Prof Tanjong Says Appointment Into NCC Is Another Phase Of Career

By Njodzeka Danhatu & Hope Nda

Renowned Communication Professor and pioneer Head of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department of the University of Buea, Prof Enoh Tanjong, has said he is very prepared for his new appointment as a member of Cameroon National Communication Council, NCC.

Talking with The Post at his Buea residence, Prof Tanjong said the appointment has taken him into “another phase of my career”.

The Professor detailed that they, at the Communication Council, will have to study and take good aspects regarding the journalism practice from other societies to make the one in Cameroon flourish.

As one who has tutored thousands, he said respecting the ethics of the profession remains a priority to Cameroon journalism practice.

“I believe that Journalism professionalism, Ethics and standards, some of them are universal and must be respected if we have to move ahead as a people,” he said.

According to him, “we are in a fragile society and we are called upon to turn these issues into reality”.

After battling with ill health for some time now, that took him abroad for treatment, the communication expert said he is up to his new task.

“I just spent five weeks in South Africa for health attention and I am back. I can assure you that the Enoh Tanjong that you know is there, he is on board ready and doing what he likes most. My students in Cameroon, in South Africa, in America, in Europe, all over the world, are happy and they support me hundred percent in everything that I do, because, they are my wealth, they are what I have. I want to see whether what I did in classroom has any dent on the media landscape. There may be some few insignificant people who are causing trouble, but, in general, I think the performance I see, so far, either in academics or other professions where my students are, is something to take home,” he said

The university don was quite optimistic that he will have to deliberate on journalism issues properly to make the practice in Cameroon a better one.

He said the NCC, like in other parts of the world, can be an ombudsman that clearly checks the Cameroonian society to ensure accountability.

Prof Tanjong is a seasoned expert in communication with over 30 years of experience in journalism and mass communication training, media and audience research; a consultant on development communication and news assessment.

Enoh Tanjong was born in 1955 in Fotabe, a small village in Manyu Division, Southwest Region of Cameroon.  He attended primary school in his village before enrolling at St Joseph’s College Sasse in 1967, for secondary education, thanks to his older brother, Hon Enow Tanjong. After his Ordinary Levels at Sasse, Enoh continued his education at CCAST BAMBILI, where he obtained his Advanced Levels.

In 1979, he obtained a BSc degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, before moving to the USA for postgraduate studies.

He then obtained a Masters in Journalism in 1983 and a PhD in Mass Communication in 1986 at the prestigious University of Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

After starting the JMC programme in the University of Buea in 1993, he served as Head of Department for 12 years, and then Vice Dean of Programmes and Academic Affairs (until 2017) at the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences.

On October 10, 2020, when he clocked 65, Professor Enoh Tanjong officially retired from the University of Buea. He can take satisfaction knowing he has done his very best as he has inspired generations of top-class journalism and communication scholars all over the world.

Among other achievements, Prof Enoh Tanjong has published extensively on journalism and mass communication in Cameroon and Africa, bylining research articles with several renowned communication professors around the world.