BHS Limbe Rises to Prominence with Prize Awards, Magazine Launch, and Alumni Council Inauguration
By Engah Peter Parkers
Principal Elive Elisabeth Liengu Lyonga unveils “The Benchmark” as school declares its transformation on May 22, 2026
Government Bilingual High School Limbe marked a turning point in its history on Friday, May 22, 2026, hosting a four-fold ceremony that combined academic recognition, the launch of its maiden magazine The Benchmark, the premiere of its official anthem, and the commissioning of the pioneer global governing council of its ex-students’ union.
Held hours after the 54th National Day celebrations, the event in the college hall drew top administrative, traditional, educational leaders, Parents and Students. The Senior Divisional Officer for Fako presided, joined by the Divisional Officer for Limbe 1, the City Mayor of Limbe(Repre), the Mayor of Limbe 1 Council, the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education for Fako, principals, former principals of GBHS Limbe, staff, students, laureates, parents, and alumni.
Principal Mrs. Elive Elisabeth Liengu Lyonga told the gathering that the day signaled GBHS Limbe’s movement “from obscurity to prominence” and its establishment as a center of educational excellence in the South West Region and the nation.
Gratitude and Recognition of Legacy
Opening her address, Principal Elive Elisabeth Liengu Lyonga thanked guests for honoring the event despite demanding schedules. She paid special tribute to the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako and the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education for their consistent support of the division’s education sector.
She also honored the school’s former principals, calling them “administrative legends” whose foundations made today’s progress possible. “We are standing here today because you stood here yesterday,” she said.
Correcting the Narrative with The Benchmark
At the heart of the ceremony was the unveiling of The Benchmark, a 40-page magazine designed to document and reshape public perception of the school.
The Principal explained that for years GBHS Limbe struggled with a negative image. Many parents believed it was a French-oriented school and were unaware of its strong anglophone section. As a result, the school often admitted students only after they had been rejected elsewhere.
“To resuscitate and build public confidence, we decided to put the narrative of the school in print for public consumption,” she said. The magazine, she added, serves as a witness to the school’s story even when its leaders are absent.
Editor-in-Chief Ajang Alfred Akwoge said the editorial theme, “The rejected stone has become the cornerstone,” captures the school’s renaissance. The publication highlights consistent good results in both anglophone and francophone certificate examinations, infrastructural renewal, and renewed discipline.
Readers will find details on the newly constructed pedagogic block, refurbished classrooms, alleyways, toilet blocks, and a sports complex. “The magazine becomes a roadmap, a kind of academic and pedagogic map for new students and the public,” Akwoge explained.
The title The Benchmark was chosen deliberately. “A benchmark is a reference point where every other thing is measured,” Ajang Alfred Akwoge said. “GBHS Limbe is now a benchmark for results, administration, discipline, and more.”
Uniting Alumni for Collective Impact
A major highlight was the inauguration of the pioneer global governing council of the GBHS Limbe ex-students’ union. Lyonga urged alumni across all batches to unite, setting aside class sentiments to work together for the school’s advancement.
“I pray you to be inspired by Mother Teresa’s words: ‘I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things,’” she said.
She thanked alumni for years of support, comparing them to “the lone thankful leprosy-healed Jew” who returned to give thanks. “Your largesse will never be forgotten. You have acted like that thankful leper by reaching out to the school that nurtured and matured you.”
A New Anthem and Honoring Staff
For years, Elive Elisabeth said, the absence of a school anthem troubled her. That changed when Mr. Ngotty Leopold Nsame, an ex-student and talented musicologist from the pioneer batch, accepted the task of composing one. The anthem, she said, embodies the school’s core values and will be sung soon.
The principal also praised her teaching and administrative staff as “men and women of ardour and unbridled passion, with wealth of experience and rare expertise.” She credited them for GBHS Limbe’s reputation for both quantity and quality results, including outstanding candidates with 25 points in GCE A Level, 33 points in Ordinary Level, and the best candidate in the BACC examinations in the South West Region in 2026.
She extended gratitude to the School Management Board and the Parent-Teacher Association, noting that their vision and dedication had driven the school’s progress.
Charging the Laureates
Addressing prize-winning students, Principal said their performance reflected the school’s core values. “You are now the standard, so do not fall. Instead, pull others up because you are the hope of every parent here,” she urged.
She reminded them that while applause fades, the title “Prize Winner GBHS Limbe 2026” remains on their CV for life. “Keep soaring with wings like an eagle, to ride any storm and reach the blue skies of victory!”
A Defining Moment for GBHS Limbe
In closing, Principal Lyonga framed the ceremony as a public marker of transformation. “This four-fold ceremony marks the rise of GBHS Limbe from obscurity to prominence symbolized in examination results, pedagogy, discipline, and infrastructural rebirth,” she said. “The name of the school is not just on the gate; it is in the classroom, on the results sheets, and on the lips of the public.”
She concluded with a prayer for safe return and thanked all guests for being part of the milestone.
What The Benchmark Represents
The magazine serves three purposes. For prospective students and parents, it provides a clear picture of the school’s academic, infrastructural, and disciplinary strengths. For alumni, it preserves institutional memory and strengthens ties to the alma mater. For the public, it corrects misinformation and positions GBHS Limbe as a model for bilingual education in Cameroon.
Key sections include academic performance reports, profiles of outstanding students and teachers, infrastructure updates, alumni contributions, and features on extracurricular activities. The publication underscores the school’s commitment to fostering both English and French proficiency in line with Cameroon’s bilingual education policy.
A School Reborn
GBHS Limbe’s transformation reflects broader changes in Cameroon’s educational landscape, where bilingual schools are gaining recognition for their role in national unity and academic excellence.
With improved infrastructure, stronger community involvement, and deliberate leadership, the school is no longer sidelined. The unveiling of The Benchmark, the launch of the anthem, and the formalization of the alumni council show that GBHS Limbe intends to sustain its momentum.
As the ceremony closed with the first performance of the school anthem and the distribution of the magazine, the message was clear: GBHS Limbe is no longer asking for a place at the table. It has earned it.
About GBHS Limbe
Government Bilingual High School Limbe is a public secondary institution offering both anglophone and francophone sections under Cameroon’s bilingual education system. The school has gained recognition for improved results in the GCE O and A Levels, the Baccalauréat, and for investments in infrastructure and student welfare.
