By Walter Wilson Nana
The death has been reported of a Cameroonian scholar in the USA. Dr. Elias Ngedle Konwufine, Dean of the Business School in the University of Keiser, Florida, died recently after a towing truck ran over him.
According to reports, Konwufine, returned from work and packed his car on the lawn of his compound, at about 6:25 pm on Wednesday, January 16 2013 when a driver of a Towing company called Capitol Towing that has been contracted by his neighbourhood to tow away illegally parked cars, approached his car and started dragging it away. Alerted by his neigbours, Konwufine approached the driver of the towing truck and tried to negotiate for the release of his car. Instead, the driver, suddenly pulled away with him hanging on the door of the tow truck.
Late Dr Elias Ngedle Konwufine
An eye witness, Cheazan Banton, recounted to Local 10.com; “Dr Ngedle held on to the driver’s side door of the tow truck to defend himself because he would have been hit otherwise. He held on about two to three houses down and then the car that was being towed ran over his body. This is a gruesome accident and Konwufine does not deserve to die this way.”
Konwufine was transported to a nearby hospital as a precaution and will die two hours later from his injuries.
Konwufine, fondly referred to as Dr. K was born August 25, 1974 to Pa John Konwufine and Mama Julia Bih in Awing. After attending primary school at Presbyterian School Awing, he moved on to Presbyterian Secondary School, Mankon, where he graduated from one of the most prolific batch of that school in 1991. This was followed by Cameroon Protestant College, CPC, Bali where he did his high school education and graduated in 1993.
He will jet off to Rabat, Morocco, where he gained admission in to the International Institute of Higher Education. He read and got a bachelor’s degree in Finance. In 2000, he moved to the US, where he successively earned three higher degrees; an MBA in international business from Johnson and Wales University (Providence, RI) still in 2000. Doctor of Business Administration in Finance from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2004 and Doctor of Business Administration in Accounting from Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2009.
Since 1996, Dr. K has held high-level administrative and academic positions in about nine institutions in Cameroon and the USA. These include; Vice President, Academic Affairs, American InterContinental University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Dean of Business, Graduate School, Keiser University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Program Director, Business Administration Programs, Keiser University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. President, Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society, Keiser University. Finance & Business Faculty, Keiser University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and several faculty positions in accounting and finance at the following universities: Strayer University Online, University of Phoenix – Axia College, SOUTH University Online Savannah, GA, Touro University International Online (Cypress, California), Florida Metropolitan University (Pompano, FL), and University of Douala, Cameroon.
In the sidelines of Konwufine’s profound involvement in academia, he has also been the patriarch, hence the title “Pa” of the Konwufine clan since 1998 and his contribution as a major community leader, especially in the Awing Community at home and in the Diaspora.
Emmanuel Ambe Timah, friend to the deceased noted; “Dr. K will be remembered for his generosity, student advocacy/mentorship abilities, and capacity to reach out to all of humankind.”
According to Dr. Arthur Keiser, the Chancellor of the Keiser University; “Keiser University is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Elias Konwufine, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and treasured member of our Keiser University team. Dr.Konwufine touched and positively shaped the lives of his students, alumni and colleagues in special ways, every day, and collectively our hearts remain heavy as we cope with this tremendous loss. On behalf of my family and the entire Keiser University community our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this most difficult time.”
Dr. Elias Ngedle Konwufine is survived by his wife of 12 years, Francisca Konwufine, their three children, several brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, colleagues and the world of academia.
As at press time, family members were yet to make public the funeral and burial programmes in Cameroon.
