Joe Dinga Pefok (Uncle Joe)
“We Have Realized That In Every Conflict, There Are Exaggerated Injustices. And When We Don’t Have Justice, We Cannot Build Peace, We Cannot Talk About Reconciliation. The Theme Was Properly Chosen. We Are Sacrificing Our Time And Money To Do All These, For The Good Of Our Nation, And That Is The Satisfaction We Get”, Prof Willibroad Dze – Ngwa And Sir Dr Barrister Nico Halle.
The Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies in Yaounde, and the Nico Halle &Co Law Firm in Douala, celebrated the third anniversary of their partnership on Friday, April 10, 2026 by jointly organizing a high level Peace Building Workshop on the theme: JUSTICE, PEACE BUILDING AND RECONCILIATION IN CAMEROON.
The high lever workshop which had as venue the ultra –modern Conference Hall at the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm in Douala brought together as many as 50 participants from different parts of the country. The participant included Traditional and Religious Authorities, Legal Experts, Women and Youth Groups, Civil Society Organizations, Peace Practitioners, Policy Makers, Journalists, Academicians including university dons, Researchers, Opinion Leaders, and some students from the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies. The participants came together, to reflect on the urgent need for sustainable peace strategies in Cameroon amidst ongoing socio –political challenges.
The workshop had as moderators Sir Dr Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle, the Boss of the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, and Prof Willibroad Dze – Ngwa, the Founding President of the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies.
Keynote Address – Exploring Justice, Peace Building & Reconciliation
Meanwhile, after the opening ceremony of the high level workshop, serious business kicked off in the hall with a keynote address presented by SIR DR BARRISTER N NTUMFOR NICO HALLE, on the topic: EXPLORING JUSTICE, REACE BUILDING & RECONCILIATION. In the keynote address, the international Peace Crusader and multiple -award winner, Nico Halle, emphasized the centrality of justice as a foundation for lasting peace and reconciliation. He underscored the importance of strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, while promoting dialogue and inclusivity. The legal luminary, Nico Halle, who said he had moved from the court room to holy ground, talked about the platform of Love, on which is found Peace and Justice among other core more values. Sir Dr Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle stressed the fact that Peace and Justice are interwoven, and that there cannot be any real Peace in a society or country, or even in an organization or family, if there is no justice. He added that if there is no Justice, there can be no real Love in the society.
Traditional Ruler As Guarantor Of Justice, Peace And Reconciliation
The second presentation at the workshop was delivered by DR REV. FATHER HUMPHREY TATAH MBUY of the Bamenda Archdiocese, on the topic: TRADITIONAL RULER AS GUARANTOR OF JUSTICE, PEACE AND RECONCILIATION IN CAMEROON. WHAT REALITY IN CONTEMPORARY RURAL CAMEROON? In the presentation, Dr Rev Father Tatah Mbuy, a prominent Cultural Anthropologist, Communication Researcher and Writer Who also currently teaches at the Catholic University of Cameroon , CATUC Bamenda, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in maintaining social order and fostering reconciliation, particularly in rural communities. The man – of – God who remains very much attached to his Nso Culture, said that traditional institutions remain vital actors in conflict resolution despite contemporary challenges. Talking of contemporary challenges, Tatah Mbuy pointed out that traditional rulers no longer have the power over the people, the way they used to have , for a number of reasons , one of which is their involvement in partisan politics.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
The third presentation at the workshop was done by DR COLONEL MAGISTRATE DIDIER SIPA NDONGMO, on the topic: MEDIATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE MECHANISM FOR JUSTICE & PEACE BUILDING. The expert on conflict resolution advocated for the wider adoption of mediation as an effective and accessible mechanism for justice and peace building in Cameroon. He stressed that mediation can help decongest formal courts while promoting community harmony. The expert talked on internationally recommended guidelines to facilitate successful mediation or conflict resolution, stating for example that the mediator must be a neutral party. He took as example the successful mediation by the United Nations that ended the Bakassi Crisis between Cameroon and Nigeria, as compared to the 2019 ‘Major National Dialogue’ in Cameroon which failed because there was no neural mediator.
Participatory Approach To Peace Building
The fourth and last presentation at the workshop was done by the Founding President of the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies, PROF WILLIBROAD DZE – NGWA. The topic of his presentation was: TOWARDS A BROAD BASED INCLUSIVE & PARTICIPATORY ENGAGEMENT IN PEACE BUILDING. Prof Dze – Ngwa, a peace crusader and an expert in peace building and conflict resolution, in the presentation called for a broad based, inclusive and participatory approach to peace building. That is, a broad based participatory engagement in peace building, where everybody should be a peace vendor.
He argued that sustainable peace requires the active involvement of all stakeholders, including traditional and religious authorities, youths, women leaders, researchers, and the media. “Unity is strength. Let us do it together”, he stressed.
Journalists Accused Of Being Partisan In Reporting On Crisis Situation
Meanwhile, Prof Dze – Ngwa in his presentation along the line faulted Cameroonian journalists in general, for taking partisan positions in situation of crisis or conflicts, and thus instead aggravating the situation. He said though there are a few media men and women that strive to stay neutral while reporting a conflict or crisis situation, the general tendency is however troubling, because from observation, most journalists go partisan or have partisan interest, and so take sides, and thus instead help to further inflame a crisis situation or a conflict, rather than working as peace builders to calm down the situation.
