Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John’s University welcomed back Sultan Mfon Mforifoum Mbombo Njoya Mouhammad Nabil, a 2015 graduate and the current King of the Bamum people of Cameroon, on September 10. The king addressed students with a message emphasizing the importance of following one's heart, maintaining optimism, and not fearing failure.

“Failure is the opportunity to move forward and to bring people together,” said King Njoya. “Those who do not experience difficult times are not learning. Believe in what you are doing and trust in God.”

King Njoya, who earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Networking and Telecommunications from St. John’s College of Professional Studies (now The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies), shared his experiences as a student at the university. He reminisced about playing soccer on the Great Lawn and utilizing various educational, cultural, and social resources offered by the institution.

Six years after graduating, King Njoya ascended to the Bamum throne following his father's death. Known for his reformist approach, he has focused on modernizing traditions while guiding his people towards the future. His visit to St. John’s was part of a North American tour that included stops in Boston, Washington D.C., and Montreal.

During his return to St. John’s, King Njoya engaged with students in a fireside chat moderated by Konrad Tuchscherer, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of History at St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dr. Tuchscherer expressed gratitude for King Njoya's prioritization of this visit.

“The king prioritized the trip to St. John’s, and we are grateful to have one of our alumni return home,” Dr. Tuchscherer said.

The event also saw participation from Ozanam Scholars, reflecting King Njoya's own involvement in this social-justice program during his time at St. John’s.

Isabel Cuffari, a first-year Sociology student and an Ozanam Scholar, remarked on the inspirational nature of King Njoya's address: “He has lived through both good and difficult times and manages to find the light in it all.”

King Njoya emphasized religious tolerance learned at St. John’s as vital for leading his diverse kingdom where Islam predominates but Christianity and traditional Indigenous religions are also practiced.

“God is neither Muslim nor Christian,” he stated. “God is God, and religion is the light through which God sees us.”

Reflecting on his minor in Social Justice: Theory and Practice in the Vincentian Tradition at St. John's, King Njoya highlighted how these values shape his leadership today: “It is thinking about the well-being of people—and that is what I try to do as a leader.”