By Walter Wilson Nana
The University of Buea, UB, has signed a partnership deal worth FCFA 12 Billion with the University Housing Corporation, UHC. The kernel of this covenant is the construction of students’ hostels that will host 2,500 beds for UB by UHC.
At the high profiled signing ceremony recently, in UB’s Amphitheatre 750, the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nalova Lyonga described the atmosphere as momentous, noting that it is part of the university’s infrastructural development and an opportunity to bring their partners closer to them.
Pierre Meba, Board Chair, UHC & UB VC, Dr Nalova Lyonga put pen on paper
She mentioned that the 2,500 beds are coming to solve a challenge they have been going through in UB for fifteen years with only a 50-bed capacity hostel.
The UB VC expressed gratitude to the GM of GLOBECO, Emmanuel Egbe Mengot, for presenting a project proposal to UB in 2005 on the Build, Operate & Transfer, BOT, module, which is now coming to fruition thanks to UHC and Credit Foncier funding.
According to the UB boss there was need for hierarchy to give the green light for the project to take off and in 2012, after consultations within the relevant ministries, the Ministry of Economy, Planning & Regional Development authorised the GLOBECO project proposal and for UHC and Credit Foncier to do the funding, design, construction and maintenance of the 2,500-bed capacity hostel. “The housing project is beginning with UB. We promise to make it nice, including other facilities like restaurants, a business centre and more,” she said.
The hostels, which are expected to be built on two different locations on the UB campus, will take 12.5 hectares of land. Parcel A worth 5.5 hectares will be built at UB Village North and Parcel B, 7 hectares will be at UB Village South. “The construction duration will be at most 24 months. We expect the partnership to become a reality and wished all and sundry to pray for the project,” the VC added.
Stakeholders pose for a family picture after the signing ceremony
After putting pen on paper, the Board Chair of UHC, Pierre Meba said their partnership with UB is credible, while inviting other institutions to follow their example.
While reiterating government’s support for the project, Prof. Horace Ngomo, Secretary General in the Ministry of Higher Education said it is timely and will resolve the problem of students’ accommodation in UB. “This is a Public Private Partnership Agreement. We expect a lot of serious from all the stakeholders, especially UB and UHC. They should respect the terms of the agreement signed,” he mentioned.
Chief France Linonge of Bwitingi village, who doubles as President, Buea Chiefs Conference and the Secretary General in the Southwest Governor’s Office, Clement Fon Ndikum had same wishes – that all the stakeholders should collaborate with UB for the development of Buea and the need for other higher institutions across the country to emulate the UB example.
In a move to reinforce the message of the ceremony, the UB Theatre Troupe put up a sketch highlighting the problems of housing in UB and the relevance of more hostels.
