Walter wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon.
The University of Buea, UB, is the winner of the maiden edition of the Cameroon Students Challenge, CSC, a university brain-trust for innovation that took place from May 28 – 31 2013 in the UB campus.
In accordance to Article 14 Lines 1,2,3 and 4 of the rules governing the competition, UB emerged at the pole position with 68.5 points over 100, while the runner up, University of Yaoundé II had 68 points over 100. The University of Dschang came third and the University of Bamenda at the fourth position. The University of Maroua and the University of Yaoundé I respectively grabbed the 5th position and the University of Douala 6th.
The UB winning team at CSC brandishes their trophy
UB team of four, coached by Dr. Ernest Molua Lytia of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, bagged home a cash prize of FCFA 1.2 Million, the University of Yaoundé II, FCFA 700,000 and the University of Dschang FCFA 500,000.
President of the 8-man jury, Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh, scholar of History, described the intellectual competition as keen, adding that the criteria included; oral presentation, innovative character of proposals, comprehension of the other parties, answers to the observation from the jury, adding value to the theme on discussion (Stakes and Challenges of Cameroon’s Integration and Emergence), composition of opposing teams, bilingualism and the quality of restitution.
UB Vice Chancellor, Dr Nalova Lyonga said the three-day sojourn in her institution have being on intellectual discourses and hectic. “The CSC is on and alife,” she noted.
UB's Dr Ernest Molua Lytia amongs 5 of 7 coaches that led their teams of 4 each at the CSC in UB
According to Nalova the Reunification celebrations due in Buea have started already and UB is a great promoter of national integration and unity. “We’re thankful to the organisers, OPEN – Observatoire de la Presse Etrangere et Nationale, for opening our eyes to see the great diversity of UB,” she added.
To her, OPEN has opened the questions on Cameroon’s emergence. “The students have started and we Cameroonians must continue. The proposals from the seven state universities were so rich and we congratulate them for embracing the awesome task. We pray they should have more opportunities to tickle their brains. It’s being a teaching experience, especially to the jury,” she said.
The UB boss said this is the time to build Cameroon and looking back to history and fault-finding. “The competition has exposed the strength and weaknesses of not only the students but our country in general. It’s a learning experience. The outcome should challenge us; the content is an opportunity to challenge us. We say thanks to all who made it possible.”
Emmanuel Nasako winner of the painting price, puts the processes of Cameroon's emergence via a painting
Inspired by the ingenuity of Cameroonian students, the Executive Secretary of OPEN, Franҫois-Hervé Moudourou was upbeat that after the first edition of the CSC, the second will undoubtedly come.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Economy, Planning & Regional Development and the University of Buea for their massive participation and supporting their initiative.
Moudourou wished that more higher institutions should join the bandwagon and get in quest of knowledge and innovation, especially in the spirit of Cameroon’s emergence.
While the Ministry of Higher Education, represented by Dr. Sarah Agbor Anyang congratulated OPEN and all the stakeholders for daring and making the maiden edition of CSC a huge success, Etienne Nkwete, on behalf of the Ministry of the Economy said his ministry will always support the lofty goals of OPEN and wished them well in their endeavours.
Members of the CSC jury
Other speakers joined their voices to reinforce the intellectual and innovative touch of OPEN, while looking forward to the subsequent editions.
In the cultural aspects, Emmanuel Nasako of UB’s Department of Accounting, Faculty of Social & Management Sciences, came out best in the painting competition. Ntui Oben Agbor’s Poem – “Emergence Soonest” made the difference while Ndumbe Mosaso of UB and Director of the UB Choir had a special prize for composing the OPEN anthem.
The CSC was designed and organised for students by the Foreign and National Press Observatory, known in the French acronym as OPEN. The first edition of the CSC came in the context of celebrations marking fifty years of Cameroon’s Independence and Reunification.
