On July 2, 2016, the University of Bamenda launches her Development Fund, UBaDEF. This is meant to step up its infrastructural development. 150 million FCFA were raised from North West elite and friends of the university. The University of Bamenda follows the University of Buea which did similar fund raising some years ago.
The university is in dire need of classrooms, an ICT Centre, Main Library, student hostels, multi-purpose sports complex, health centre, etc. The Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Dominique Mvogo, brought a message from the Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, commending what he described as “a brilliant initiative to supplement State subventions.”
Prof. Therese Nkuo Akenji, who conceived the idea to create UBaDEF revisited the creation of the University while stressing its mission of teaching, research, and service to the community. The VC reveals that the University harbours some 16,000 students and staff population and thus she needs huge investments to function properly.
The chief launcher, Alhadji Baba Ahmadou Danpullo and co-launchers set the tone, giving cheerfully. Meanwhile, an independent Management Committee for UBaDEF was commissioned with Tumban Manfred at the helm. It has as mission to source private and public funds to meet the infrastructural and academic needs of the university.
BaretaNews salutes the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor. The baby University needs to grow. We hope that the amount collected is judiciously put to function. We of BaretaNews have no doubt that this will be a success story similar to what happens in Buea University. We wish the University good luck
God is still saying something.