Memory Lane (1964): Vice President of Cameroon Get's St. John's Doctorate

For those who have always wondered where and how Dr. John Ngu Foncha, the former Premier of the Southern Cameroons, earned his doctorate...

The New York Times, June 3, 1964.

Vice President John N. Foncha of Cameroon received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws yesterday from St. John's University at a special ceremony on the campus in Jamaica, Queens [New York].

The Very Rev. Edward J. Burke, president of the university, conferred the degree. He said that Mr. Foncha was " a distinguished statesman and diplomat who has shown rare qualities of leadership and dedication in helping to guide the young West African federal republic in the international community of states."

Mr. Foncha was educated in Nigeria and served several years as headmaster of the Catholic Mission School in Bamenda before entering politics in 1954.

Comments

[Nyamsi Tobo]

Ah, so before Biya's 1991 Doctoris Honoris Causa from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, "Small John" had already received his from another American University!

Great find Dibussi!

[dango tumma]

small john thought, cameroun federation means french cameroun and southern cameroons ,but he never thought, he was beeing scammed by the french cameroun
citizens. cameroun federation latter turn out to be but french cameroun, and southern cameroons, its province, thats called annexation, and after his eyes opened he resigned, just as, today paul biya, is toying around to confuse those who have stoned heads that, his southwest province, and northwest provinces
they invented, is a region in french cameroun, as one cameroun, and no one is permitted to doubt his scam.latter he
will say, but oh no, southwest region is actually part of littoral region. and northwest region is part of western region, what would any one do to him? nothing. after all the french cameroun politics have no debate but presidents orders at will. like a lord. soo dear british southern camerooninans wake up and smell the coffee