Ntumfor Nico Halle clinches Pan-African peace prize, royal recognition.

The latest of the recognitions were publicly presented at an elegant ceremony, held Friday April 19, in Douala, in the Littoral Region.

The brief, yet colourful event, was held at the imposing Shalom Building, hosting the Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm.

Attended by several dignitaries, including the paramount ruler of Awing, Fo’o Fozo’o II, the quadruple awards ceremony was chaired by the National Communication Secretary of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, Rev Father Humphrey Tatah Mbuy.

The awards handed to Ntumfor Nico Halle Friday, were clinched at different intervals but jointly presented during the Douala ceremony.

Besides clinching the prize of Pan-African Peace Icon, Ntumfor Nico Halle was also conferred a royal recognition for his role in contributing to the growth of his native Awing village. 

Two other awards came from the Christian Men Fellowship, CMF Group of Presbyterian Church, PC Bonaberi and weekly tabloid, The Reporter newspaper.

Organisers of the annual PANAFES awards, said Ntumfor Nico Halle was singled out as a Pan-African Peace Icon, for his outstanding contributions towards the development of the African continent. 

For her part, the National Women’s Wing president of the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association, NACDA, Tantoh Justin, who presented the royal recognition on behalf of the Fon of Awing, said the Douala-based rights lawyer was recognised for his “…indefatigable efforts as the 9th president General of NACDA, for his inputs towards the development, cultural and social uplifting of the Awing Fondom”.

She said Ntumfor’s tenure as president of NACDA, from 1998-2004, marked a significant revolutionary period in the life of the Awing community. 

The Fon’s representative told the Douala gathering that while serving as NACDA president, Ntumfor Nico Halle initiated numerous landmark projects such as the “renovation of the Awing Fon’s palace, which saw the construction of the first storey-building in Awing village, thus breaking the myth which restricted sons and daughters of Awing from constructing storey-buildings only after that of the palace had been erected”. 

She said as NACDA president, Ntumfor Nico Halle also flagged off a giant electrification project in Awing village.

While The Reporter newspaper recognised Ntumfor Nico Halle for “his outstanding performance in the domains of peace crusading, conflict resolution, overseeing elections, fight against corruption and respect for human rights”, CMF Bonaberi Group singled out the avid PCC Christian for “his ceaseless contribution in all dimensions for the growth of the Christian Men Fellowship Movement of PCC Bonaberi”.

Awards don’t make a man

In his acceptance speech during the awards conferment ceremony, a seemingly elated Ntumfor Nico Halle pledged to remain unwavering in his life-long mission in combating against inequality and injustice in Cameroon and Africa.

He told his guests that he isn’t moved by awards or medals.

Nico Halle who has supervised elections across Africa, was blunt that: “Awards and medals do not define a man. What defines a man is the spiritual impact he has on humanity. You don’t need to be rich to do that”.

He continued that: “I think the awards are coming because I am impacting the society, community, the nation and beyond. I have dedicated myself to the continue to serve mankind”.

While thanking God for his grace, which has seen him clinched nearly 200 awards and distinctions in over three decades, the tough-talking Ntumfor Nico Halle told attendees at the Douala gathering that until he breathes his last, he would continue to stand by the core moral values of justice, equity, love, truth, integrity, dignity, honour, transparency and accountability.

Enter Rev Father Tatah Mbuy

Speaking earlier, Rev Father Tatah Mbuy, who chaired the Douala gathering, said he has never seen a man who is so forward-looking like Ntumfor Nico Halle.

The serial author, social anthropologist and erudite preacher, said he admires Ntumfor Nico Halle for his wit and ingenuity in fighting for social justice.

He told attendees that: “We have come here to honour, congratulate and encourage one to whom I will love to give all academic titles if I had the chance to, not because he has become a high priest of the academia, nor because I think he has read so much, but one who realises that an intellectual is not known by the colourful design of his academic work but one who knows that the knowledge he has deserves to be used, not for himself but for the improvement of the human person and the society”.

“When a person achieves these in typical Anglo-Saxon fashion, the Englishman simply gives him a very notable title of ‘Sir’, and with your accord and with the blessing of His Royal Majesty, I unanimously and unilaterally want that hence, we refer to Ntumfor Nico Halle as Sir Ntumfor Nico Halle,” the orator and priest added.

Ntumfor has made us proud-Awing Fon

Taking the cue at the tail end of last Friday’s gathering, the Fon of Awing, Fo’o Fozo’o II, said Ntumfor Nico Halle is a true son of the land in whom he is well pleased.

While showering royal blessings on him, the highly respected monarch described Ntumfor Nico Halle as a development locomotive and community mobiliser.

He said: “…we are honouring Ntumfor for what he has done and is still doing for the Awing Fondom and our beloved nation”.

“This award is in recognition of your huge contribution to peace and harmonious living together, which go beyond boundaries” he concluded.