Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, a leading voice in Cameroon’s health and education sectors, has issued a bold critique of the country’s national broadcaster, Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV). Dr. Ngwanyam described the CRTV as “a museum” that has failed to evolve with time, technology, and the expectations of a young, dynamic population.
In a thought-provoking essay shared on social media, the founder and CEO of St. Louis Clinic and University lamented the disconnection between CRTV and ordinary citizens, arguing that the state broadcaster has become a “praise organ” rather than a genuine platform for information, education, and national development.
“Eighty percent of Cameroonians and more than ninety percent of Southern Cameroonians no longer watch CRTV,” Dr. Ngwanyam observed and copied from another author. “So they are preaching to themselves that Cameroonians need peace.”
From National Pride to National Relic
Recalling CRTV’s early years, Dr. Ngwanyam described a time when television held a magical place in the hearts of Cameroonians, when seeing one’s village or a familiar face on TV was a source of pride and unity.
“TV was a myth. Everything was new. The President was new. Promises were new,” he wrote. “Through TV, we could see what other villages were like, their dances, food, and way of life.”
But those days, he says, are long gone. With technological change and the advent of diverse media platforms, CRTV’s failure to innovate has left it obsolete.
“Time, change, innovation, progress, all have killed the CRTV which refused to change positively,” Dr. Ngwanyam stated. “The crowd simply ignored them and moved on.”
*With the creation of an online TV Channel, by the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Ngwanyam further reiterated that the dissatisfaction may have not only engulfed the bottom class but trickled right to the topmost class of the nation, suggesting a clear picture of dissatisfaction.*
“A Praise Organ” in a New Media Era
The surgeon and educator did not mince words about what he perceives as the broadcaster’s political capture. Cameroon Radio Television, he said, has become a tool for the elite to maintain power rather than a mirror reflecting the realities of ordinary citizens.
“CRTV participates in deceiving President Paul Biya and the people while the elites rob the nation of its wealth, opportunities, and progress,” he wrote.
“It gives wrong, tainted feedback to the nation, thus killing it big time.”
Dr. Nick Ngwanyam criticized what he called “stale, doctored, and manipulative narratives,” noting that many viewers have turned away in frustration toward independent media, digital platforms, and social media.
The New Marketplace of Ideas
According to him, the modern information landscape has left CRTV behind. Young people who make up 60 to 70 percent of Cameroon’s population are turning to YouTube, TikTok, and independent TV stations for content that is “real, fresh, and relatable.”
“They have no particular ties with a grandmother called CRTV,” he said. “The youth are creating and distributing content 24/24. When there’s post-election violence in Dschang or Bonamoussadi, a thousand cameras report in real time. They don’t wait for CRTV’s boiled version after 48 hours.”
The doctor likened CRTV’s stagnation to the decaying state of public infrastructure: “The TV house at Mballa 2 is run down, begging for renovation, just like our battered roads and dirty cities.”
“Innovate or Perish”
Dr. Ngwanyam’s message extends beyond media critique, it is a call for national renewal. He argues that Cameroon’s challenges stem not only from leadership but from a collective mindset resistant to change.
“Adding a little pepper and tomato into old soup is not innovation,” he quipped. “If CRTV had to generate its own money, it would have closed shop a long time ago.”
The physician concluded with a broader appeal for transformation, proposing what he calls “The 3rd Option”, a philosophy centred on productivity, integrity, and problem-solving beyond party politics.
“CPDM or opposition makes no difference if we do not change our ways, learn to be truthful, solve problems, and be productive,” he wrote. “We need a new mindset and a new system in Cameroon.”
A Mirror to the Nation
Dr. Ngwanyam’s reflections have sparked vigorous discussion online, with many Cameroonians resonating with his critique of state institutions that have failed to keep pace with a rapidly changing world.
His essay is more than an indictment of CRTV, it is a mirror held up to a nation at a crossroads, challenging both leaders and citizens to reimagine communication, governance, and accountability in the digital age.
“Innovate quickly or you perish,” he warned. “You still breathe because the state gives you cash. But if you had to survive on merit, you’d have been gone long ago.”
As Cameroon continues to navigate post-election uncertainty and social tension, Dr. Ngwanyam’s message rings with renewed urgency: change, or be left behind.
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