CRTV’s Njie Mbonde bags Best Radio Journalist Award.

The multi award-winning media personality bagged the award during the maiden award ceremony of the Cameroon English language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA.

The ceremony held last Thursday July 25 in Yaounde, was heavily attended by several members of government, members of parliament, senators, respected traditional ruler and a host of other personalities. 

Albert Njie Mbonde was chosen by a jury of highly respected personalities headed by revered international lawyer, Batonnier Akere Muna. 

Other members of the jury included Senator Nfor Ekoko Mukete IV, Paramount Ruler of the Bafaw in Kumba; celebrated civil society actor, Esther Omam and the President of CENPA and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post newspaper, Ngah Christian. 

Njie Mbonde, who hails from Bokwaongo in Fako Division of the South West Region, received the award from the hands of the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu. 

He was recognised for his performance, flair, diction, articulation, eloquence and high sense of creativity in reporting or presenting radio news.

Speaking to the press after receiving the award, Njie Mbonde, who is CRTV’s Political Desk Editor for radio, said he was overwhelmed by the award from CENPA. 

“It is humbling that this job has been recognised because it’s not an easy job,” the laureate said, adding that the award comes as a motivation to do even better to earn more awards and recognitions. 

“You get to receive awards from different groups but this time it comes from your own colleagues. Its very humbling because they live and understand your realities and this particular one excites me a lot because 2023 was very challenging,” the ace former sportscaster stated. 

According to Nji Mbonde, 2023 was a year in which most of his work contained elements of pacification amidst several challenges facing the country. 

“A lot of advocacies was done for Cameroonians to understand that irrespective of our differences and problems, there is need to pacify the land and to promote the harmonious living of the Cameroonian people,” he added.

The CENPA award comes barely months after he was designated as notable of Buea Chiefdom, in the Fako Division of the South West Region. 

The designation last January was conferred on him by the Paramount Chief of Buea, Chief Dr Robert Esuka Mbella Endeley. 

It should be recalled that in 2018, Njie Mbonde lifted the Best Radio Journalist of The Year Award during an award ceremony organised by ASCOM. 

In 2019, he also won the Best Radio News Presenter Award by the same award committee. He has won over a dozen other awards and recognitions in his journalism career that spans over two decades uninterruptedly. 

Njie Mbonde rose to prominence during his time as presenter of the wake-up show, Hello, on the state television.

He was also famous for anchoring programmes like Cameroon This Morning, and Cameroon Calling on CRTV Radio. 

His dynamism and creativity to move from sports reporting to political reporting has also attracted praises from his fans and colleagues.

Njie Mbonde has also been Team Press Officer for junior national football selection.

Besides his works in the media landscape, Njie Mbonde, who is in his forties, is a sports and education promoter both in his native Bokwaongo village and beyond. He also supports the ideas of living together, hospitality, national integration and cultural diversity.  

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3187 of Friday August 02, 2024