UBa graduates warned not to abandon teaching jobs

The University of Bamenda, UBa, at its 5th convocation recently, in Bambili, passed out 3,507graduates.

UBa Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Dominique Mvogo, representative of the Minister of Higher Education, warned those who will be joining the public service not to abandon their jobs and travel abroad after receiving their salaries.

Prof. Mvogo said they would be severely dealt with.

He told the graduates to be prepared to teach anywhere in Cameroon as soon as their postings are out.

“Make up your minds that you will go and teach in Kolofata, in Mulundo, Tomkum-Mbare, in Nwa, Ako and not only in urban areas where live is easy. I am aware of the difficulties you are going to face, but these difficulties shall be overcome because you are going to bring enlightenment to the hinterlands as you teach our children,” Movogo said.

The Pro-Chancellor appealed to the population of the Northwest to pool their resources and support the efforts of government in the construction of UBa. It is in this light that he lauded the contributions of the Fons of Bambili and Bambui and Mayor Martin Tanjong Mushongong of Tubah Council for their relentless support to the university.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of UBa, Prof. Theresia Nkuo Akenji, acknowledged Government through the influence of Prime Minister that has been able to construct lecture halls and offices at the University.

Prof. Akenji requested President Biya to permit the university to recruit more teachers to meet the ever increasing number of students to put an end to over-dependence.

Akenji said if UBa has been performing so well, it is because of its motor; “Knowledge, Probity Entrepreneurship”.

With three additional faculties; Arts, Economics and Management and Law, the number of establishment in UBa has risen to10 schools. Despite this growth in faculty and student population, there are only 241 full-time lecturers, 541 part-time lecturers. This, according to Prof. Akenji is grossly insufficient to handle over 16,000 students.

Despite these hurdles, Akenji said UBa keeps striving high, signing memoranda with other universities and is currently mentoring 21 private universities and higher institutions of learning.

To match with modern times, the Vice Chancellor expressed the need for government to upgrade the university from analogue to digital to ease administration.

She assured the population that the students graduating this year are the best because they have proven to be morally, psychologically and physically fit.

Prof. Akenji paid exceptional tribute to best female students whom amongst were; Paula Fali Bayene in Physics and Choves Nini Ngoin in Accounting and Finance.

She announced that for the first time, the certificates are ready and the students will only collect them if they have fulfilled all the conditions.

On behalf of the students, Emile Ntubon, who emerged the best student, thanked teachers and parents for their support and promised to offer their best.

In an academic discourse, Prof. Dorothy Limunga Njuema urged the graduating students to be exceptionally performant wherever they will be posted and not necessarily for the pay package and application to duty by offering the best they can with very little.

She noted that in UBa, there is nothing like sexually transmissible marks and called on the students to be worthy ambassadors of UBa.

Earlier in an ecumenical service, Reverend Father John Bintum, in charge of Catholics Higher Education, urged students and teachers to rely only on God for success in life.

“It will be catastrophic if any student of UBa is spiritually dead, in and out of school all your activities should be God-centered,” Rev. Bintum cautioned.