Handel Njodzeka

George Frederic Handel Vendzeka Njodzeka was born on the October 28th, 1985. He was the 2nd of four children: Emmanuel, Amabel and Derick, born to Daniel and Isabela Njodzeka. Inspired by his father’s deep love for classical music, he was named after the renowned German composer George Frideric Handel, who left an indelible mark in the world of music with timeless compositions like “Messiah” and Water Music”. 

Handel grew up with his siblings in Essos, Yaounde where he attended nursery and primary education in Government Bilingual Primary School, Essos. He was very popular amongst his friends, he was a jokester; always making people laugh and often referred to as “le blanc” or white man. Mum was very meticulous with his diet and skincare so that his skin was clear and smooth rivalling any skincare routine we currently have going. 

He obtained his First School Leaving Certificate and went on to St Augustine’s college, Kumbo, Nso where he obtained GCE Ordinary Level certificate. He was in St Charles House which suit his personality of kind, funny, industrious and, charming. Handel didn’t reallyparticipate in any sports, but he was an avid supporter of his house in team sports and was a proud member of St Charles House. Between 2004 and 2009, Handel obtained a national diploma in Management from the National Cooperative College, Bamenda and GCE Advance Level certificate from Government Bilingual High School, Mbengui. In addition, he obtained a Higher national diploma in management and bachelor’s degree in marketing from the SIANTU Higher Institute, Yaounde as well as master’s degree in marketingfrom the University of Buea. 

These vast educational achievements and life experiences, supported by his industrious character instilled in him by his beloved mother, ignited his unwavering passion for management and marketing.

Throughout his career, he occupied various branch and sales management roles with the highpoint of his professional journey being the transformative years spent in VIETTEL Cameroon S.A (NEXXTEL) from 2014 to 2022 with the most recent role with the Networks and Business department at their head office in Douala, Cameroon. His dedication and commitment were legendary, leaving a permanent mark on all who had the privilege of working alongside him. 

After the loss of his sister Amabel, in 2021, Handel and his brother Derick relocated from Cameroon to the United States of America in 2022 to be closer to their mother and the strong community of friends and family who supported them in their tragic and unexpected loss. Handel lived with his mother in Cincinnati, Ohio and seamlessly integrated in the strong and large Cameroon community there and was often seen entertaining and joking at their gatherings and celebrations. He was a great cook as well; he was known to make a mean pot of eru? Ndole? Peppersoup? (can’t remember). Within months of moving to the U.S, Handel landed a job with Exceptional Caring Home where he worked till his untimely death in October 2023. It wasn’t just his professional achievements that defined him. It was the kindness he radiated, the warmth of his smile and the compassion he extended to everyone he met. If you have ever encountered Handel, you would know Handel had a unique talent for humour and had a special way of making us laugh. His jokes often popped up unexpectantly in conversations and they would often catch you off guard evoking uncontrollable laughter. He also had a charming wit about him, slightly over-sweet tongue that will charm you to doing what he needed – it was contagious! Handel, like all of us, was not without flaws. His industrious character sometimes led him down paths that resulted in poor judgement and challenging situations. Yet, what truly defined him was his unwavering determination to make amends. Handel learned from his experiences and used them as steppingstones to navigate the journey of life, setting an example of resilience and growth we can all admire. 

On the morning of September 12th 2023, Handel endured a life-altering car accident during a client’s shopping trip which led them to be airlifted to University of Cincinnati Hospital. Over the span of a month, he bravely faced multiple surgeries and extensive treatments, demonstrating remarkable resilience. Then on Wednesday, 11th of October 2023, another cardiac arrest claimed his life which he fought so hard to hold on to. Handel leaves behind 3 children; Sephora, David and Handel Jr. Monyuy, his mother, Isabella Njodzeka, his siblings Emmanuel and Derick, a nephew and nieces and a whole host of other family, friends and colleagues. In our hearts, he remains a cherished and fond memory. 

As we bid farewell to Handel, we are encouraged to carry forward his legacy of laughter and fun, self- improvement, and steadfast dedication to becoming the best versions of ourselves.

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