A commissioning service for the incoming Executive Director held in Yaounde on February 26, 2016.

The government of Cameroon has paid hommage to an illustrous sons elected to head the International Institute of Linguistics, SIL International, a faith-based nonprofit organisation committed to serving language communities. Dr Michel Kenmogne, is the first African to be elected Executive Director of SIL.

An emotion-filled ceremony to commission the man described by many as an outstanding person whose profound intellectual competenece and personal qualities transformed every stucture he served. The Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, Madeleine Tchuinte on behalf of Prime Minister Philemon Yang, chaired the ceremony at the Red Cross Banguet Hall in Yaounde on February 26, 2016, during which speakers referred to the new Executive Director as a giant and a monument who could only replace another monument.

Minister Madeleine Tchuinte, the outgoing SIL Executive Director, Frederick A. Boswell, the Director General of the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy, Efi Tembon, Chair of the Board of Directors of SIL Internationl, Dr John R. Watter, and the Director General of SIL Cameroon, Bert Visser, described Michel Kenmogne as one of the most remarkable ambassadors and famous sons of Cameroon. « He rose through the ranks of CABTAL and devoted his life to serving people and the Lord Jesus. As General Director of CABTAL, he became an effective global leader, serving on the SIL International Board and helping to start the Francophone Initiative », it was revealed.

Born in 1965 in Baham in the West Region, Michel Kenmogne is now tasked with providing leadership on a global level to achieve the purpose and goals of SIL International amongst which are fostering spiritual environment for its staff, developing vision and strategy. Others are pursuing unity of purpose and representing SIL not only internally but also externally with partners. Dr Kenmogne is expected to take office as Executive Director of SIL International on May 11, 2016.

SIL International was created in 1934 and has never had any African as its Executive Director. It was in 1969 that the government of Cameroon and SIL International signed an agreement for activities of the latter to start in Cameroon. Research in linguistics, translation, literacy and training have since been carried out by the international organisation in Cameroon. The translation of the Bible into local languages has been highpoints of its activtities in Cameroon. Friday’s ceremony saw the reading of Bible verses in Muyang, Yemba, Ghomala, Basaa, Makaa, Oku and Fulfulde local languages.