Overwhelmed Prof. Enoh Tanjong bursts into tears as journalism family, professors hail his 40-year career

“I don’t know what to say. This is the height of my life. I’m overwhelmed…,” said Prof. Enoh Tanjong, unable to express the depths of his joy during a retirement party to honour his 40-year career training journalists and mass communicators.

His Journalism family, Professors and colleagues hailed the simplicity, rigour and vigour of Enoh Tanjong, an ardent journalism and communication professor retiring at 65.

He said he was “not a perfect human being” and advised his former students and trainees to “touch a life in one way or the other”.

Apart from publishing dozens of research materials on journalism and communication in Cameroon and Africa, Prof. Tanjong’s most visible legacy is the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) of the University of Buea (UB), which he co-found in 1993.

Asked about what the retiring Professor should be remembered for, Prof. Tanjong said “I want it to be on the epitaph: This is the man who made JMC”.

Dozens of students, well-wishers, including Professors and journalists attended the retirement party organised in Buea Saturday to honour his over 40-year active career.

According to UB’s former Vice Chancellor, Prof Vincent PK Titanji, Prof Tanjong has been known as a vigorous man with sharp character and exemplary simplicity.

He said Prof Tanjong upheld the integrity of the Journalism department when he was Head of Department from 1993-2005.
Journalists and former students of Tanjong, among them CRTV’s Pochi Tamba Nsoh, who co-emceed the retirement party, also said Prof Tanjong has touched lives and has left an unforgettable legacy in journalism.

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

After laying the foundation for journalism training at the University of Buea, Prof Enoh Tanjong says he feels fulfilled and it is left for the younger generation to leave their own legacy.

Many staff of the Journalism department of UB were however visibly absent from Prof Tanjong’s retirement party, including the department’s current HOD, Dr Kingsley Ngange, whom he mentored.

Mimi Mefo Info