At visit to award gallery: Kleda salutes Nico Halle’s peace crusading, anti-corruption fight.

 That was during a visit to the award gallery of Ntumfor Nico Halle. 

Archbishop Kleda was accompanied by colleague prelates, including the Bishop of the Diocese of Moundo, Chad; His Lordship Joachim Kourayelo Tarounga. It was also attended by the Vice President of the South West Court of Appeal, Justice Fon Helen. 

Speaking during the brief visit, Archbishop Kleda commended Ntumfor Nico Halle for contributing to the fight against corruption and the promotion of peace in Cameroon.

"…we associate ourselves with what you have accomplished in your life and what you continue to accomplish. We salute you for this and we give thanks to God for everything you have done," the man of God told Nico Halle. 

Kleda said Nico Halle has throughout affirmed that God is at the origin of everything he has done or received. “And this is quite normal. Without God, we cannot do anything," Kleda stated. 

The Archbishop also gave Nico Halle a pat on the back for his relentless fight against corruption, describing the issue as being very sensitive to him.

“If we have known so much destruction in our country, in the world... that is due to corruption," Kleda stated. 

Others should emulate Ntumfor

Kleda went further to state that as a lawyer, Nico Halle has “fought against corruption” and his “way of working should inspire everyone".

He challenged Cameroonian lawyers to join Nico Halle in the fight against corruption. Kleda said lawyers have a great role to play in the fight. 

He insisted that “justice and peace go together. We lack peace because we don't practice justice”.

He was emphatic that “when we talk about justice and peace, we have to consider man as the one for whom we have to work".

"...today, the biggest task we have is to build a world of peace and justice,” he said. 

He cited the encyclical letter of Paul VI, The Progress of Peoples, in which he declares that “peace is not only the absence of war or gunfire, but it is more than that". 

Speaking further, Kleda said it is incumbent on Cameroonians to work collectively for peace. 

"When men are at each other's service, this is where peace comes from. Mr. Nico Halle, this is your strong point. Because you focus everything on God. You let yourself be led by God. And this is central," he said. 

Award gallery belongs to Cameroonians

Meanwhile, speaking during yesterday's meeting, Nico Halle described his award gallery as a property of the country. 

"...this gallery does not belong to Nico Halle. It belongs to all the people of Douala, all the people of Cameroon, all the people of Africa," the celebrated peace crusader and erudite lawyer said. 

Justifying the visit of Archbishop Kleda, Nico Halle explained that: "If others have elected to come and see the gallery and take inspiration, it is just normal for His Excellency, the Archbishop to be here also, because whether you like it or not, in his homilies, in his preachings, in his meditations, he has always preached peace". 

Nico Halle said the gallery is about "awards that were gotten because of peace crusading, and fighting against all the moral decadence that you know, like theft, corruption, xenophobia, discrimination, bribery, and what have you". 

He noted that about 50% of the awards are in the domain of peace, which he insisted, is the “most precious asset for any human being”. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3920 of Friday September 25, 2026