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Nigeria: Prioritization of Technical and Vocational Education

RTD General MUHAMADU BUHARI
PRESIDENT/ COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.

We Will Prioritize Technical, Vocational Education

President Muhammadu Buhari a fortnight ago in Ilorin-Kwara State announced the resolve of his administration to improve access and quality of the nation’s educational system.

He said his administration would pursue this goal ”as far as our resource capacity and capability can support.”

Buhari in an address read on his behalf by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal at the 40th anniversary of the university of Ilorin, said that his administration will give considerable attention to technical and vocational education and training
to provide skill manpower in applied sciences, engineering, technology and commerce to operate, maintain and sustain the nation’s economic activities for rapid socio-economic development.

Buhari said that the decision of his government was in recognition of the fact that globalization of market, interdependence of international systems, expanding roles of technology and high skilled technical, vocational and managerial leaders are the keys drivers of any national economy.

“Nigeria is not different. In the area of knowledge based economy we cannot but key into this global trend by giving desired attention to the education sector”, he stated.

Buhari who is the visitor to the University, added that “this will also help impact necessary skills and competencies leading to the production of artisans, technicians, technologists who will be enterprising and self-reliant, thus having the greatest potentials to generate employment and reduce poverty in our society.

“I must also emphasis, that the federal government alone cannot meet the need of higher education in Nigeria.

The private sector must be encouraged to invest in research and development in the universities. This means the universities must make themselves relevant to the private sector in order to attract funding.

“Therefore, the governing councils of the universities must begin to think outside the box in order to re position their universities for global competitiveness. There is also the need for, enhanced corporate social responsibility on the part of the universities in order to remain relevant and peaceful in the communities where they exist”.

While assuring Nigerians of the determination of his government to continue to support the upgrade of infrastructure, teaching materials and research equipment in the nation’s universities, Buhari noted that “our economic growth potentials are good and promising and will continue to receive favorable, credible endorsement by the international community. However, the impact of the investment we make in the field of education and training on the lives of the ordinary citizens will determine how far we can go in achieving our national aspirations.

“The task of grooming youths for national development revolves on the universities. I therefore appeal to our teachers not to use our students as their laboratories for their doctrines or as cannon folder for their struggles in the society. The children under your care must not be used as agents for the destabilization of our society. Our universities must demonstrate high quality intellectual leadership that will engender political, economic and social progress so that together we might build a nation that will be the pride of all”.

The president charged the Universities to key in to the evolving ethical revolution, noting that “without discipline, law and order no society cannot make any meaningful progress”.
excerpt from LEADERSHIP Nigeria newspaper.

NOTICE TO PRIMEX BENEFICIARIES

The Vice Chancellor of The University of Bamenda requests that students should consult the list of beneficiaries of the Presidential Grant posted on the notice board in the University campus.Those whose names appear on the list should copy the serial number that corresponds to his/her name, then present these at the corresponding payment points alongside the following documents:
a. Original and photocopy of National Identity Card or UBa student Identity Card.
b. Original and photocopy of 2013/2014 academic year school fee receipts.
The Vice Chancellor of The University of Bamenda requests that students should consult the list of beneficiaries of the Presidential Grant posted on the notice board in the University campus.

Payment will start on Thursday December 10th 2015 at 10:00.
NB: Check your names on the list tomorow(08/12/2015) afternoon.
Prof. Theresa NKUO-AKENJI
Vice Chancellor

The Foolish African: The Journal of Cameroonian Writers

The epilogue by NKwetatang Sampson Ngueki

All what the African decries is that he was dehumanized by slavery and slave trade, that he was callously colonized, and since then till today, his land is still the harvesting ground of raw materials for western industries. All the African prides himself with, is that he has benefitted from western education, from western civilization, from western camaraderie, and from community development at home. All these notwithstanding, I categorise the African should know that he is the most foolish homo sapient who has ever live on the surface of the earth. The African is foolish to depths unmeasured. I am an African myself. And unless I know that I am foolish, and unless I stamp out that foolishness from my body and soul, I will never be proud to be an African. Never!

