Nake Bokoko monarch, Chief Nofuruh Ivens, wins peace, community dev’t award.

His Majesty Chief Nofuruh Ivens Disombe received the Peace and Community Development Icon Award during the historic award ceremony of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA. 

The monarch received the award during a ceremony that took place on Thursday July 25 at the Hilton Hotel in Yaounde. 

The event was attended by top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, political, religious, civil society and traditional authorities.

The recognition, CENPA award jury comprising prominent personalities indicated, is for “his royal ingenuity, shrewdness and power of dialogue in getting misled youths to return to living normal lives”.

Enter award jury

The jury that selected His Majesty Nofuruh for the award comprised Barrister Akere Muna, member of African Union High Level Panel on Illicit Flows from Africa, Co-Chairman of Common African Position on Asset Recovery, former Chairman of International Anti-Corruption Conference Council, former Vice Chairman of Transparency International, former President of Pan African Lawyers Union.

There was also Senator Nfon Mukete IV Ekoko, Paramount Ruler of the Bafaw and King of Kumba. Nfon Mukete IV is also Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Crafts of Cameroon. Esther Omam, Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon, member of Board of Directors of Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund, member of Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth and member of the International Civil Society Actions Network was also a member.

The President of CENPA, also Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post, Ngah Christian Mbipgo, was also part of the no-nonsense panel. 

Laureate dedicates award to peace crusaders

Speaking to The Guardian Post, His Majesty Nofuruh Ivens Disombe dedicated the recognition to peace crusaders in Cameroon. 

The traditional ruler is noted for his consistency in preaching peace especially in talking young people against submitting to the demands of separatists moves in the North west and South West Regions.

Chief Nofuruh has also engaged in the realization of several community projects in the interest of his subjects.

About Chief Nofuruh

The laureate, His Majesty Chief Nofuruh Ivens Disombe, is the Secretary General of the Meme Chiefs Conference, MECCO; Assistant Financial Secretary of South West Chiefs' Conference, SWECC, member of the Steering Committee of the Voyce Project, member of Voices of Youths in Cameroon for Peace for the prevention of the Radicalisation and Re-redicalisation of Youths in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.

He has been very instrumental in convincing young people to disarm and return to disarmament centres. He is also a sworn Produce Controller at the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, NCCB. 

The award-winning traditional ruler is also a facilitator in Cooperative Business School and Farmers Business School.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3185 of Wednesday July 31, 2024