By Walter Wilson Nana
The Vice Chancellor, VC, of the University of Buea, UB, Dr. Nalova Lyonga has told the 6,700 freshmen and returning students of UB to resist the temptation of sexually transmitted marks.
The UB VC made the plea, Saturday, recently at the Open Air Amphitheatre while addressing the students, support staff, lecturers and guests at the matriculation ceremony of the 20th batch of students admitted into the university. “There is absolutely no reason for any student in UB to give in to pressures from anybody in the campus. If you go down for any wrong doing, it’s because you wanted it. And if you are caught, the laws in force will clampdown on you severely. We have all the channels for any student to report such cases, even me (the VC) I am available anytime for related situations,” she said.
UB VC, Dr Nalova Lyonga (R) & Dr Andrew Ekoka Molindo guest speaker at the Matriculation ceremony in a solemn entry into the UB Open Air Amphitheatre
Nalova Lyonga entreated the freshmen to collaborate with UB authorities and make their sojourn enjoyable. “Listen to your lecturers, use your time to innovate, be in good standing, get on board the information superhighway (www.ubuea.net) and make UB an African university with a global perspective,” the UB boss advised.
While inviting the freshmen to know what students’ life in UB is all about and know what it takes to pay the various students’ dues, the VC also made a call to the women out there and female students in particular to be interested in the Faculties of Agriculture, Technology and more. “These are prestigious disciplines. Our emphasis is on production and job creation,” she noted.
In a feisty academic discourse on the theme; Make Use Of The Opportunity, Chief/ Dr Andrew Ekoka Molindo of UB told the students; “The sky is your limit. Come into UB and finish successfully. Dream big and don’t give up.”
He enumerated some guidelines for a fruitful stay in UB. These included; setting specific goals, be responsible for your success, attend all classes, balance work and play, don’t be afraid to ask for help, respect rules, regulations and the dress code, work extra hard, do all the tests and assignments and very crucial of all be close to your God.
In an inter-religious service, the Islamic, Presbyterian, Baptist and Catholic Chaplains of UB prayed for God’s guidance for the students and the UB administration.
Freshmen read & take their matriculation oath in UB
The Catholic Chaplain, Rev/Fr Celestine Diang invoked God’s blessings saying; “You are the protector of all who trust in you. Guide and protect the administrators, the lecturers and students from all the dangers they are likely going to encounter. We as ask you to protect them from all physical and spiritual dangers. Bless them as they begin this academic year 2012/2013 and help them in all they are going to do for you.”
A freshman in the Department of Geography, Faculty of Social & Management Sciences, Marcel Ngoe Mukete felt inspired being part of the matriculation ceremony. “From the speeches, it is good to be hard working in all you do and never give up no matter the circumstances. My friends who didn’t come for the ceremony have missed a lot. But it is hard work that will make them sail through UB,” he said.
Lydia Kwolo, another freshman in the Faculty of Education, Department of Curriculum Studies & Teaching, CST – Biology learnt how to be conscious of what happens in and around the UB community following the advice from Dr. Molindo and the VC.
