Cameroonian Climate Journalist, Robert Abunaw, Congratulates EMCAN Chairman, Seeks Cross-Border Collaboration

By PerSecondNews

Robert Abunaw, a Cameroonian journalist and climate action strategist, has congratulated Joycelyn Ellakeche Adah, Chairman of the Environmental Media Correspondents Association of Nigeria (EMCAN), on her emergence as the association’s leader, while calling for stronger environmental journalism cooperation between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Abunaw, a founding journalist with CTV, a UN-certified Climate Action Strategist and a grantee of the Pulitzer Congo Basin Rainforest Journalism Fund, said Adah’s leadership comes at a critical time when both countries face shared environmental challenges, including flooding, biodiversity loss and the effects of climate change.

In his congratulatory letter, he proposed joint reporting projects, exchange of field data and training opportunities for journalists across both countries.

He also called for practical collaboration towards implementing the Nigeria-Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Memorandum of Understanding signed in Abuja in 2024.

The proposed areas of cooperation include joint reporting on the Korup-Cross River National Park corridor, community sensitisation on European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance for cocoa and palm oil farmers, coverage of habitat loss and endangered species trafficking, as well as a joint disaster preparedness and response reporting plan.

Abunaw said his publication, 300 Climate Concepts for Rainforest Journalists, available in English and French, could serve as a practical resource for the proposed partnership.

He further urged environmental journalists in both countries to use accurate, public interest and solutions focused reporting to promote climate justice, strengthen community resilience and connect scientific knowledge with local experience and policy.

He proposed a formal partnership meeting, either virtually or in Calabar or Buea, to develop a joint action plan for 2026–2027.

In her response, Adah, Digital Content Editor of Per Second News and EMCAN Chairman, thanked Abunaw for his congratulatory message and commitment to strengthening ties between environmental journalists in Nigeria and Cameroon.

Adah said she shared his belief that environmental challenges required stronger cross-border cooperation, knowledge sharing and impactful reporting.

She expressed her readiness to explore practical ways of translating the shared vision into action, particularly in climate reporting, biodiversity conservation, community resilience and capacity building.

Adah said further engagement would be important in building a productive partnership that benefits journalists and the communities they serve.