Cameroon:Christian Cardinal Tumi wins 2019 Nelson Mandela Memorial Award

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

Foretia Foundation’s COO Fri Asanga hands the Nelson Mandela Memorial award to Cardinal Tumi, represented by Father Michael Tchoumbou

His eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi has won the 2019 Nelson Mandela Memorial award, edging out Politician Edith Kah Walla and Achaleke Christian. He won the award during the Nelson Mandela International Day organized by the Denis and Lenora Foretia Foundation on July 17, 2019 at the ST Muna’s Foundation in Yaounde.

In 2009, the UN General Assembly declared the 18th of July as “Nelson Mandela International Day” in honour of Nelson Mandela’s contribution to peace and human rights. Following that declaration the UN joins the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s call for people worldwide to spend 67 minutes every July 18 to acknowledge and celebrate President Nelson Mandela’s contribution and dedication to peace and human rights.

Receiving the award on behalf of Cardinal Tumi, Father Michael Tchoumbou-personal assistant to the Cardinal thanked all those who voted for the prelate and said it is a call for all Cameroonians to join hands advocate for peace, justice and human rights in the country.

Staff of Foretia foundation, guest speakers and participants during the International Nelson Mandela Day

For the past year, Cardinal Tumi has brought together religious leaders from various denominations under the Anglophone General Conference to brainstorm on ways of putting down proposals for an inclusive dialogue to end the crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. The conference has however suffered a series of postponement but an indication from one of the officials is that things are going on behind the scene.