Colleagues pay homage to late Pius Njawé, 14 years on.

The Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Jean Francois Channon, in an editorial published Monday July 15, recounted the journey of late Pius Njawé from his old school days too when he created the newspaper.

According to him, 14 years down the road, it was normal for them as usual to pay homage to the deceased and staff of the newspaper gave a minute of silence to pray for the continuous repose of the soul of their founder.

He went on to hint that next year July 12, 2025, will mark the 15th year of Pius Njawé demise and 45 years for Le Messager.

He said it will an opportunity for them to organise a symposium under the theme: “Puis Njawé: Le Messager à l’écoute du people”.

Channon equally thanked staff and partners for their hard work and enjoined to continue giving the paper the place in holds in the country.

Enter Le Jour publisher

The Publisher of Le Jour newspaper, Haman Mana, in a note published on his social media handle saluted the memory of the man who he described as one who opened the doors to freedom of expression for the press in the country.

“Once upon a time, there was Pius Njawe. When fate strikes with its heavy, cruel hammer, it's best to remain silent. To face the pain that devastates and the anger that deafens. But to speak, to say, to write was Pius Njawe's trademark. On the day of his death, silence would be the worst offense,” Haman Mana stated. 

According to him, if pressmen can speak with a little freedom today, it is thanks to the works of the Pius Njawe. 

Pius Njawe, he wrote, was a fighter. “The rare courage of this character was built on the cement of his faith in a profession, journalism, and the iron of his credo in a bundle of values: freedom, democracy and progress”.

According to him, Le Messager opened the door to what is now the private press in Cameroon and opened the door for a press that, despite its frailties, speaks out.

About the late Pius Njawé

Pius Njawé, it should be said, was born on March 4, 1957 in Babouantou, Upper Nkam Division of the West Region and died on July 12, 2010 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

The late journalist was regarded as a champion for human rights and press freedom in Cameroon.

In 1979, Pius Njawé founded Le Messager newspaper, where he worked as editorialist and until his death on July 12, 2010, in a traffic accident in the United States, where he was reportedly attending a meeting of Cameroonian opposition leaders. 

The meeting is said to have been aimed at putting in place a change of leadership in 2011.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3171 of Wednesday July 17, 2024