Fon Fontem Njifua Visits Hackney, United Kingdom

His Royal Majesty Fon Fontem Njifua Treated To
Warm Welcome In Hackney, United Kingdom
By James Achanyi-Fontem
Cameroon Link
News reaching the Cameroon Link desk from London reveals that His Royal Majesty Fon Fontem Njifua was on January 23 treated to a very warm welcome by His Worshipful Councillor Ian Rathbone, Speaker of Hackney Borough Council in London with his Worshipful Mayor Pipe In the presence of the Honourable Nicola Babaneau of Learning Trust and His Excellency Denis Nyuydzewira, the Charge d’Affaires of the Cameroon High Commission in London. Hackney Councillor Rita Krishna and Councillor Julius Nkafu of Lebialem, Cameroon also followed the protocol ceremony.
Addressing the Mayor of Hackney and the councillors, His Majesty Fon Fontem Njifua said, It was a great pleasure that he addressed a warm reception at the heart of Winter in London. He added, that It is most befitting his first welcome gathering in the UK was in Hackney. It would be noted that Hackney’s hospitality is well known to many from Africa, including people from the Kingdom of Fontem. The Fon of Fontem has immense pride that a son of his Kingdom, Julius Nkafu, a lawyer by profession serves Hackney as a councillor.
His Majesty, Fon Fontem Njifua,recalled that in 1936, his grandfather, HRM the late Fon Fontem Asonganyi, was the only king in Cameroon presented with the Union Jack, by the British colonial agents in recognition of his collaboration and support.
This flag till-date, he echoed, remains in the Ema Azi-Lebang Palace archives and that his visit was a welcome opportunity to once again enjoy the legendary friendship of the people of the United Kingdom. He used the opportunity to also explore and foster the existing long relationships through various connections. They shared views on how to strengthen progress and the relationship between Cameroon and the UK, starting with Hackney and Fontem territories. The Fine Forest Foundation, which His Royal Majesty patronizes, in 2008 won Commonwealth professional sponsorship awards towards NGO management training, and the first cohort of three trainee-managers completed a three months placement in London, UK last december.
This reception in Hackney, to Fon Fontem Njifua, was largely an opportunity to put names to faces, as, he invited his personal ambassador, Mbi. Dr Asa’ah Nkohkwo, and the blessing of the Cameroon High Commission, to move discussions off-line with the relevant stakeholders that the Speaker of Hackney assigned. Within the new frame work, they will address avenues of collaborative exchanges between Hackney and Fontem, between the people of Cameroon and the United Kngdom, in the fields of CULTURE, EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH, ECONOMIC and COMMERCIAL INVESTMENTS.
The Speaker of Hackney Borough and His Majesty will appraise developments in the future, when they next meet, preferably in return invitation not too long at the Palace of Ema Azi-Lebang in Fontem.
After the reception by the Hackney Borough authorities, His Majesty Fon Fontem Njifua, accorded traditional audiences to the sons and daughters of Lebang resident in the United Kingdom.
During the audiences, he advised the sons and daughters of Lebang in particular and Lebialem as a whole to remain united and peace loving, while respecting the laws and regulations of their host country.
He also invited them to lend a hand to development efforts back in Cameroon while continuing to contribute to the economic development of their host country, The United Kingdom through their jobs.
In a thank you mail to all those who contributed to the ceremony preparations, the Fon's Ambassador to the UK. Mbi Asaah was particularly grateful to all hus lieutenants at LECUDO & LECA, all his colleagues at the Lefem, Ekpe, Ahon, Manjong and similar traditional institutions within the UK.
He acknowledged with gratitude the strong presence from the Ekpe, the Nwarong, the LECUDO & LECA and the press given the short notice, the day of the week and very cold time of the year. He concluded by saying, it was most wonderful to note the potential leverage that Councillor Nkafu's presence at Hackney Council affords Cameroon in general and Lebialem in particular, and even most reasuring to record the approval of his fellow councillors as summarised by the reference made to him during the address of the Speaker of Hackney His Worshipful Councillor Rathbone and the Mayor His Worshipful Councillor Pipe. The occasion will remain memorable as other issues unfold.