Meeting Mrs. Solange Weya and her husband His Excellency Ambassador Weya of Cote d’Ivoire in Japan

Of all the Embassies I visited in Tokyo and the residence, this was my favorite encounter. The beautiful welcome of Mrs. Weya, spouse of Ambassador Weya of Cote d’Ivoire in Japan, felt so sincere and real and the fact that she called on His Excellency, to come to the meeting was so revealing to me as an act of heaven. First of all, this was planned just 3 days ago, after my meeting with Yuko Nakagawa who just happened to be best friend with Mrs. Weya. Yuko speaks French fluently and has been a great help to the Cote d’Ivoire embassy in so many needed occasions. On that foundation, I just opened up my heart and told them most of my thoughts on Africa and how Cote d’Ivoire came to be chosen as the headquarters of Marine Foundation Africa. Indeed, our President there, Mrs. Koura N. Ouattara has done amazing work to successfully register the foundation there through its international articles of incorporation (written in great part by Attorney Adama Ndao) and 2 bank accounts for the foundation. To me, it was more than just a meeting, 2 days to my departure to Abidjan but mainly a blessing from Mr. and Mrs. Ambassador that needed to be. Yuko also was able to respond to good sharing and I have also listened to His Excellency’s amazing plans to create viable and durable relations between Japan and Cote d’Ivoire. Mrs. Weya is also the president of the “African Spouse of Ambassadors of Tokyo” and she holds many responsibilities noticeably for the work her association is doing to send funds to support African special causes for children. Marine Foundation, from this day on, will become an important ally, friends, and supporter and that is a commitment that I am gladly appointing the entire organization in Japan to follow up with. The residence was beautifully decorated with art and architectural design of modern days. I felt at home there, not by the beauty of the environment, but mainly by the heartfelt messages of Mrs. and Mr. His Excelency Ambassador Weya. What a sensational afternoon and way to depart to the grand opening of the Marine Foundation Africa in Abidjan.