Bishop Emeritus Immanuel Bushu has been recognized with a Retirement and Anniversary Award by the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, for his dedication and profound impact to communities.
The award was presented to him by Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle on Saturday August 3rd, 2024, during the celebration of his 80th birthday at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Buea.
It is worth recalling that Mgr Immanuel Bushu was born on the 31st of July 1944, ordained Priest on the 7th of January 1973. He was appointed as Bishop of Yagoua, Cameroon on 17th of December 1992, and ordained as Bishop on the 25th of March 1993, for the same Diocese. He was later appointed as the Bishop of the Diocese of Buea on November 2006, installed on January 30th, 2007 and retired on the 28th of December, 2019.
Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, while handing over the prestigious award to the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Buea, in the presence of clergymen, family members, friends and persons of goodwill said that the legacy of the Emeritus Bishop Immanuel Bushu shall impact the future generations positively.
“Your years of Service, wisdom and leadership have been a big candlelight guiding us with faith and compassion. With heart-felt gratitude we acknowledge your steadfast commitment to the spiritual growth and well-being of the Catholic Church. For the countless lives you have touched
through your ministry, your exemplary leadership which has inspired and uplifted us all, may this distinction serves as a reminder of the deep respect and admiration we owe you. Your legacy will continue to inspire future generations”, he said.
Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle went further in referring to the Emeritus Bishop as a peace crusader while citing the Anglophone Crisis as an example.
“ The Anglophone is the first and the worst enemy of an Anglophone because we hate each other. He preaches love, justice, peace, harmony, oneness, transparency, accountability of the law. He is a guy that you can trust. If all men of God were like Bishop Immanuel Bushu, there will be peace not only in Cameroon, but in the world. But because this guy cuts across. He is not materialistic, very spiritual, trusted”, Halle explained.
While calling on the Bishop Emeritus Immanuel Bushu to continue preaching the gospel, Ntumfor Nico Halle said he is leaving fulfilled. “ This guy is going on retirement but not tired so let him continue to preach the word of God to those who have sold their consciences”, he noted.
For his part, speaking during the celebration of his 80th Anniversary Birthday, Mgr Immanuel Bushu expressed words of gratitude to God and called on the Christians to practise perseverance.
“ That they persevere and know that God is in charge of everything, Mgr Immanuel Bushu noted.
Anthony Viban, parish priest of the Arch Diocese of Bamenda, added his voice to that of Bishop Emeritus in thanking God for long life.
Meanwhile Bartholomew Bushu, nephew of the Bishop Emeritus, disclosed that he is proud of the Bishop of Emeritus for being alive, and healthy while emphasizing he is an exemplary person to be emulated.
“When I see him today I am very proud because being at 80 is a gift from God. We have had people in our family who have lived longer up to 79 and he is amongst the first to be 80 years today. When we look at his life as a family member, it is a life to emulate, to follow, to celebrate because he stands like a pillar in their family”, he recounted.
The 80th Birthday Celebration of Emeritus Bishop Immanuel Bushu, wrapped up with the symbolic cutting of his birthday cake by him in the presence of Christians, clergymen, family members amongst others.
