NTUMFOR BARRISTER NICO HALLE Says The Media In its Role To Inform And Educate, Is An Indispensable Tool For Development

But Regrets That The Media Does Not Get The Attention It Deserves 

Observes That Politicians Use The Media, And Dump

NICO HALLE Who Is The National Patron Of CAMASEJ, Was Behind The Creation Of CAMASEJ D

 The Legal Icon, Nico HALLE, Is Also A Patron Of The Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association

Legal luminary, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, has asserted that the media is in principle an indispensable tool for national growth. He says the reason he is so attached to the media, is that in principle, the media in its important role to inform, educate and entertain, is an indispensable tool for development”. Stressing the importance of information and education in development, Halle says the importance of the media in a society cannot thus be overemphasized. Worth noting, that Ntumfor Halle is talking about the CREDIBLE MEDIA.

The reputed Crusader for Peace and Justice, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, who is also an Anti –Corruption Crusader as well as a Crusader against Hate Speech and Xenophobia, was speaking on June 14, 2024, when a group of journalists drawn from Yaounde, Bamenda, Buea and Douala, met him in Douala for an appraisal of his noble mission (crusade), which span over 30 years. Worthy of note, that the legal icon, Ntumfor Halle, is also an Agent of Community Development, a Philanthropist and a Dedicated Christian.

“The Media Is Even Supposed To Be The First Estate”

Meanwhile responding to questions on his attachment to the media during the June 14 meeting with a group of press man and women, Ntumfor Halle who is the National Patron of the Cameroon Association of English Language Journalists, CAMASEJ, as well as  a Patron of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA, explained that  he is a ‘disciple’ of the third US President, Thomas Jefferson, who recognized the important role of a Credible Press in the society or country, and so stood by the press. He quoted Jefferson who said that if he had to choose between having a Government without Newspapers, and having Newspapers without a Government, he would prefer to have Newspapers (media).  “If I had to choose between a Government without Newspapers or Newspapers without a Government, I will not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”,   Thomas Jefferson wrote. That was before he became US President.

Halle noted that the media is being considered as the Fourth Estate, coming after the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. But he said if he had his way, the media would be the First Estate. He pointed out that while the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary are in principle independent of each other, the Media observes, investigates and reports on the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. The media’s work covers the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary, and logically thus, non of the three is independent of the media.

“Media Is Not Well Treated In Our Society”

Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle regretted that the media in our society or country does not get the treatment or attention it deserves. He argued that considering the important role of the media in the society, the media is supposed to be given the necessary assistance to enable it function well, and play its role to promote the socio-economic development of the country, among other things.  Halle regretted that what instead happens in the country is that, politicians take advantage of the situation of the media to use the media, or to be more precise to use some media organs or some journalists, and after that, dump them.

Though Ntumfor Halle did not get into details of what he meant by politicians using and dumping the media, the journalists present at the June 14, 2024 event of course understood him well. It is no secret that most politicians in Cameroon recognize the importance of the press or journalists only when they need them, especially during elections, and after that they forget or dump them. Some even mock the media organs or journalists after. Unfortunately too, the media organs or the journalists, never learn any lesson.

 Ntumfor Halle’s Initiative To Create The Douala Chapter Of CAMASEJ

Meanwhile, it is worthy of note that the Douala based National Patron of CAMASEJ, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, who is as well the Patron of the Douala Chapter of CAMASEJ popularly known as CAMASEJ D,  was in fact behind its creation. Worth recalling that in 2008, Ntumfor Halle invited me (Uncle Joe) to his office (Law Firm) in Douala, and said he could not be the National Patron of CAMASEJ, and based in Douala, and there was no branch of the association in the town. More so, there were quite a number of Anglophone journalists working in the nation’s economic capital, Douala. Ntumfor proposed that I should rally colleagues to create the Douala Chapter of CAMAEJ, and that he would provide me funds for logistics.

