His Excellency Minami Kentaro lauded the fruitful bilateral relationship between Cameroon and Japan and the groundbreaking efforts that are being made by the Charles Ndongo-led state broadcaster in promoting the growth of the corporation and the larger Cameroonian society.
The Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon, His Excellency Minami Kentaro, has saluted the Cameroon radio television, Crtv, for its plausible strides in promoting its internal growth and the overall wellbeing of the Cameroonian society through its diverse activities as a reputable broadcaster. The diplomat made the declaration last Tuesday during a visit at the Crtv head office in Mballa II in Yaounde. Ambassador Minamo Kentaro paid the visit to evaluate the work that the Charles Ndongo-headed corporation has done in recent years in a bid to modernize and enhance its performance.
Focus was especially on the ground that has been covered in the installation and usage of the 725 million FCFA worth equipment recently donated to the corporation by the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA. JICA recently donated state-of-the-art TV production and infographics equipment to Crtv as part of a broader effort to support Cameroon’s audiovisual sector and strengthen ties between the two countries. The equipment, per authorities, are specifically expected to enhance Crtv’s production capacity, improve staff working condition and ultimately benefit the audience.
The donation served as the fruit of a partnership which began with negotiations between the Crtv and JICA in 2018 and culminated with the signing of a grant agreement on July 27, 2021. The grant aims to modernize Crtv’s TV production equipment, going a long way to mark a significant milestone in the cooperation between Japan and Cameroon in the development sector.
As part of the project, Japanese experts have been working on installing the equipment at Crtv’s studio I, including video, audio, and lighting control rooms. Training sessions have also been conducted for Crtv technicians to boost their mastery of the new equipment.
Ambassador glad Crtv on right path
Speaking during Tuesday’s visit, the Japanese ambassador, His Excellency Minami Kentaro revealed that he is pleased with the relationship that exists between Cameroon and Japan. He said the partnership between the Crtv and JICA is a typical example of the robust partnership that is striving between the two nations.
The diplomat said he is particularly pleased by the Crtv’s strides in making a good use of the gains of the partnership especially in the area of modernization at the level of the corporation and efforts in promoting education and the progress of the Cameroonian society in line with the philosophy of the government of Japan. “The objective of my presence here is to participate in this site visit at Crtv and observe the equipment donated by the Japanese government.
I am delighted to see that the cooperation aligns with our philosophy of promoting education and human development in Cameroon through information and television,” the ambassador stated. “I hope Crtv continues to disseminate prompt and valuable information, which is crucial for the development of Cameroon,” the diplomat further emphasized.
Crtv effective reaping fruit of partnership
The 725million FCFA donation handed to the Crtv as part of the partnership included HD equipment tailored to facilitate high-quality productions and broadcasts, according to Crtv’s director of Tv technology and solution, Hamadou Baiza. As part of the support, Crtv’s studios are equipped with the latest generation equipment, ranging from six cameras, including four overhead cameras for controlled image quality and two cameras operated by cameramen, per Hamadou Baiza who was present during Tuesday’s visit of the Japanese ambassador.
“Additionally, we have a 32-way mixer, graphic editing bands for video editing and graphics, a teleprompter for smooth presentations, and comprehensive audio equipment with intercom for team communication,” he added. The director also stated that the corporation is greatly pleased by the fact that “our staff has mastered the equipment, and we have been producing high-quality content regularly.”
