Okie Johnson Ndoh CENPA Man of The Year!.

Like in several disciplines of life, some persons keep making the headlines and featuring among the very characters who keep guiding their societies, nations and generations. 

Be it at individual or public service levels, oftentimes, they are persons who continue to keep pace with the changes of the time.

Within the ventures that document daily realities and spotlight great men, the Cameroon English Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA, has stood its ground in upholding truth and encouraging people across all walks of life to continue giving their best to the community.

CENPA holds its place of right in this perspective, based on the global   and national spread of its audience that is often call to vote persons assessed as having hit the demanding benchmarks fit for honour.

Thus, at its traditional Award Night, staged in Douala, Saturday September 19, 2026, several movers and shakers were called to the podium of honour for their revered exploits.

One person who however capped the distinctions was the Director General, DG, of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilisation Fund, CSPH, Okie Johnson Ndoh.

The event had in attendance several high profile personalities from across the country and from the Diaspora.

Beyond a glittering record at the helm of the CSPH, last Saturday at the Andre Siaka Hall, GeCAM in Douala, Okie Johnson Ndoh, who is also President General of the Catholic Men Association, CMA, earned the coveted decoration of Man of The Year.

According to the CENPA award jury, Okie Johnson did Cameroon exceptionally great when he served as General Coordinator of the visit of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to the country. 

In a certificate handed to the laureate, CENPA said he emerged the undisputed Man of The Year: “For playing a key role in the successful organisation of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Cameroon; a development which placed Cameroon’s reception atop of other African countries that were visited by the Supreme Pontiff.”

It is a recognition that has enjoyed endorsement across the world, especially given the tireless and selfless work Okie Johnson Ndoh did before, during and after the Pope’s visit to Cameroon. 

He showed zest, humility and decorum in uniting the clergy and State authorities to implement decisions of the Holy See and instructions of the Head of State, Paul Biya, for the success of the event.

Thanks Biya, dedicates award to CMA members, others

Though was unavoidably absent at the Award Night last Saturday, Okie Johnson, in a separate ceremony in Yaounde yesterday, received at three-man CENPA delegation. 

It was led by its President, Kristian Ngah Christian; also Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of The Guardian Post. He was accompanied by the Association’s Treasurer, Theodore Mih Ndzi (Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of The Voice) and the Public Relations Officer, Richard Nde Lajong (Publisher/Editor-In-Chief, The Herald Tribune).

Speaking at the brief but solemn ceremony, a usually publicity-shy Okie Johnson thanked members of the Association for recognising his role in the successful organisation of the Pope’s visit.

He however refused to take the glory for the success of the Pope’s visit alone, saying he would forever be indebted to H.E President Paul Biya, for making things easy for him and his team. He said the Head of State gave form of supported that necessitated that the success of the visit.

He equally thanked Catholic Men Association, CMA members and all those who supported the team that coordinated the visit in one way or the other.

Indefatigable work in success of Pope’s visit 

Okie Johnson as General Coordinator of the Pope’s visit, worked day and night alongside other church team members, liaising with local authorities in the three cities the Pope visited. 

He showed courage, stamina and attention to detail, ensuring that every detail needed to give the Holy Father a befitting stay in Bamenda, Douala and Yaounde, saw the light of day.

One of the most challenging of laps where Okie Johnson Ndoh scored high was the Bamenda lap. The CMA President General liaised with even authorities of the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, and local communities to put everything in place.

The Bafut Airport came alive, thanks to the meticulous coordination efforts of Okie Johnson. From the mobilisation of thousands of faithful across all the 26 Dioceses of the Catholic Church nationwide to the preparation of choreography and other fine details that made the visit colourful from the church’s part, Okie Johnson remained on his toes.

He worked tirelessly, liaising with Vatican teams. From the advanced missions from the Holy See, dispatched to Cameroon, to the regular visits across Bamenda, Douala and Yaounde, to see what had been put in place; Okie Johnson answered his call with precision and excellence. 

As a lover of God, Okie Johnson was conscious enough to know that the visit of the Vicar of Christ to the country needed the highest level of meticulousness possible. 

Before Saturday’s CENPA grand recognition, posterity had already begun judging him in comforting words. Today, he is being goldenly decorated as the man who modeled the Church’s part in the successful organisation of the 4th Papal visit to the country.

Others may have done their part well but this year’s Papal visit, which came 17 years after that of Pope Benedict XVI in March 2009, also enjoyed befitting coordination. 

In the process of Cameroon celebrating such success, Okie Johnson Ndoh, it is being stated and exceptionally so, deserves a place in the moon.

The ripples of applause for Okie Johnson from within the church and other well-meaning citizens had long before now been glorious. But this time, he is the Man of The Year, an addendum to his consistent selflessness in service to humanity.

Though a largely spiritual task, Okie Johnson as General Coordinator though  a laity,  showed the Church that in years of service to God, he has grown and continues to grow in giving his best to power evangelisation. 

Holy Father saw, CENPA sees

CENPA’s prestigious recognition of Okie Johnson Ndoh, is a reading which comes after the commendation of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.  The Pope had barely returned to the Holy See, when he wrote an emotional letter to Okie Johson, on April 27, 2026.

Pope Leo XIV, in the emotional letter, had said he was personally touched by the charity of Okie Johnson in coordinating his Apostolic Visit to Cameroon.

“I particularly salute the different responsibilities you took charge of, coordinated and the work done in the spirit of charity,” the Holy Father wrote to the CENPA Man of The Year. 

The Pope, in the rare letter, had also assured Okie of constant prayers for him and the team he let to ensure the success of his visit.

The Pope had before the letter also expressed gratitude to the hierarchy of the country, through President Paul Biya, and also blessed Okie Johnson for stretching himself that far in service to God and country before leaving Cameroon. This was at the Nsimalen International Airport. 

And so it came to pass that Okie Johnson got the direct blessings of the Vicar of Christ. The CENPA Man of The Year also had the chance to kiss the ring of the Pope and returned the glory to his Maker, for the success of the Apostolic visit.

The archives of the year have opened up through the vast audience of CENPA member publications to respect Okie Johnson for being the one man whose work and lifestyle gave the country meaning in 2026. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3917 of Tuesday September 20, 2026