The change of date is in a bid to avoid a clash with the funeral of the late Mayor of Buea, Ekema Patrick Esunge scheduled for Saturday, December 14, 2019.

Prof. Ernest Molua, Registrar of the University of Buea had on November 29, 2019 announced that the 2019 Convocation will take place on December 14, 2019 in the Herbert Nganjo Endeley Open-Air Amphitheatre as from 9:00 a.m. At the time, the funeral programme for late Mayor Ekema, who died on October 27, 2019, had not been fixed.

With the burial approved for December 14, 2019by the Presidency of the Republic, the University of Buea had to bow to superior authority. The Head of State is expected to be represented at the said funeral.

UB’s Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation, Professor Samuel Ayonghe Friday, December 6, 2019 in a notice to graduating students writes that the convocation ceremony will now take place on December 13. This is the first time the convocation ceremony of UB is taking place on a Friday, instead of its traditional Saturday.

Cameroon-info.net recalls that the mortal remains of late Mayor Ekema will be removed from the Buea Regional Hospital Mortuary late afternoon of Friday, December 13, 2019 and taken to his Molyko residence.

The casket bearing his remains will later be conveyed to the Buea Council esplanade for nightlong eulogies, testimonies, prayers and vigil.

The representative of the Head of State accompanied by the Governor of the South West Region is expected at the Buea Bongo Square 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 14 for the funeral service that will be followed by burial.

The official programme suggests that Saturday’s funeral will commence with the placing of a wreath from the presidential couple shortly before the church service. The biography will then be read and eulogies from friends, association of mayors, the CPDM party, the Buea Council, and the family will follow.

The reading of a message of condolence from the Head of State, posthumous decoration and a word from the representative of the Head of State will make way for commendation of the remains and burial.

Cameroon-info.net understands that Ekema Patrick Esunge succumbed to the cold hands of death at Polyclinique IDIMED, Rue Koloko  Bonapriso in Douala after a malaise. It is believed that the lion-hearted Mayor of Buea suffered from a heart attack Sunday morning.

Born September 26, 1976, Ekema shot to prominence when he welcomed President Paul Biya in Buea in February 2014 during the 50^th anniversary celebrations of the country’s independence and reunification.

He was elected councillor of the Buea Council during the 2007 twin elections. He would later become first deputy mayor until a feud between him and the then Mayor, kept him away from Council business.

When Mayor Mbella Moki Charles was elected into the pioneer Senate legislature in April 2013, Ekema Patrick Esunge resurfaced to claim the mayoral seat. He was then installed on Monday, May 27, 2013, at the Buea council hall, to complete Charles Mbella Moki’s term of office.

During the September 30, 2013 municipal elections, the CPDM list won in Buea and on October 16, 2013, Ekema Patrick got a fresh mandate as Mayor of Buea – a mandate that was due to expire on February 29, 2020.

His fight against separatist tendencies in Buea earned him multiple recognitions, the latest being a recognition from the traditional rulers of the South Region. In July 2019, traditional rulers of the South Chiefs Conference crowned Ekema “Nyamoto Kpwatolo” - the great warrior – for his never-seen bravery.

Ekema was married and had many children. He was a member of the Christian Men Fellowship (CMF) of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and worshipped at PC Molyko.