The following are some very depressing slogans which you can hear only in Africa and in no other continent in the world no matter how backward it may be. Some of these slogans include, ‘The number of wives and children one has determines his wealth’, ‘Nine children are better than two’, ‘My grand children are my legacy’, ‘A chieftainship title gives someone much respect in his community’, a PhD or a professorship is the climax of education’, ‘That man is successful man he has three children in Germany, two in Belgium and one in the United States of America’, ‘In Africa you are in hell while in Europe or in the USA you are in paradise’, ‘The civil service is the best employment because in your old age, you enjoy your retirement benefits’, “Two heads think better than one’, ‘Building houses and putting them on rents is the best investment’, ‘Life is short’ etc.

Even if I were to stand before God who created me, I would tell Him without shuddering that the African is How can one be proud of the sophisticated infrastructure in other people’s countries rather than in his own country? Such temporal pride is only enjoyed by renegades. If someone settles his success in life on the number of children he has overseas, and they send him  hard currency every month, then, that person is certainly out of his mind. And such a person must be no other than a foolish African. If someone defines his pension as retirement benefits, then, he is certainly a foolish African. Retirement does not have any material or financial benefits. It only has spiritual benefits and the African cannot see them because he is blind. If you show a beneficial project to an African, believe me; you have shown it to a sheep.

foolish to immeasurable depths. How can the number of one’s wives and children determine his wealth rather than his talents and his technical know–how? What other legacy is handed down to grand children in Africa than abject poverty and despicable misery? What pedigree of respect can a chieftainship title gives someone? What bearing does a PhD and a professorship have on education?

Who deceived the African that two heads think better than one? God creates every human being individually. Two people don’t think; since the one can never know what the other is thinking. Only one person thinks and proposes what he has thought to other people who refine and polish it with their own thoughts. All paramount ideas which have changed the world were thought by one person. No doubt, Africans are counted at the bottom when inventors on earth are being counted, because they don’t know that only one head thinks at a time. Consequently, their intuition of initiative is compromised. How foolish they are!

Since the African does not know that investing in the mind is the best investment, why will he not settle on the manual labour of building houses and putting them on rents as the best investment? Since the African cannot create employment for himself, why will he not conclude that the civil service is the best employment because of retirement benefits in his old age? Since the African does not have anything meaningful to do with his life, why will he not console himself that life is short? Foolish African!

Prof. Teresa Nkuo Akenji Is New Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda (UBa)

Prof. Teresa Nkuo Akenji

She was appointed by a Presidential Decree of last Friday appointing her to replace Prof. Tafah Edokat Oki Edward.

Before her appointment last Friday she held the following posts of responsibility at the University of Buea; Dean of the Faculty of Science and Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Teaching and Information Technology. Another decree appoints Deans of the Faculties of the same university.

Triumph in Cameroonian Start Ups: $75,000 won through the ANZISHA PRIZE 2015

This year, two young Cameroonians, are among the 12 Anzisha Prize 2015 Finalists across Africa; Vanessa Zommi age 19 – Business Venture: Emerald Moringa Tea and Fabrice Alomo age 22 – Business Venture: MyAConnect. The 12 finalists will share prizes worth 75,000 US dollars with the grand winner making away with 25,000US dollars.

The Anzisha Prize seeks to award young entrepreneurs who have developed and implemented innovative solutions to social challenges or started successful businesses within their communities. 12 finalists from across Africa will win an all–expenses paid trip to South Africa to be a part of a week–long entrepreneurship workshop and conference at the African Leadership Academy in Johnnesburg.

The Anzisha Prize is an annual competition for young African Entrepreneurs under 22 years. To celebrate the two finalists in Cameroon, Youth Employment Service Cameroon with acronym YES Cameroon organized a Press Conference on the 27^th October 2015 at its headquarters in Yaounde. The conference was attended by International and National media, startups, entrepreneurs, students among others.

