Commonwealth to offer ICT assistance to Bamenda University

The visiting Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, CTO, Shola Taylor, says his institution is to offer assistance to the University of Bamenda in setting up Information and Communication Technology curricular. Nigerian-born Taylor expressed the CTO’s willingness to offer the technical support on December 9, 2015, at a press conference in Yaounde.

During his visit to Cameroon, Shola Taylor met the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and the Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board. “We have started discussions in order to see how the university can promote ICT curricular,” Taylor said, revealing that CTO would be sending a professional to advise youth on upgrading their ICT careers.

He expressed his institution’s readiness to work with other Cameroonian academic institutions. “ICT is important for development and offers more opportunities for youths. CTO is therefore encouraging them to take advantage of ICTs to grow their careers and also create wealth,” he said.

Taylor told the press that officials stated government’s commitment to ensuring cyber security, adding that CTO was ready to assist Cameroon in establishing a robust policy on ICT and cyber security. “CTO has done a lot of work in this area in the Caribbean and Asia. We will be offering technical assistance with funding from member nations. The assistance is therefore financial and supportive,” Taylor assured. 

The creation of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation dates back to 1901. Its 115th anniversary will be celebrated throughout 2016. Activities will be launched in Janaury in the United Kingdom, with awards presented later on in year. A ministers’ conference will hold from June 14-16, 2016. “We have invited Prime Minister Philemon Yang as special guest of honour at the event,” Shola Taylor disclosed.