By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
LIMBE, PAV – Beng Emmanuel’s name echoed prominently as excellence took centre stage at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Awards Ceremony of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ), held in Limbe, South West Region. For the young journalist, winning his first-ever professional award marked what he described as “one of the happiest days” of his life, an affirmation of his passion for using journalism to impact society.
“This is my first award since I began practising journalism, and it means a lot to me,” Beng said with pride, noting that the recognition made his family, mentors, and colleagues proud despite the highs and lows he encountered while working on the winning story.
His award-winning piece, “Day of Ballots and Bullets: Anglophone Fears Ahead of Cameroon’s Election,” examined the dilemma of first-time voters navigating insecurity in the conflict-hit North West and South West Regions. Through exclusive interviews, fieldwork, and observation, the story captured the uncertainty surrounding the exercise of civil rights in areas where registering to vote or even possessing a voter’s card is perceived as perilous.
Beng recounted speaking to residents in Buea and Bamenda who expressed excitement about casting their ballots for the first time but also deep fear for their lives and those of their families. The report highlighted how safety concerns and limited accessibility overshadow participation in the electoral process, contributing to the low voter turnout of 5.36 per cent in the Northwest and 15.94 per cent in the Southwest during the presidential election.
Featuring among the top five winners made the honour even more memorable for the journalist, who acknowledged the support of colleagues and mentors, including Shuimo Trust, Andrew of Chariot FM, and Mboh Promise of The Guardian Post. He also praised Cynthia Ebot, whom he described as a talented writer, and applauded the other grantees for their outstanding work.
“I want to thank CAMASEJ for this opportunity. It was an enriching and life-changing experience. I have learnt a lot and promise to draw inspiration from it to produce more in-depth, compelling stories,” he added.
Beng was not alone in the spotlight. Several journalists were celebrated for professionalism and adherence to the ethical norms of the profession during the three-day gathering held from Thursday, January 29, to Saturday, January 31, under the theme “United in Purpose: Shaping Tomorrow’s Journalism Today.” The event brought together hundreds of journalists from across Cameroon for deliberations centred on unity, professionalism, and the future of the media landscape.
Among the standout performers was Cynthia Ebot Takang, who emerged as the winner of the pitching category with an impressive score of 22 out of 25. Her investigative story, “The Silent Crisis of Cameroon’s Ransom-Fueled War,” exposed the hidden economy sustaining the Anglophone conflict.
“It feels great to have my efforts rewarded by the Open Society Foundation and CAMASEJ. The process has been unique and eye-opening,” she said, reflecting on her journey from placing tenth at the pitch stage to producing the top-scoring story.
Ebot’s report revealed how ransom payments from kidnappings, affecting both high-profile personalities and ordinary civilians, are allegedly used to purchase weapons, drugs, and vehicles, thereby prolonging the crisis. Speaking with a former “Amba Boy,” she traced the flow of these funds while shining a light on the insecurity faced by communities longing for safety.
“I am forever grateful to CAMASEJ and OSF for funding this project to empower young journalists like me to highlight the many issues confronting our communities,” she added.
Mboh Promise also earned recognition for his deeply researched article on the mental health toll of the more than nine-year conflict in the Anglophone regions. His work drew attention to the thousands suffering from trauma and depression, which he described as “invisible wounds” often overlooked amid reconstruction efforts focused largely on physical damage.
“Little or no attention has been given to victims of trauma,” he explained, noting the difficulty of gathering data as institutions were reluctant to release information and many victims preferred anonymity.
Despite the challenges, Mboh described the project as a valuable learning experience that reinforced the importance of adhering to deadlines, engaging in editorial collaboration, and practising ethical reporting. Being selected among the first 10 grants recipients from over 30 submissions and ultimately among the five award winners, was, he believes, due to the uniqueness of the subject matter.
His story underscored a critical truth that lasting recovery and peace are impossible without psychological healing. It called for accessible psychosocial support, community-based counselling, professional therapy, and greater investment in trauma-informed care, while urging society to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
“I feel so elated that I was selected as one of the winners. Winning this award at the national level tells me I am on the right track,” he said, pledging to use the recognition as motivation for future work.
Another highlight of the evening was the Wache Francis Young Journalist Award 2025, won by Shuimo Trust, who described the honour as both humbling and motivating. The award, which recognises outstanding promise and emerging impact in journalism, carried special meaning for him because the late Wache personally mentored him when he began his career at The Post in 2018.
His winning article, published by Al Jazeera and titled “Journalism Associations’ Fragmentation Weakening Press Freedom in Cameroon,” earned praise for its depth and relevance.
“The highly competitive award is an encouragement to keep doing what I have been doing and even more,” he said, expressing gratitude to CAMASEJ Buea, the national body, and everyone who contributed to his journey.