Vanessa Zommi

 She manufactures and processes the Moringa plant into Moringa tea. Emerald Moringa Tea addresses the chronic increasing death rate of the Cameroonian population as a result of diabetes. According to her team’s research, about 15% of the Buea population within the ages 15 to 99 years suffer from diabetes and up to 80% are not aware of their condition. Moringa tea is the natural solution.

Fabrice Alomo

The lack of visibility and accessibility of African businesses to a wider market coupled with his desire to see better for the continent led to the founding of MyAConnect.

Fabrice dedicated himself to being a fulltime entrepreneur along with his co–founder with the intention to positively impact people in his community, reduce poverty and create jobs.

Source: YES Cameroon.

Special Invitation: Launching! The Journal of Cameroonian Writers

 Dear all,

 Happy ending of the year 2015. We are humbled to invite you to the launching of The Journal of Cameroonian Writers on Thursday 26^th November 2015 at the Big Mankon Metropolitan Cathedral Hall, Bamenda at 3pm prompt. The reading of poems, short stories, articles, book reviews and conference papers shall animate this grand occasion. All the contributors to this maiden edition shall be entitled to a free copy each. They are as follows in alphabetical order:

 

1. Akongoh Innocent Ngwa (a book review, a conference paper)

2. Angu Pride Bih (a poem, an article)

3. Ashing Moses Nebafu (two poems, a short story)

4. Atigi Samuel Motom (an interview)

5. Beatrice Fri Bime (two poems, a biography)

6. Clara Enni Asubo (Ennivi Cooky: publicity)

7. Diagar Paul (a poem)

8. Doh Simon (an article)

9. Douglas Achingale (a poem)

10. Dugar Charles Fofung (a poem, an article)

11. Ernest L. Veyu (a poem)

12. Feh Demian Akwo (a poem)

13. Felix Che Tumaju (a poem)

14. Fotung Luma Magdalene (a poem)

15. Fru Nixon (a poem)

16. Gemoh Vekeblegah Evaristus (an article)

17. Gladys Nwi Anyangwe Focho (a poem)

18. Gwedeng Ngala aka Pa Ngala (a poem)

19. Hans Bokwe Itoe (a poem)

20. Imargard Anchang Langmia (three poems, a biography)

21. Jonas N. Dah (two poems, an article, a book review)

22. Joshua Akemecha (a poem)

23. K. K. Bonteh (a poem)

24. Lawrence Nobugh Nchinda (a poem)

25. Limfenyuy Kongnso Cyrille (a poem)

26. Liyong Emmanuel Sama (a poem, a short story, a novel excerpt)

27. Lucas Ntang Tasi (a poem, recent publications)

28. Magdalene Shiri Halle Awa (an interview, recent publications)

29. Martin Sama Njeke (a poem)

30. Matty Fru Fombong (two short stories, an interview)

31. Meshachin Epah-Elad (a poem, a biography)

32. Nchinda Fabrice Mbuna (a poem, a biography)

33. Ndashi Collins Itambi (a poem, recent publications)

34. Ngobesing Suh Romanus (a conference paper)

35. Nkongmenec Vivian Ntemgwa (a poem)

36. Nkwetatang Sampson Nguekie (three poems, an article, a conference paper)

37. Nsah Mala (a poem)

38. Peter N. Chateh (a book review, an interview)

39. Priscillia M. Manjoh (a poem, an interview, a biography)

40. Richard C. Kumengisa (a short story)

41. Ruth Ngozi Aben (a poem)

42. Sammy Oke Akombi (a poem, recent publications)

43. Tah Richard Ndey (a poem)

44. Tatah Emmanuel Bantar (a poem, a conference paper)

45. Tengwan Frederick Ambe (a poem)

46. Umeta Timothy Ufoka (a poem)

47. Valentine N. Tameh (a poem)

48. Wirsiy Elvira Leinyuy (a poem)

49. Yai Bala Daniel (a book review)

 

Yours sincerely,

Nkwetatang Sampson.