by Pegue Manga
The new Bishop of Kumbo Diocese, Monsignor George Nkuo, has said he will work with people who have been deprived of their rights.Pope Benedict XIV, Saturday, July 8, appointed Father Nkuo Bishop of Kumbo. He replaces Bishop Cornelius Esua Fontem, who is now Archbishop of Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province.
Speaking to The Post in his residence in Buea, Bishop Nkuo said, “One of the things the church does is to be closer to the poor and suffering people who are deprived of their rights both in spirit and the gospel.
His Lordship George Nkuo:New Bishop of Kumbo
So I will make sure I get closer to the people not to instigate them into radicalism but bring peace in a non-violent way,” Bishop Nkuo declared.The new Bishop, who has been a priest for 25 years, said he joined the priesthood in order to bring peace amongst humankind.
“I had the urge to serve and bring peace to the world, the urge to resolve conflict amongst people and trying to make people happy by bringing them closer to God.”
It is with this thought that Bishop Nkuo will be going to his new station, where the people are conscious of their rights and exude radicalism if need be.
“I have a rough idea of my new station because we belong to the same ecclesiastic province and have a common pastoral spirit. I will get closer to the people and preach peace,” he stressed.
He said there would be new things out there in Kumbo but “the spirit is the same and I am sure that we are going to work. We would be up to the task,” he declared.
Whiffs of Nostalgia
Bishop Nkuo worked as Catholic Education Secretary for the Buea Diocese for 12 years; this explains why he finds it difficult leaving Buea. “I am still trying to get over it. I have not even come to terms with the fact that I am leaving Buea, but, by virtue of my appointment, I am no longer a priest in Buea Diocese.”
On what difficulties he faced in the Buea Diocese, Bishop Nkuo explained: “I had difficulties of being able to penetrate certain areas and certain people. I worked a lot with schools where we had a lot of problems taking care of teachers, paying their salaries.”
One of my low moments, the new Bishop said, was, for example, when I had teachers who were sick, hungry and dying and I had no means to support them and everything seemed to be crumbling.
“But because I had faith in God I was able to sail through. God will never abandon us at any point in our lives. We worked very hard and closely together. There was a great understanding with the teachers,” he said.
Despite these difficulties, Bishop Nkuo said he was able to leave a legacy. “New schools were created and they are bustling with life. Our colleges are in good state and I want to thank God for that.”
What does he think of his predecessor, Bishop Esua? Nkuo answered: “Bishop Esua is an excellent, dynamic and hardworking man. I really do not know whether there is anything I am going to do new because he has done a lot. I will follow in his footsteps and do my best to carry on.”
Bishop Nkou celebrates with Christians in his Buea residence
How They See Him
Father Aloysius Nkwain Boh is curator of the Buea Town Parish, who worked with Bishop Nkuo for two years. He says he is the right man for the job.”I regret he is leaving but I am very happy he is going to take care of the flock of God up in Kumbo. I think he is the right choice,” he said.
Father Aloysius said the new Bishop loves priesthood and is readily available. “I regret his going. He is a very good priest and I loved the time we spent together.”Reverend Sister Euphrasia Yuh, from Small Soppo Parish, Buea, said she would miss Bishop Nkuo as education secretary.
“He gave me a lot of encouragement during my seminars with teachers of religious studies. He is generous, hardworking, spiritually-minded and very concerned about others,” she said.
Bio-data
Bishop George Nkuo was born on January 28, 1953 in Njinikom, Boyo Division, Northwest Province to the family Ferdinand Nkuo (late) Catherine Faum (late). He is the third child in a family of five children. The young Nkuo attended St. Anthony’s Primary School Njinikom between 1960-1966, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.
Between 1967-74 he attended Bishop Rogan College, Soppo (Junior Seminary), where he had his GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels.The young Nkuo then moved to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui between 1974-1981 where he bagged a BA in Philosophy. He was ordained priest on April 26, 1981.
Between 1989-1991 Bishop Nkuo was in the National University of Ireland and St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he obtained a Higher Diploma in Education and a Masters in Education.
The then Father Nkuo was appointed to the Catholic Mission Mamfe as Curate Manager of Schools between 1981-1983. Between 1983-1985 he was Manager of Schools in Catholic Mission Kumba Town. He was Principal of St. Francis College Fiango, Kumba from 1991 to 1994. He was finally transferred to Buea in 1994 where he served as Catholic Education Secretary until his appointment as Bishop.Nkuo likes reading and listening to Gospel music.
Monday, 10 July 2006 at 05:36 PM
http://www.postnewsline.com/2006/07/i_will_work_wit.html