New year wishes of Mrs Grace Dion Ngute.
On 9 January 2026, the First Lady of Cameroon, Mrs Chantal Biya, received warm New Year wishes from spouses of diplomats accredited to Yaoundé, national dignitaries and women from all walks of life, in a ceremony marked by cordiality, elegance and a strong sense of national communion.
The East Wing of the State House provided a festive and refined setting for the traditional presentation of New Year wishes. Over several hours, delegations comprising members of the diplomatic community, female public figures, representatives of civil society organisations, artists and other distinguished guests took turns to extend their best wishes to the First Lady. Mrs Chantal Biya graciously welcomed each delegation, exchanging brief pleasantries and posing for photographs in an atmosphere of warmth and conviviality.
The spouses of members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Yaoundé were the first to present their wishes, led by Mrs June Josephs Langa, wife of the High Commissioner of South Africa to Cameroon. During the exchanges, the ladies conveyed their best wishes to the Presidential couple and their family, while commending the First Lady’s sustained humanitarian commitment, particularly in the promotion of the rights of the girl child, the empowerment of rural women and support for vulnerable populations. Her role as a mother figure of the nation and her dedication to social causes were widely praised by the diplomatic community, many of whom have actively participated in charitable initiatives during their stay in Cameroon.
Following the diplomatic delegation, no fewer than 28 other groups, drawn from diverse social and professional backgrounds, paid their respects to the First Lady. These included female parliamentarians, mayors, civil society leaders, entrepreneurs, spouses of national dignitaries and representatives of trade unions. Each delegation shared a moment of cordial exchange with Mrs Chantal Biya, with the opportunity to immortalise the occasion through photographs.
The delegations of spouses of Bureau members of Parliament were led respectively by Mrs Marcie Niat, spouse of the President of the Senate, and Mrs Fadimatou Cavayé, spouse of the Speaker of the National Assembly. Wives of members of Government and related officials were headed by Mrs Grace Dion Ngute, in her capacity as General Coordinator of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC). For the first time, the delegation of spouses of members of the Economic and Social Council was led by Mrs Nzete, wife of the Vice-President of the institution. Similar representations were observed from the Supreme Court, led by Mrs Mariatou Yap, spouse of the President of the Audit Bench, and from the Presidency of the Republic, headed by Mrs Sylvie Elung, spouse of the Deputy Secretary-General.
Female legislators from the National Assembly and the Senate were respectively led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mary Meboka, and the Vice-President of the Senate, Mrs Armande Din Bell. Spouses of administrative and traditional authorities, senior military officers, officials of the central administration of the Ministry of Defence, executives of State corporations and parastatals, as well as female mayors and business leaders, also took turns to convey their New Year wishes.
Staff of institutions operating under the patronage of the First Lady, including the Chantal Biya Foundation, the Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproductive Teaching Hospital (CHRACERH), African Synergies and the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre (CIRCB), equally extended their greetings. The delegation of female journalists was led by Mrs Marie-Claire Nnana, General Manager of the Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation.
The Baka and Bororo communities, alongside Cameroonian artists who animated the ceremony with musical performances, concluded the presentation of wishes. In return, the First Lady extended her own best wishes for peace, prosperity and progress in 2026. The ceremony ended in a moment of shared joy and popular communion, followed by a reception offered to all guests.
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