Chantal Biya Meets Ban Ki-Moon's wife

Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya yesterday, September 20, had a busy day in New York during the 71st United Nations General Assembly. Mrs Biya did not just join some 170 First spouses in a “Tea Reception” offered by the wife of the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Soon-Taek, but fully participated in other State duties as well as joining President Paul Biya at the opening of general debates at the UN Headquarters.

At about 3:00 p.m. New York time, all roads where leading to the Sutton Place Residence of the United Nations Secretary-General. It was a kind of parade for all First Spouses accompanying their husbands for the current UN session. All security measures were placed at the 3 Sutton Place, North-East, Street 57, at Manhattan, New York City. Over 170 First Ladies were at that residential quarter, honouring an invitation from Ban Soon-taek. Amongst them was the ever beaming Cameroon’s First Lady, Chantal Biya. She was accompanied by the wife of the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, Celine Ngoh Ngoh. For over an hour, Chantal Biya and Ban Soon-taek, together with other First Ladies from around the world had a fulfilling time not only exchanging niceties but sharing their experiences as First Spouses in different social domains.

It was a unique moment between Chantal Biya and Ban Soon-taek after their last meeting at the Oriental Pavilion at East Wing of the Unity Palace in 2010, when the UN Secretary General and Wife, paid an official visit to Cameroon. Chantal Biya and Ban Soon-taek certainly had much to talk about; especially as Mrs Ban Soon-taek has an in-depth knowledge of the humanitarian activities of Cameroon’s First Lady. This accounts for why, Cameroon’s First Lady stayed longer within the residence of Mrs Ban Soon-taek unlike other First Spouses attending the tea reception. Although no information filtered out of the “Tea Party”, from the appearance of the First Ladies as they stepped out of the residence of Ban Soon-taek, there were all indications that it was a cherished time spent together.

Chantal Biya and her counterparts certainly continued conversation on the education of the girl-child and how they can reinforce their various activities to improve the situation in their various countries. The issue of empowering women and upholding the rights of children was certainly a topic of interest amongst the Ladies.