HTTTC Kumba's maiden officials appointed

After the Presidential Decree No. 2014/090 of March 7 2014 creating the Higher Technical Teachers Training College, HTTTC in the University of Buea, UB, with location in Kumba, Meme Division, Southwest Region, things are moving fast for that institution as they prepare take off for the 2014/2015 academic year.

Following the Ministerial Order No. 1400006 of May 14 2014, signed by Jacques Fame Ndongo, Minister of Higher Education appointing the pioneer administrative and academic officials of the HTTTC, Kumba, a Presidential Decree No. 2014/189 of Wednesday, June 4, 2014 appointed some officials in State universities across Cameroon.

This appointment saw Prof. Joyce Bayande Endeley, formerly serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies, UB as the pioneer Director of HTTTC, Kumba.

Prof. Endeley will be cumulating her position of Director with that of Head of Department, Agronomy in HTTTC, Kumba. The latter is part of the aforementioned Ministerial Order.

The scholar on Agronomy and Gender issues expressed delight with her newfound responsibilities, while accepting that as pioneers it will be a thorny task for them. However, she was upbeat that with her academic and administrative baggage, gathered over the years and with the team put in place by the Government of Cameroon, they will take the challenge and move forward.

“We must start from somewhere and we will go on. The challenges, concerns raised in the Growth and Economic Strategic Paper of Cameroon are the issues we shall be tackling,” she noted.

According to HTTTC Director, there are a series of proposals on where the college should be located in Kumba, “But, we will not rush for now. A lot of suggestions have been trickling in. The Government has to look into them closely. The Government will not get land just anywhere for the institution.

They have to look into issues of indemnities and other damages to be incurred. Accessibility to students must be a priority. So, for now, we will have temporary accommodation at the Government Technical High School in Kumba and progressively move on,” she mentioned.

On how students will be recruited into HTTTC, Kumba, the Director indicated that more developments are awaited from the Ministry of Higher Education on whether applications will be studied or an entrance examination will be conducted. “Now, we have to begin the administration on the ground, hold a series of meetings with my collaborators and the UB administration, set our priorities, the road map and a budget for the school,” she said.

According to Prof. Endeley, HTTTC has come to give a new lease to the Municipality of Kumba, especially in the agricultural and mechanical sectors.

“Kumba is an agrarian and commercial town, with big farmers like the Muketes and the Njikams. These are amongst some of the big plantations that our students will go for their internships. We will be able to prepare our students and change the mindsets in Kumba from production to distribution, marketing.”

Asked how she should be remembered after her stay in HTTTC, Kumba, Prof. Endeley replied; “As a Director who made her students useful to the community, the nation and the world. They should come out as solutions to the problems in our country and not those who complain. We are talking about a technical institution that has the mandate to transform the mindset and ways of doing things of Cameroonians.”

She will not give in to political readings that her appointment is linked to the ‘daughter-of-the-soil’ philosophy, saying she has her professional, academic and administrative package to show. “The President of the Republic and his collaborators know better why they chose me,” Prof. Endeley noted.

Before the Presidential Decree appointing Prof. Joyce Endeley was made public, the 23 officials of HTTTC, Kumba, who were appointed in the aforementioned Ministerial Order, were commissioned to their respective posts of responsibilities by the Vice Chancellor of UB, Dr. Nalova Lyonga on Wednesday, June 4 2014.

On behalf of UB management, the Registrar, Prof. Roland Ndip enjoined the appointed officials to do their work with a lot of love and commitment. He reminded them that being pioneer staff, the take off will be arduous yet, it is no reason to give up, inviting them to bring in all their goodness, tact and skills into the responsibility entrusted to them by the state.

According to the Ministerial Order, the Assistant Director of HTTTC Kumba is Dr. Michael Agbor Ntui, Associate Professor, formerly serving at the Faculty of Education, UB. The Secretary General is Daniel Lissouck, cumulatively with his function as Head of Department for Renewable Energy. Kenneth Lukong Mengjo is the Director of Studies, cumulatively with his position as Head of Department, Administrative Techniques.

Heading the Division of Administrative and Financial Affairs is Emmanuel McEttabawume. Micheal Ekonde Sone is the Head of Division, Industrial Techniques. The Division of Tertiary Science is headed by Boniface Epo Ngah, cumulatively as Head of Department of Management Sciences. Emmanuel Ekome Kang is the Head of Division, Training and Orientation.

The Division of Business, Cooperation and Innovation is headed by Bernard Essimbi Zobo, cumulatively as Head of the Department of Electrical and Power Engineering. Joseph Nzalie Ebi heads the Division of Practicals, while the Chief Librarian is Linus Sama Samje.

In the Service of Financial Affairs, Kenneth Pasiah Bobgal is the Head of Service and John Mosembe Etomale is the Head of Service for Personnel. The Sports and Cultural Service is headed by Mrs Martine Ngo Simb. The Orientation Service is headed by Evelyn Tengomoh Ngwaelung, cumulatively as Acting Head of Department for Tourism and Hospitality Management. Mrs Martina Njungwa Kwebonti Zinkeng is heading the Service of Practicals and Continues Training, while Student Records Service is headed by Cyrille Sigue.

The Department of Civil Engineering and Forestry Techniques is headed by Eric Ntabe Ngbanye. Benjamin Bahel is Acting Head of Department for Topography and Real Estate Management. The Department of Computer Science has Bertrand Moffo Lonla as the Acting Head of Department. Wilson Tamfu Yombo Nyako heads the Department of Law, while the Department of Science of Education has as Acting Head of Department, Agnes Ngemunang Ngale Lyonga.

The Department of Social Economy and Family Management will be headed by Athanasius Amungwa. Emmanuel Yenshu Vubo, cumulatively with his duties as Vice Dean in charge of Research and Cooperation at the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, UB is the Head of Department, Guidance Counselling, while Bienvenu Kenmeugne heads the Department of Management Sciences.

In the aforementioned Ministerial Order, Dr. Jane Francis Akoachere, Lecturer, Faculty of Science was appointed Vice Dean in charge of programmes and Academic Affairs in the Faculty of Science, UB. She replaces Prof. Samuel Ndonwi Ayonghe appointed Dean, Faculty of Science. In the Faculty of Education, UB, Dr. Peter Agborbechem Tambi was appointed Head of Department, Curriculum Studies and Teaching.