Francois Foning: The political and business guru

The remains of Cameroon’s female political and business icon Francoise Foning was removed from the Yaounde General Hospital Mortuary for her coffining ceremony.

Madam died on 23rd January 2015 following a car accident that occurred on Sunday, 18th January, 2015, fifty kilometers from the capital.

Politicians, administrative, traditional and religious authorities both men and women gathered in their numbers to behold the coffining ceremony of the late political and business giant at the Yaounde General Hospital Mortuary.

Francoise Foning was a dynamic member of the CPDM sub-section committee, president of the Wouri five section, Mayor of the Douala five Council, honorable President of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs and former member of the National Assembly.

She is known for her legendary generosity, introduced women into income generating activities, and created jobs for some young and unemployed graduates, financed the studies of dozens of students and scholars, as well as medical assistance given to the poor and families in difficulty. She did these in her bid to reduce unemployment.

As a business woman, she controlled companies in different sectors: transport, catering, gravel extraction, import -export food, furniture, decoration, drug manufacturing, construction and civil engineering.

Mrs Foning was Official at the Ministry of Tourism till 1978, and founding president of the Group of Cameroon Business Women, vice president of women heads of global companies from 1996 to 2005.

She was also a management and finance consultant at the African Development Bank (AFDB), and Permanent Secretary for Central Africa Training Centre AGOA.

Late Foning Francoise was born in 1949 in Menoua. She died as a widow leaving behind six children and nine grandchildren to mourn her. The deceased shall be given a state burial in her native village at Baleng in the west Region.

The Head of State, Paul Biya who issued this decree, shall be represented by the Prime Minister and Head of Government Philemon Yang.