Dons of the University of Yaounde II gathered at the Amphitheatre 700 of the University of Yaounde I yesterday, Thursday May 31, to give academic honours to the departed lecturer Prof. Louis Pascal Modo Asse who died on May 14, 2012 after a protracted illness leaving behind a widow, eight children and several grandchildren.

Presided over by the representative of the Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Dominique Mvogo, the event also saw the massive attendance of friends, relatives as well as students of the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC) where Professor Modo Asse taught for over two decades. In their tribute, the students' spokespersons recalled the departed lecturer's values of discipline, hardwork, courage and, most especially, his charisma and frank talk. "I always say what I do and I always do what I say," they repeated one of his favourite expressions. Prof. Modo Asse was also remembered for inculcating the main canons of journalism, techniques in newspaper layout and African Communication.

For the Head of the Department of Print Media in ASMAC, Prof. Paul Celestin Ndembiyembe, Prof. Modo Asse's absence is already being felt in the institution whose training programme he contributed in conceiving and implementing.

Born on January 10, 1951 in Nlong-Bon1 (Lekie Division of the Centre Region), Prof. Modo Asse received training at the International Higher School of Journalism, ESIJY from 1977 to 1980 before further studies in Paris, France. He joined the teaching corps of the University of Yaounde II in 1993 and rose to the rank of Associate Professor (Maîetre de Conférences) in 2009. Amidst his six major published research works in African Communication, featured prominently a study on the use of the word "Asso" in small business circles to describe faithful customers. "ASMAC has lost its 'Asso', a faithful among faithful," concluded Pr. Paul Celestin Ndembiyembe.

Pr. Modo Asse's mortal remains left the Amphitheatre 700 after an ovation and will be buried tomorrow in his village Ovang around Monatele in the Centre Region.