally went to Sasse to take stock of the situation on the ground.
Dr. Bertrand Fote’s personal commitment and dedication to SOBA America
1. Donations to SOBA America causes: Dr. Fote has personally donated over $10,000 to SOBA America for different causes including the scholarship endowment fund, band project and many others.
2. Gifts to Sasse: Dr. Fote and President Itoe personally donated 2 refrigerators, microwave, and other items to the staff of SJC Sasse to help them have a staff break room worthy of all the work that they do in SJC Sasse. These together with envelops totaled about 2,000,000 FCFA.
3. Advancement of SOBA causes in Sasse: Dr. Fote has taken time to travel to SJC Sasse, at his own expense, to advance SOBA America causes, such as going to Cameroon specifically for SOBA America Day. Together with President Itoe, they spent 2 days in Sasse during which they counseled students, had conversations with staff and presided over the SOBA America scholarships. He and President Itoe were committed to doing this annually, but the unfortunate current anglophone crisis has temporarily halted those plans.
4. Countless hours working for SOBA: Dr. Fote has spent countless hours working behind the scenes for SOBA America doing several tasks such as producing membership cards, convention delegate badges, working on website development, working on [policies and procedures manual, working on by-laws, working on other Itoe administration’s strategic initiatives.
5. Service recognition: Dr. Fote has won several SOBA America service awards over the years in recognition of his service to SOBA America. Because of his truly remarkable dedication and outstanding service, he was the first ever winner of the SOBA America’s highest award – the Spotlight Award. He is one of only three SOBANS to receive this award.
Dr. Bertrand Fote’s overall leadership experience and record
1. SOBA America: As longest ever serving Vice President (2001-2007 with Fondungallah administration, 2015-Present with Itoe administration), Dr. Fote has played a critical role in achieving major milestones in the growth and success of SOBA America. Some of these include (a) transformation of SOBA USA to SOBA America to include Canadian chapters under the Itoe administration, (b) rebranding or SOBA America under the Itoe administration, (c) Legal restructuring of SOBA America under the Itoe administration, (d) Professionalization of SOBA America under the Itoe administration.
2. SOBA Carolinas: As founding president of SOBA Carolinas, Dr. Fote has overseen the birth or the Carolinas chapter and in 2 short years transformed it into one of the most active, rapidly growing, and innovative chapters of SOBA America.
3. SOBA 1986 Class: As 1986 class leader and moderator, Dr. Fote has shown great leadership in keeping his class together and doing great things as a class, fostered great camaraderie etc.
4. Association of Cameroonian Physicians in the Americas (ACPA): Dr. Fote was one of the architects behind the creation of ACPA to bring Cameroonian physicians in the US together so they could have a strong voice. As a Founder’s Club member, he helped shape the organizational structure of ACPA. He is now serving as President of ACPA, overseeing the growth of ACPA. Under his leadership, ACPA is seeing growth and making a difference in the Cameroonian community in the US and patients in Cameroon through several initiatives.
5. County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) medical director: As medical director of EMS services, Dr. Fote oversees his county’s emergency response services and provides medical oversight to over 100 paramedics, first responders, firefighters who serve across several counties in North Carolina.
6. Emergency department leadership: As emergency department chair and medical director, Dr. Fote has shown leadership by successfully improving overall performance of the emergency department of his hospital. He has been a physician leader for over 10 years, having served in this role at other hospitals before being recruited to his current position.
Dr. Bertrand Fote’s community involvement and leadership:
Dr. Fote has been very involved in his community. Given his passion for education, he has donated generously to the Rowan County Community College’s scholarship program, to help young paramedic students achieve their academic goal. He has also served as a mentor to several students. Dr. Fote is a role model to many young men and women in both his Cameroonian and US communities. He is always willing to listen, learn and share his blessing with his community.