Coincidentally, It was not long after I came out of a situation that had made decide to stay away from journalists’ associations for a while. It would be recalled that two Journalists’ syndicates were created in Douala at the same time, though only one exist today. I was elected Vice President of one the syndicates, though I was neither involved in its creation, nor present during the election. The syndicate took off smoothly, but unfortunately when the syndicate started receiving funds, and we started organisng seminars and so on, all sorts of mafia or racketeering came in. I refused to be involved in such games, and decided to leave the syndicate. Others followed, and what later happened to the syndicate, happened. The scandal concerning the syndicate had come to add to another issue which happen a couple of years earlier. The Cameroon Association of Commonwealth Journalists, CACOJ, was created in Yaounde, thanks to the initiative of senior journalist and consultant, Emmanuel Tataw, though he decided not to take any post. I was the Pioneer Public Relations Officer, PRO, of CACOJ.  By then I was the Yaounde Bureau Chief of The Post Newspaper. CACOJ was launched in grand style at Hilton Hotel in Yaounde.  But unfortunately internal conflicts soon cropped up, and split members of the pioneer bureau of CACOJ into camps of foes. So unfortunate indeed!

Proposal For Tricia Oben And Ntarikye Divine To Lead CAMASEJ D

Meanwhile when the National Patron of CAMASEJ, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, proposed that I rally colleagues to create a branch of CAMASEJ in Douala, I deeply appreciated his concern for English speaking journalists in Douala, but explained to him that I had decided to stay out of media associations for sometimes.  A few weeks later, Ntumfor Halle asked me then to make a proposal for a colleague or colleagues that I thought could handle the mission; to create and launch the Douala Chapter of CAMASEJ. I asked for some time to enable me do the groundwork. I floated Ntumfor Halle’s idea to create a branch of CAMASEJ in Douala among colleagues. Many colleagues were interested in the post of President, and so it became a problem for a start. However two names soon stood out, Moki Charles  who then was with CRTV Douala, and Ntarikye Divine who then was the correspondent of VOA among others. There was also Shareh Ngoningeh who then was with CRTV Douala, but who as a friend of Moki, instead wanted to work in alliance with him.

The situation became complicated for me. More so, Ntarikye Divine, Moki Charles as well as Ngoningeh were all friends of mine. I finally thought the best way out was to propose a female, instead of one of the three men. At the time too, the female journalists in the private media in Douala like the Ndih Maureen who was already showing some leadership qualities, were still young in age and in the profession to be able to handle the post of Pioneer President or Pioneer Secretary General of CAMASEJ Douala. Thus such a lady at that time could only come from CRTV Douala. Suffice to say I finally concluded to propose Tricia Oben, though I did not discuss with her in advance. I discussed it with Ntarikye Divine, whom I proposed the post of Secretary General of CAMASEJ D. He accepted. That also took care of the ‘regional balance’, with Tricia being from the Southwest and Divine being from the Northwest.  Ntumfor Halle had reminded me of the aspect of ‘regional balance’, when he gave me the assignment

And So CAMASEJ D Was Born

My problem now was how to face Moki Charles, for I did not know how he would take it. Fortunately too when I went to see Moki, I met him with Shareh Ngoningeh. I explained to them the conclusion I had arrived at, and why. Happily enough, Moki reacted with a high sense of maturity. He said he had no problem with the choice of Tricia Oben. He promised that he would support the team of Tricia and Divine in any way possible. With that, I then met Ntumfor Halle and presented the proposal that Tricia Oben should be the Pioneer President and Ntarikye Divine the Pioneer Secretary General of CAMASEJ Douala that was about to be created, and I explained why.  Ntumfor then called the two senior journalists, and discussed with them that they rally colleagues to create the Douala Chapter of CAMASEJ. He of course provided funds for logistics. And so CAMASEJ D was born. Worthy of note, that some years later, Moki Charles became the President of CAMASEJ D. What a lesson on patience by a gentleman!