Nigerian consulate, Buea Royal Palace strengthen Ties
By Nchendzengang Tatah
Historical bonds between the Nigerian community in Buea, the chief town of the South West, and the Buea Royal kingdom were cemented following a visit by the Nigerian Consul General to the North West and South West regions, Taofik Obasanjo Coker, to His Majesty Dr Esuka Endeley, ruler of the Buea Paramount Chiefdom.
The official stopover on July 9, 2025, at the Buea Royal Palace served as an opportunity for both entities to review and praise the long-lasting bonds of friendship and hospitality between the two peoples. Ambassador Taofik hailed the convivial relationship between natives of Buea and the Nigerian inhabitants.
He stated that his office had received commendations of respect towards the Buea crown head for his magnanimity towards the Nigerian population. “Our coming is to underscore that Nigeria and Cameroon are one and the same,” Ambassador Taofik stated. Affirming hope that ties between both entities will be heightened going forward. He called on Nigerians to remain law-abiding.
The relationship between Nigeria and the Buea Royal Palace is profound. The reigning chief’s father, Dr. Emmanuel Mbella Endeley was educated in Nigeria. He later married a woman from the Yoruba tribe. Besides these, E. M Endeley served as political leader when Southern Cameroon was administered jointly with Nigeria by Britain.
He went on to say that the visit gave room for areas of collaboration to be reviewed. This is amongst others in the areas of cultural diplomacy and cinema. The exchange gave room for the showcase of Bakweri cuisine through “Kwa coco”, known otherwise as “Endeley’s bread”.
Ambassador Taofik Obasanjo arrived in Cameroon on May 10, 2024, following his assignment to the country in April of the same year. This was two years after the enthronement of Chief Dr. Robert Esuka Endeley as Paramount ruler of Buea in March 2022.
Notably, Nigeria and Cameroon were only carved out and separated following the Berlin West African Conference of 1884. Nigeria and part of Cameroon were administered under Britain as mandated and trusteeship territories beginning in 1916 under the League of Nations and then the United Nations, respectively.
Nigeria and the fraction of Cameroon called Southern Cameroon were governed as one by Britain until Southern Cameroon gained independence in 1961 by joining the Republic of Cameroon, which was French-inclined. This part of Cameroon, which has English as the dominant language, plays host to significant numbers of Nigerian nationals, especially in the South West region.
