Célestine OWONA now wears her retirement badge after 31 years of service at the Centre Pasteur du Cameroun

Laughter, singing, reminiscing, testimonials, celebrating a fully successful professional career and presenting gifts. There was a little bit of everything at this colourful ceremony, organised to mark Célestine OWONA’s 60th birthday and her retirement on 1 April 2025.

A large number of CPC staff paid tribute to the newly retired director for her 31 years of service to the Reference and Public Health Laboratory, including 06 years as Assistant Director in charge of Administrative and Financial Affairs and 15 years as Director of Administration and Finance.

Célestine OWONA, a senior executive with a proven track record, was described by various witnesses from here and elsewhere (former colleagues and former Directors General) as a living memory of the CPC, a trainer by virtue of her professional rectitude, and a manager concerned with improving the working environment and conditions of staff. A teacher and enthusiast for a job well done, the outgoing CFO has in turn been awarded the médaille d’honneur du travail in silver (2008), vermeil (2010) and gold (2022). In the same vein, she received a letter of congratulations from Professor BEAUDON, who said that she had ‘made a significant contribution to turning around the company’s dismal situation between 2000 and 2003’.

Resilient, charismatic and combative, the new retiree is a superlative. This former international basketball player is the embodiment of lifelong learning. She arrived at the CPC with a Baccalauréat in Quantitative Management Techniques (G2) and enrolled in the 2nd year of a postgraduate accounting course, before obtaining a Master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Sciences and Techniques in 2003. Having turned the page on her pastoral adventure, the lucky woman now wishes to devote more of her time to her family and her passions (travelling and decorating).