By Njie Enow Ebai*
Philosophers, particularly those who walk in the stern footsteps of the Stoics, have long warned against the habit of incessant grumbling. To them, it is not merely an irritating reflex but a corrosive indulgence: one that weakens resolve, clouds discernment, and drains the spirit of precious energy better spent in nobler pursuits. The Stoic insists that reality is rarely as bleak as the complainer imagines. Not every sky is shrouded in darkness and even the heaviest clouds often conceal a glimmer of silver. To dwell perpetually in lamentation is to forfeit the clarity required to distinguish shadow from substance, to distinguish good from evil, to distinguish critique from caricature.
It was with this frame of mind that I encountered an article in The Horizon newspaper, authored by Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai, criticizing the newly announced Peter Essoka Prize for Excellence in Journalism. Ordinarily, such criticism might have passed without much notice. Yet the subject matter tugged at convictions I hold dearly: the pursuit of journalistic excellence, the dire need for meaningful financial encouragement in our media landscape, and, above all, the name of Peter Essoka, a veteran journalist whose wisdom, warmth, and intellectual generosity shaped and gratified me throughout my own career. Indifference, therefore, was not an option.
To be fair, there are strands of substance in Ekinneh’s argument. As the Stoics would concede, even critique can carry seeds of truth. Yet criticism must be measured, balanced, and anchored in principle rather than sentiment. When it strays into sensationalism, it forfeits the moral authority it seeks to claim. Unfortunately, The Horizon newspaper piece leans heavily toward sentiment and exaggeration.
We Are All, in Some Sense, Apologists
A recurring assertion in the article is that Peter Essoka’s prominence stemmed chiefly from proximity to the corridors of power. Such a claim, however, dissolves under even modest historical scrutiny. Today, at approximately 83 years of age, Essoka belongs to a generation whose legacy predates many of our contemporary political configurations. As a 29-year-old lead English-language radio commentator at the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations hosted in Cameroon, he had already carved a formidable reputation long before President Paul Biya assumed office. His voice, rich with diction and disciplined by grammatical precision, epitomized excellence in the Queen’s English and set a standard to which many aspired.
The arc of his journalistic career was marked by balance and fairness. Many recall with fondness his programme “Hot-Line”, a platform where citizens aired grievances and concerns openly, including criticisms of government. Such openness is hardly the hallmark of blind allegiance. To reduce such a career to a caricature of political proximity is to ignore decades of professional substance.
The article further brands Essoka a “regime apologist” for providing English voice-overs for presidential speeches. Yet the term “apologist,” by definition, implies active ideological defence of a belief system. Professional service, especially in broadcasting, does not equate to political endorsement.
If lending one’s voice constitutes allegiance, must we also accuse sign language interpreters of partisanship for translating presidential addresses? Shall suppliers of essential public services be deemed political loyalists by virtue of fulfilling their contracts?
I speak from experience. During my tenure at the state broadcaster CRTV, I was frequently labelled a regime apologist, even when my commentaries were constructively critical. The accusation became, over time, little more than water on a duck’s back. By that same tenuous logic, even critics like Ekinneh who have appeared on CRTV platforms as was the case with Espace Olympique some years ago could be similarly branded “apologists”. Such reasoning collapses under its own inconsistency.
It is essential, therefore, to distinguish roles. The prize honours Peter Essoka the journalist—not Peter Essoka the former NCC President, not Peter Essoka the PC Bastos choir master, nor the voice-over artist. His long and distinguished service within Cameroon’s communication landscape reflects professional rigor and institutional memory. That alone in every part of the world justifies recognition.
An Award for Holistic Excellence
One might conclude, from reading The Horizon critique alone, that the prize exists merely to reward eloquent pronunciation. Yet official releases from the Ministry of External Relations and CAMASEJ, the Association of English-Speaking Journalists in Cameroon clarify otherwise. The awards seek to honour journalists whose work embodies accuracy, professionalism, commitment to public information, and trustworthy reporting that enriches public discourse.
Journalism’s noblest democratic virtues truth-seeking, investigative courage, ethical integrity, and service to the public interest are central to the award’s stated vision. To reduce it to a celebration of diction is not merely reductive; it is an unjust narrowing of its scope.
A Welcome Gesture in a Precarious Landscape
Let us keep it real, Cameroon’s media ecosystem is among the most financially fragile sectors of our national life. The abundance of outlets may create an illusion of prosperity, yet beneath the surface lies chronic underpayment and institutional precarity. In some newsrooms, the 500,000 FCFA attached to this prize rivals an entire year’s salary.
In such an environment, opportunities for meaningful financial recognition are rare. Rather than dismissing or vilifying such initiatives, we ought to acknowledge them as gestures of encouragement. That the prize coincides with Commonwealth Day lends it symbolic resonance, a reminder of shared democratic values and professional standards.
The collaboration itself is noteworthy: the Ministry of External Relations, CAMASEJ, and the private firm Merdolf Sarl have converged to recognize excellence. In our context, such synergy between public institutions, private enterprises, and professional bodies is uncommon and deserving of measured appreciation.
The Minister Delegate Felix Mbayu, an accomplished diplomat and patron of CAMASEJ, has demonstrated consistent interest in supporting journalists particularly those in the English-speaking community. The Ministry bears no statutory obligation to do so. Yet such initiatives may serve as bridges, fostering healthier relations between government and media without compromising journalistic independence.
Ekinneh, the author of The Horizon newspaper piece is no stranger to the rhythms and realities of our media landscape. Having traversed its corridors for years, one would expect that, in more progressive settings, a journalist of such standing would channel experience into legacy through mentorship, training initiatives, or even the creation of awards and platforms that nurture professional growth.
Longevity in journalism is most nobly measured not merely by bylines amassed, but by hands lifted and paths illuminated for those who follow.
Publications such as The Guardian Post Newspaper, The Advocate Newspaper, and The Scoop Newspaper have instituted annual awards to celebrate excellence and inspire younger practitioners to aspire toward higher standards. Such gestures do more than decorate mantelpieces; they cultivate culture, reward rigor, and affirm the dignity of the craft.
The Horizon Newspaper, too, can rise to this clarion call, choosing not only to critique the architecture of recognition but to help build it, thereby advancing the cause of sound and principled journalism in our country.
A Point of Convergence
On one matter, however, I find common ground with Ekinneh: it is institutionally prudent that Peter Essoka should not chair the jury of an award bearing his name. Even with the noblest intentions, best practices in governance recommend separating honourees from adjudication processes to prevent perceptions of conflict of interest. Transparent procedures, diverse jury representation, and clear safeguards would only strengthen the prize’s legitimacy.
No initiative is born perfect and refinement is the companion of progress.
The Broader Picture
Cameroon is home to many journalists who labour with courage and professionalism under challenging conditions. A Commonwealth-linked prize dedicated to excellence has the potential to affirm that reality, to inspire higher standards, and to offer tangible encouragement in a fragile sector.
The Peter Essoka Prize for Excellence in Journalism should be viewed through that lens, not as an instrument of sentiment or suspicion, but as a step, however modest toward celebrating merit, strengthening professional pride, and illuminating the silver linings that even our most sceptical observers might yet come to see.
*Njie Enow Ebai is an award-winning communications leader driving high-impact strategies for world-class organizations at APO Group. A former award-winning journalist and household name in Cameroon, he has reported for leading global media outlets including CRTV, BBC, The Guardian (UK), CGTN, SuperSport, NewFrame, and Planet Sport, earning recognition for excellence in storytelling and strategic influence.
