The long-standing peace advocacy and anti-corruption campaign of renowned Cameroonian veteran lawyer Sir Dr. Barrister Nico Halle has received fresh recognition from the Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Douala, His Grace Samuel Kleda.
Archbishop Kleda made the remarks on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during a visit to the award gallery of Nico Halle, where he and a delegation of religious and judicial personalities viewed the numerous honours received by the lawyer over the years.
Among those who accompanied the Archbishop was His Lordship Joachim Kourayclo Trounga, Bishop of the Diocese of Moundou in Chad, as well as Justice Fon Helen, Vice President of the South West Court of Appeal.
The visit offered Archbishop Kleda an opportunity to speak about the importance of the causes Nico Halle has championed, particularly peacebuilding, justice and the fight against corruption.
The visit also saw the presentation of two key awards to Archbishop Kleda. The honours included an award from the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association (CENPA) and another from the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, The Rt Rev Miki Hans Abia.
The presentation added another dimension to the visit, highlighting the recognition of Archbishop Kleda’s own contribution to peace, justice and service to society.
Kleda: ‘We salute you’
Addressing the internationally recognized peace crusader, founder and Senior Managing Partner of the Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm during the visit, Archbishop Kleda said the work accomplished by the lawyer deserved recognition and encouragement.
“We associate ourselves with what you have accomplished in your life and what you continue to accomplish. We salute you for this, and we give thanks to God for everything you have done,” Kleda said.
The Archbishop also noted Nico Halle’s consistent reference to God when speaking about his achievements. According to Bishop Samuel Kleda, the lawyer’s belief in divine guidance has remained an important part of his public life. “Without God, we cannot do anything,” he said.
The Archbishop then turned his attention to corruption, describing it as a serious problem with consequences for society. He praised Nico Halle for using his profession and public platform to speak against the practice.
“If we have known so much destruction in our country, in the world, that is due to corruption,” Kleda said.
Call for lawyers to take action
Kleda said the legal profession has a particularly important role to play in addressing corruption and promoting justice. He described Nico Halle’s approach as something other lawyers could draw lessons from and encouraged members of the profession to become more involved in the fight against corruption.
For the Archbishop, the relationship between justice and peace is direct. “Justice and peace go together. We lack peace because we don’t practise justice,” he said.
He argued that discussions about justice and peace should not lose sight of the people they are intended to serve. “When we talk about justice and peace, we have to consider man as the one for whom we have to work,” Kleda added.
The Archbishop said building a peaceful and just society remains one of the major challenges facing the world. “Today, the biggest task we have is to build a world of peace and justice,” he said.
Bishop Kleda also referred to former Pope Paul VI’s encyclical The Progress of Peoples, using it to emphasize that peace means more than simply the absence of armed conflict. He said genuine peace is built when people work together and place themselves at the service of others. “When men are at each other’s service, this is where peace comes from,” he said.
Turning to Sir Nico Halle, Dr. Barrister Nico Halle, the Archbishop of the Douala Diocese, described his faith and commitment to God as a central part of his work. “This is your strong point. Because you focus everything on God. You let yourself be led by God. And this is central,” he said.
Nico Halle: ‘The gallery belongs to everyone’
For Sir. Dr. Barrister Nico Halle, the visit was not simply about displaying the awards he has accumulated over the years. He insisted that the gallery should be viewed as a place of collective ownership and inspiration rather than a personal monument.
“This gallery does not belong to Nico Halle. It belongs to all the people of Douala, all the people of Cameroon, all the people of Africa,” he said.
The international legal colossus said the decision by Archbishop Kleda to visit the gallery was particularly meaningful because of the Archbishop’s own long-standing messages on peace.
He pointed to Kleda’s homilies, sermons and reflections, which he said have consistently encouraged people to embrace peace. “If others have elected to come and see the gallery and take inspiration, it is just normal for His Excellency, the Archbishop, to be here also,” Nico Halle said.
He explained that the awards displayed in the gallery were received in connection with different aspects of his advocacy, particularly his work for peace and against social and moral problems.
Among the issues he identified were corruption, theft, bribery, xenophobia and discrimination. According to Nico Halle, roughly half of the awards in the gallery are connected to peace advocacy.
Peace remains central
Nico Halle said the collection of awards is ultimately a reflection of a broader commitment to peace and social responsibility. He described peace as “the most precious asset for any human being”, arguing that its value extends beyond individuals to communities and nations.
The Archbishop’s visit has consequently placed renewed attention on the issues Sir. Dr. Barrister Nico Halle has promoted over the years, particularly the connection between peace, justice, integrity and the fight against corruption.
For both Archbishop Kleda and Nico Halle, the message from the visit was that peace requires more than words. It demands justice, service to others and a sustained effort to confront practices that harm society.
#Laarry Times
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