President Biya Recognizes Accomplished Cameroonians

Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, has recently bestowed honours upon outstanding Cameroonians living abroad. The recipients of this distinction encompass Olivette Otele, a distinguished Professor of Colonial History at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS); Francis Ngannou, the World Champion of Mixed Martial Arts; Joël Hans Embiid, a celebrated NBA basketball player; and Dr. John N. Nkengasong.

In a decree announced on November 21, 2023, the President elevated these individuals to the prestigious rank of Commander of the Order of Valour.

President Biya conveyed, “The Grand Chancellor of National Orders is responsible for the execution of this decree, which will be duly registered and published in both French and English in the Official Journal.”

Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou, a former Ultimate Fighting heavyweight champion born in Cameroon, has gained international acclaim. One of his most notable achievements is becoming the MMA chamption and recently fighting World’s boxing Champion, Tyson Fury, in a match held on October 28, 2023.

Joel Embiid

Born in Yaoundé, Joel Embiid, who also holds French citizenship, spent much of his youth in the US. After attending high school in Florida and playing college basketball for the University of Kansas, he has dedicated his professional career to the 76ers. Despite offers from Cameroon and France, he chooses to represent the US in basketball. His reason is that Cameroon’s team has not yet qualified for international competitions.

Olivette Otele

Olivette Otele, born in 1970, is a distinguished historian and research professor at SOAS University of London. Having previously served as Professor of the History of Slavery at Bristol University, she holds notable positions such as Vice-President of the Royal Historical Society and Chair of Bristol’s Race Equality Commission. Prof. Otele is recognized as the first Black woman appointed to a professorial chair in History in the United Kingdom.

John N. Nkengasong

John N. Nkengasong, a Cameroonian-American virologist, has been serving as the Global AIDS Coordinator in the Biden administration since 2022 and Senior Bureau Official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy since 2023. With over 30 years of experience in public health, Dr. Nkengasong’s expertise has led to appointments on the boards of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative in New York and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation in Norway. His educational journey includes degrees from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon; the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium; and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Brussels, Belgium.

In honouring these exceptional individuals, President Paul Biya acknowledges and celebrates the outstanding contributions they have made in their respective fields on the global stage.