They Told Our Stories; Now, Dr Taniform Peter Steps In To Support Their Children

By Raymond Dingana 

For some children, the beginning of a new school year is a moment of excitement. For others, it is a painful reminder of the parent who will never walk them to school again.

Behind the uniforms, books and school bags are stories of children who have lost fathers and mothers who once worked tirelessly to inform society, tell difficult stories and give a voice to the voiceless.

It is against this painful reality that Dr Taniform Peter stepped in to ease the burden of education for children of deceased journalists. The gesture may appear simple, but for families still struggling with the loss of their loved ones, it carries a much deeper meaning.

Late Journalist Anye Nde Soh 

Late Journalist Precilia Ninge 

Late Journalist Chris Mbunwe 

The deaths of journalists such as Erick Motomo, Peter Kins Manyong, Fawar Agathar, Manaseh Vushigho, Anye Nde Soh and Wambo Emmanuel, Precilia Ninge, Chris Mbunwe among others, did not end with their funerals. For their families, the real struggle often begins afterwards.

With this in mind, Dr Taniform Peter, an elite of the North West Region (NWR), brought journalists together at the Bamenda I Council Hall for an exchange with them in a Press Café.

During the August gathering, on Monday August 31, eight children of deceased journalists received educational support. Each child received an envelope containing FCFA 50,000, a school bag filled with books and other school materials.

According to Dr Taniform Peter, the initiative was inspired by the contribution journalists have made to the growth of the country.

“Some of these journalists have passed away and their children are struggling. I thought it was wise for us to sit together, share a cup of coffee and chat among ourselves,”

he said.

For the children who received the support, the school bags and FCFA 50,000 may not solve all their problems. But they could make the return to school a little easier.

And for the families left behind by journalists who spent their lives serving the public, the gesture sends a simple message: their loved ones may be gone, but their contribution has not been forgotten.

Dr Taniform Handing Over Back To School Support To Deceased Journalist's Family 

Dr Taniform also called on journalists to maintain the spirit of solidarity and ensure that support continues even when a colleague is no longer around.

Dr Taniform explained that the crisis in the NWR should not make journalists or the region feel less important.

“Journalists are very strategic in defining what the region will look like,” 

he noted.

What Dr Taniform Expects From Journalists:

Dr Taniform called for constructive and objective criticism at a time when the region needs solutions.

“What we need now is constructive and objective criticism, not criticism that keeps us facing the past. Constructive criticism starts from now,”

he noted.

He also stressed the need for journalists to be valued and treated as important partners in the development of the region.

What Was Agreed At The Press Café:

The meeting also produced several recommendations. Participants agreed on the need to separate issues concerning the development of the region from partisan politics. They also proposed the creation of a framework and action plan to strengthen journalism in the NWR. Another recommendation was to build the capacity of journalists based on their different areas of specialisation.

Family Photos At After The Press Café 

The real test now is whether the promises made at the gathering will lead to lasting action.

Only time will tell whether the meeting between Dr Taniform Peter and members of the North West media community was the beginning of meaningful change or simply another gathering that raised journalists’ hopes without delivering lasting results.

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