47 mathematical scientists awarded Masters Degrees

47 young African Mathematical Scientists were recently awarded Masters Degrees in Mathematical Science at the Limbe-based African Institute for Mathematical Science, AIMS,Cameroon.

The students, among them 18 Cameroonians, constituted the third batch of graduates from the institution.

Presiding at the Degree Award ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Higher Education, Dr.Nalova Lyonga, Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, hailed AIMS for imbibing scientific knowledge in young Africans that would enable them to become solution providers to Africa’s own problems.

Dr.Nalova was elated that out of the 47, 17 were female. She urged them not to rest on their laurels, but to continue to improve on what they have learnt in AIMS.

In his welcome address, AIMS Cameroon Executive Director, Veran Ahouantcheme, thanked the Cameroon Government for the constant support to the institution.

To him, the success of the School in Cameroon is thanks to the collaboration with the Government. “AIMS Cameroon is just one of six centres spread across six African countries: Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzana and Rwanda.

“Mathematical Science today is the back bone of all science endeavours, technological discoveries, inventions and the revolution in android technology is just a glaring case of how advances in mathematical sciences can move the world.”

Veran said AIMS’ drive is to get Africa’s brightest minds in the field of Mathematical Science and mould them to “a new generation of Africans, who will “flourish as independent thinkers, problem solvers and innovators, capable of propelling Africa’s future scientific, educational and economic self-sufficiency.”

And as proof of the quality of training offered at AIMS Cameroon, the Director of Academic Affairs, Prof. Mama Foupouagnigni, disclosed that 15 of the students have already secured admissions to further their studies in some other Universities around the world.

“Two of our graduates have been admitted to teach Mathematics in two Universities: one in the US, another in Toronto, Canada.”

Besides the 18 students from Cameroon, eight of them were from Nigeria. The others came from Chad, Ghana, Madagascar, Kenya, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Rwanda, Namibia and Ethiopia.

The 47 graduates made up a total of 123 students that AIMS Cameroon has trained for the last three years. This numbermake up 1212 Mathematical Scientists that the five different AIMS Centres in Africa has already produced.

With a mission to groom Africa’s future Einstein, the different speakers during the event hailed Prof Neil Turok, founder of AIMS.

Prof. Wilfred Mbacham, from the University of Yaounde I, entreated the graduating students to endeavour to be the revolutionary minds that can trigger the development of Africa. “Africa is evolving and I wish you reconsider yourselves as the revolutionary batch,” He said.

Prof Mbacham was delivering a discourse on the topic “Of Math, Nature and Development: To seek ye first the Question.”

On behalf of the students, the best student, Walter Cedric Tao Lee, thanked the teachers and everybody who had assisted them throughout their one year programme.

Other presentations from Prof. Barry Green, AIMS Centre Director, Dr Dorothy Nyambi, AIMS Executive Vice President and Prof. Timeleon Kofane, a Physicist from the University of Yaounde I graced the event.

Meanwhile, the Representative of the German Ambassador to Cameroon, Lars Leymann, whose Government is one of the sponsors of the AIMS initiative said his Government was ready to continue supporting the drive till such a time that AIMS will be able to continue on its own financing.