Cameroon: The man who made Journalism and Mass Communication in UB dies!

Prof Enoh Tanjong, one of the founding fathers of the department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) at the University of Buea is no more.

Enoh passed away today October 29, 2022 in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon.

His death has left many in pains especially his family, close aides and former students.

‘The man who made JMC‘

Though he will be greatly missed, Enoh believed he had seen it all. At a grandiose retirement party thrown for him years back, Enoh said he had reached his pinnacle and was a fulfilled man.

“I don’t know what to say. This is the height of my life. I’m overwhelmed…,” said Prof. Enoh Tanjong.

This was as many celebrated his 40-year-long career training journalists and mass communicators.

But Enoh was not one to leave without a lesson. At the same retirement party, he acknowledged not being a perfect human being” and advised his former students and trainees to “touch a life in one way or the other”.

He was categorical about his wish: “I want it to be on the epitaph: This is the man who made JMC…”

The academic guru

Enoh was a father figure to thousands of students that passed through the journalism program over the years. He had to his credit, multiple research materials published, built from scratch after establishing the department in 1993.

He never shied to tell anyone who cared to listen he was doing all these to impact lives and leave a create a better generation.

Enoh was noted for his phrase ‘fight your war’ which has to date, remained a mantra for this ada of students learning to make do and cope with the limited resources at their disposal.

“One thing I remember from him is about touching hearts. That is the principle he has upheld for many years now,” said firebrand journalist and Publisher Charlie Ndi Chia.

Academic life

Enoh saw the light of day in 1955 in Fotabe village located in Manyu Division, South West.

He enrolled in the prestigious St. Joseph’s College Sasse near the later obtained his Ordinary Levels. He continued his education in CCAST BAMBILI, where he obtained the Advanced Levels Certificate.

He went on to get a BSc in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1979.

Enoh returned home and served with the Ministry of Communication before traveling to the United States for further studies.

In 1986 he returned home with a PhD from the University of Madison, Wisconsin and continued serving in the Ministry of Communication until 1993 when he was called up to create the Journalism program at the University of Buea alongside Dr George Ngwa.

Family

In 1989, Enoh Tanjong got married to Dr. Becky Tanjong. Together they have made four children who have now given them more grandchildren and many more great-grandchildren.