PAV Cameroon Reporter Boris Esono Wins CIDI Media Probity Award

BUEA, Cameroon – Journalist and Head of Pan African Visions’ Cameroon team Boris Esono Nwenfor is among the four winners of the first edition of the Media Probity Award organized by the Civil Initiative for Development with Integrity (CIDI).

The Media Probity Award was part of the second media conclave by the Civil Initiative for Development with Integrity (CIDI), on May 8, 2024, under the patronage of the National Communication Council. CIDI's Executive Director, Prof Victor Epie' Ngome called on Journalists to be objective in their reporting during this election period.

“It is humbling to be among the winners of the Media Probity Award. Special thanks to the Civil Initiative for Development with Integrity for the recognition. Gratitude also goes to the Pan African Visions team, my Managing Editor Ajong Mbapndah, Sonita Ngunyi,” Boris Esono Nwenfor said.

“The recognition has given me an added boost to continue the tireless effort in bringing the ongoing crisis in the English-speaking regions to the limelight. Journalists play an important role in bringing the world’s attention to the crisis and it is important too, that we journalists spotlight those who are working tirelessly to see that the crisis comes to an end.”

The winning story submitted was on Cameroon - Defying the Odds in Peacebuilding for Esther Omam carried in the May 2024 issue of the Pan African Visions monthly Magazine. Despite threats, rumour-mongering, and kidnappings, Esther has remained steadfast in her commitment to humanitarian and peacebuilding work because in her words: “This is a passion; you don’t do it for money. You do it because you are interested in saving lives, causing change, and leading social healing so that the wounds, pain, and suffering of your people are relieved.”

“Women peacebuilders run to the problem when everyone else is running away,” said ICAN’s CEO and Founder, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. This statement could not be truer of award-winning Cameroonian peacebuilder, Esther Omam. Esther’s career has seen her go from development worker to humanitarian responder to mediator and peacebuilder, in the South-West region of Cameroon.

Boris Esono who is also an Alumni of the Merck Foundation and reports politics, health, environment and sports, joined PAV in November 2018 and also works for other local media houses. The multiple award winner has been at the forefront in spotlighting the Anglophone crisis to the world, a crisis that is unfortunately heading into its eighth year with no solution in sight.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the young reporter gained recognition from the Merck Foundation with the Stay at Home Media Recognition Award. As per the organizer, the award dubbed "Stay at Home" media recognition seeks to promote journalism which goes above and beyond to separate facts from myths and misconceptions about the novel coronavirus which ravaged the world's economy, Africa included.