Prof Dze – Ngwa cited the case of the recent post – election crisis in Cameroon (October 2025), pointing out that instead of performing their duty by staying neutral , carrying out investigation into what was happening and writing objective or balanced reports to inform the population, many journalists instead took sides in the crisis, and thus resorted to reporting propaganda. They thus instead further inflamed the situation, or increased the level of tension in the country. Prof Dze – Ngwa , urged Cameroonian journalists to go for Peace Building Journalism , that is, Peace and Humanitarian Communication in Cameroon, for the interest of humanity and the society.
Interesting Presentations / Active Participants At The Workshop
Meanwhile, in a nutshell, all the four presentations at the high level peace building workshop were quite interesting, and were very much appreciated by the participants, who on their part were in general quite active as was observed during the question and answer session that followed each presentation, as well as during general discussions. The MCs often had it tough to bring a question and answer session, or a general discussion session to an end, as several participants would each time want to ask a question, make an observation, make a proposal, or say sometime. This was also an indication of the interest or attentiveness that the participants showed to each of the presentations. Even the traditional rulers were not left out.
It should be noted that the workshop ended with the award of Certificates of Participation to the participants. It should be noted as well that the workshop ended on a very positive note. Participants expressed the wish to see the partnership between the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, continue to grow from strength to strength, as well as to also see the two institutions organize more of such highly educative workshops.
The two partner –institutions that jointly organized the workshop, that is, the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies, and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, reaffirm their commitment to advancing peace building initiatives through research, training, and multi-stakeholders engagement across Cameroon.
Other Highlights Of The Workshop
Meanwhile, another highlight of the occasion, was the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of the partnership or collaboration between Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies, and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm; the institutions that organized the workshop. The 3rd anniversary celebration was marked by a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony.
Worthy of note that the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies in Yaounde, is a leading academic and research institution dedicated to advancing peace building, conflict resolution, and sustainable development through education, research, and policy engagement.
As for the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm in Douala, it is a prominent legal institution in Cameroon, committed to promoting justice, rule of law, and public interest advocacy.
Visit To The Sir Dr Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle Award Gallery
The April 10, 2026 workshop ended with a visit by the participants to the Sir Dr Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle Award Gallery, where there is a recorded number of 204 national and international recognitions and awards received by Sir Dr Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle, in his Crusade for Peace and Justice, as well as his Fight against Corruption including embezzlement, Hate Speech and Xenophobia. Worth noting, that Nico Halle has been engaged in peace crusading, and the fight against moral decadence in all its forms, for some 35 years today.
“When We Don’t Have Justice, We Cannot Build Peace”
Meanwhile, reporters asked Prof Willibroad Dze – Ngwa of the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies , why the organizers of the high level peace building workshop, that is, the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies, and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, decided to organize the workshop on the theme, “Justice , Peace Building and Reconciliation In Cameroon”. In response, Dze –Ngwa said: “We have realized that in every conflict, there are exaggerated injustices. And when we don’t have justice, we cannot build peace. We cannot be talking about reconciliation, when there is persistent injustice. That is why we thought that it was incumbent on us to come out with this theme, and get world class experts, to come and share their views”.
Prof Dze – Ngwa said they were satisfied with the fact that, with the high lever peace building workshop, they were able to get traditional authorities, religious leader, civil society actors, peace practitioners, journalists, university dons, experts in peace building and conflict resolution, legal experts, among others, “to come together and ponder , so that we can together move the country forward”.
As for the 3rd anniversary celebration of the partnership between the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies, and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, Prof Dze – Ngwa said: “We are celebrating our third anniversary of partnership in Justice, in Peace Building, and in Reconciliation among humanity. Three years – we are going to move on, and we are going to multiply these initiatives”.
“Love Is The Platform On Which Justice Exist”
Also taking questions from the media, Sir Dr Barrister Ntunfor Nico Halle, of Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, said the theme of the high level workshop, which was Justice, Peace Building and Reconciliation in Cameroon, was thoroughly and properly chosen. “Many people talk about justice for example, without knowing what it is. You cannot be talking about justice and at the same time you are doing things that are unjust, bad or unlawful like committing heinous crimes here and there, stealing, embezzling, killing people, sowing seeds of division, telling lies, promoting hate speech in the community or society, stirring conflicts for selfish interests, stuffing ballot boxes or rigging elections, and so on”, he said.
Nico Halle said justice, or social justice, is very important for a people, for a society, for all of us. “But for that to happen there must be Love, for Love is the platform on which Justice exist. Take away Love, and there will be no Justice. Take away Justice, and there will be no Peace. Take away Peace, and there will be no Harmony – the people will not be together”, he asserted.
As for the high level workshop, Nico Halle said they (organizers) were definitely satisfied. He argued that the fact that all those personalities that were invited for the workshop, including those in faraway areas, all showed up, and also actively participated in the discussions, could only be satisfactory and encouraging to the organizers. “The heavy and active participation also mean that many people appreciate what we doing, and want to share in our vision, and want be onboard our platform”, Halle opined.
As for the state of the partnership between the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies, and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm, Sir Dr Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle said: “If the partnership was not fruitful or was not moving on well, it would have crashed. The partnership is on track, and that is why we are celebrating the 3rd anniversary. What we are doing through the partnership like having to organize this high level workshop on justice, peace building and reconciliation, is not a paid job. We are sacrificing our time and money for the good of the nation, and that is the satisfaction we get. And so that is it. We are moving on.”
Worthy of note that the high level workshop on Justice, Peace Building and Reconciliation in Cameroon, was 100 % funded by the organizers or partners, that is, the Heritage Higher Institute of Peace and Development Studies Yaounde, and the Nico Halle & Co Law Firm Douala.
