Personal Life and Education
Born of July 10, 1936 in Tiko to the Late. Mama Enanga Naova of Bwenga, Tiko. Mr. Robert Captain Lyonga grew up and attended CBC School, New Town. After completing his primary education, he attended St. Joseph’s College, SASSE, Buea where he graduated in 1951.
After working for a few years, he was awarded a scholarship to study Accounting in London. Before leaving for his University studies, he met and married the love of his life, the late Hon. Dr. Mrs. Rachel Celestine E. Lyonga in 1968 shortly after she graduated from Saker Baptist College, Limbe.
Leaving his pregnant wife behind, he embarked on his educational career to London as awarded by his scholarship. He completed his University studies and graduated as an Executive Chattered Accountant.
Upon his return back home, he served as a Civil Servant in the capacity as Treasurer in Buea, Victoria, Kumba, Wum, Limbe and back to Buea. Later in his career, he was appointed as the Financial Attaché to the Cameroon Foreign Service Mission at the Cameroon Embassy in Washington, DC where he served under Ambassador Paul Pondi (of blessed memory). He was later appointed in the same capacity to the High Commission, Cameroon Embassy in Ottawa, CANADA where he served under the then Ambassador and now current Prime Minister Dr. Yang Philemon.
Mr. Robert Captain Lyonga retired from civil service in 1992 after serving the nation with over 40 years of service. He served with integrity, pride and honor everywhere he worked. To him, to build a strong nation just as he built a strong family started with inidividual accountability, honesty, dedication and pride which he upheld with his personal dignity and humility to a tee.
Mr. R. C. Lyonga married the love of his life in 1968 and their union was blessed in 1969 with the arrival of their first daughter, Mrs. Dorothy (Dolly) E. Lyonga Lambe. Their family continued to grow with the marriage of their daughter, Dolly to Mr. Shelly M. Lambe of Great Soppo, Buea. The Lyonga’s were further blessed with the addition of two Grandsons, Robert-Captain Dina Lambe and Shelly M. Lambe Jr. aka “Choco”. In 1994, Mr. & Mrs. Lyonga were once again blessed with the arrival of their second daughter, Ms. Nathalie Ndedi Lyonga, a Graduate Master’s Degree student currently at the North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, in the USA.
Religious and Social Activity
Mr. Robert Captain was a staunch member and devoted Parishioner of the Roman Catholic Church, Bota up until the late 70’s and the Roman Catholic Church New Town, Limbe there after until his death.
In the late 70’s, he was elected and served at his Community’s Quarter Head of the Livela neighborhood in New Town, Limbe. These, he called for interesting times as he would say because it brought him even closer to his people, his community, to discuss their plight, disagreements, local politics and to find ways to enhance their neighborhood.
He was also a very active and devoted member of his ALMA MATA Association, SASSE Old Boys Association (SOBA), Limbe and he served the Association in a number of capacities. Younger members of the Association fondly called him “Senior SOBAN”.
Mr. R.C. Lyonga was the pioneering founding member of the VICTORIA CLUB. He loved to meet and hang out with friends like Mr. Benjamin N. Ewanga, Mr. E.E. Mange, Mr. Ndifor, Mr. Njenku, Mr. Hongla, Mr. Iyok and many others all of blessed memory today. The Club was their spot, where “boys” could be “boys”; played table tennis, draft, cards, Rooks, and discussed local politics with friends and colleagues over a beer or two. Together with their wives, the core pioneering members of the CLUB initiated the Children’s Annual Christmas Program, which concluded with a gift exchange Christmas party for all members’ children. This become a highly anticipated annual event especially for member’s children and helped increase overall Club membership. After his retirement, his “son”, Mr. Tom Tchio would take him to the CLUB where they would enjoy sometime together, have a drink and meet friends like Mr. Finjap (aka Dix-mille) and others before returning home.
Mr. Lyonga loved sports, specifically Soccer. Between him and his cousin, the late Ms. Elizabeth Mokeba, the #1 OPOPO (Victoria United Soccer Club) supporter title was always up for contention whenever they met and talked about soccer. Whenever he is in town, he made sure he attended all OPOPO games regardless of the weather. To him, if the team is out there playing, he must be out on the sidelines supporting and cheering them on. As he sometimes told his wife, “a little rain never killed anyone”, using this as an excuse to go watch OPOPO games even when the skies seemed to brew rains.
Mr. Lyonga was a humble man, an avid reader and believer in equality of the sexes. Although in his youth, females took second place, he strived to make changes whenever he could and in his own small way to make a change in this norm. This, in addition to his love for Soccer, he took up the pro-bono opportunity to coach his local WCPDM Soccer team. During this time, he not only coached them to improve their skills, but also encouraged and helped them towards improving themselves and their socio-economic situations. He encouraged and helped many go to trade schools as well as start petit businesses of their own in their neighborhoods. In 1995, his WCPDM female Soccer Team won the Championship Trophy and was awarded by Mrs. Gladys Inoni at the Limbe Community Field.
While in North America, his favorite team was the Washington Redskins. As his diplomat, his driver, Mr. Bidiako took upon himself to explain the American Football and he fell in love with the Washington Redskins. They made sure their Sundays were cleared of any “honey-dos” to ensure that they did not miss a minute of the Redskins game whenever the team was playing. They would have all their snacks and food set at arms-length, phones routed to answering machines so they had no interruptions during the games. Years later, his son in-law tried to win him over to the Dallas Cowboys but he would not trade his Washington Redskins for the Dallas Cowboys.
Mr. Bob Lyonga also got involved in politics and was elected Sub-Section President of CPDM Liengu Mboke. He served in this capacity and was later elected Section President. He was referred to as “Man of Limbe” and most fondly called “Senior Citizen” everywhere he went. He was his wife’s #1Fan when she took over him in the political arena.
From 2004 onwards, he spent time in the USA with his daughter, son in-law, grandsons and many family and friends, sporadically visiting Cameroon. His wife’s passing unto Glory on August 11, 2013 was a total devastation to him. She was his best friend and wife for over 45 years, his confidante, his Alo, his supporter, his rock and his wife. However, the love of his family kept him going. His faith continued to exponentially grow, as he was adamant that he would be reunited with his lovely wife in heaven again someday.
His wife; his parents; his half-brother and sister; many uncles, aunts and other family members and friends precede Mr. R.C. Lyonga in death.
He will be greatly missed by his daughters Dorothy (Dolly) Lyonga-Lambe, Nathalie Ndedi Lyonga, his Grandsons, Robert-Captain Dina Lambe and Shelly M. Lambe Jr., his Son in-law, Mr. Shelly Molua Lambe, Felicita Chu (Mama-o), Yolande Goufan (Yo), Mr. Thomas Tchio (Alo), Mr. Elvis Tchamnda, his little namesake, Baby Robert Tchamnda, Jude Arrey (Oga Jude), The Eyang family, and many nieces and nephews, cousins, in-laws, family and friends.
Written by Dolly Lyonga-Lambe
On behalf of the Lyonga & Lambe Families