Higher Education - Maths Institute To Go Operational

Gov't and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences signed an agreement on Friday.

On January 29, 2013, Executive Director/Head of the Secretariat of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences-Next Einstein Initiative Secretariat (AIMS-NEI Secretariat), Thierry Zomahoun told reporters after an audience with the Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Relations with the Commonwealth, Joseph Dion Ngute that "If all goes well, I guess by September or October this year, we should be celebrating the opening of AIMS Cameroon." His visit to Cameroon was basically to lobby for the putting in place of the institution in the country.

On July 12, 2013, words started being translated into action with the Minister of External Relations, Prof. Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo on behalf of the government of Cameroon signing an agreement with Thierry Zomahoun on the establishment and arrangement of AIMS-Cameroon.

Considering that AIMS centres are those of excellence with the goal of providing a world- class post-graduate education in Mathematical Sciences to talented African youth in Cameroon and across the continent in accordance with a pan-Africa approach, AIMS-Cameroon will contribute in the fight against brain drain afflicting Africa. It will also prepare a generation of African managers and leaders who understand and take charge of the development of the continent, Zomahoun explained.

The signing of the agreement comes in the wake of the institution's pursuit to establish 15 centres of excellence in Mathematical Sciences in 15 African countries. The setting up of AIMS-Cameroon comes to add to three others making them four. The second AIMS centre of Excellence after South Africa was set up in Senegal, followed by Ghana.

Zomahoun explained that over the past 10 years, AIMS has been training hundreds of young talented Mathematicians in 35 countries on the continent and the institute has been very successful in its mission of practising and teaching Mathemathics in a very innovative and cost effective way. "We have come to a point where the proven model we have got might be useful to replicate that model across Africa," he pointed out, saying that AIMS-Cameroon is coming to create its impact in the country in the field of Mathematical Sciences.

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences is a centre for education and research based in Cape Town, South Africa. The institution has been training since 2003.