Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
The Cameroon Opportunities Industrialisation Centre (COIC) and the Borstal Institute, all Buea-based professional establishments for the empowerment and rehabilitation of Cameroonian youths have signed a protocol agreement. The signing ceremony and content of the partnership agreement were made public, Thursday, January 23 2014 at the COIC conference room.
According to the Director of the Borstal Institute, Fidelis Njie Ewumbue, the partnership with COIC is to enable his institution look out for expertise as they introduce technological activities in their training and rehabilitation of deviant children. “We want to ensure that
Fidelis Njie Ewumbue, Director, Borstal Institute, putting pen on paper at the MOU ceremony
the workshops that are found in the Borstal Institute get operational. For more than ten years, we have an equipped workshop but the Institute lacked the necessary expertise to move on with activities. So, we came to meet COIC , knowing that they are a powerhouse in impacting skills to young Cameroonians in various domains in technology,” he said.
Ewumbue saw in the partnership an opportunity for his trainees to make use of the jewel they have in terms of
A gleeful looking Director of COIC, Clara Limunga at the signing ceremony at COIC
equipments that the government of Cameroon made available via the Ministry of Social Affairs. “It is also a window for other young Cameroonians out there to come to the Borstal Institute and learn new skills that will lead them to job creation or look for jobs elsewhere,” he noted.
He will mention what Borstal Institute is putting into the Protocol; “We are putting our facilities, our workshops, the equipments and other infrastructure on
Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad, Board Chair, COIC - satisfied with the MOU with Borstal Institute, Buea
the ground. We will also develop joint projects with COIC that will ensure productivity and sustainability within the two centres.”
Ewumbue indicated that if we do not protect the children today by giving them opportunities to blossom like the aforementioned institutions are doing, then we should be ready to protect ourselves in the future.
Clara Limunga Molua, Director of COIC,
Volunteers from Europe at the Borstal Institute were also party to the ceremony
said their institutions are coming together to better train and equip Cameroonian youths. “It is an opportunity for us to equip ourselves and give up-to-date training to the Cameroonian youth so that they can be self reliant and economically productive. These are two institutions with a common goal to train the underprivileged,” she explained.
Molua said COIC will be putting their qualified technicians into the agreement that will go to Borstal Institute and impact knowledge and skills to the latter’s trainees. “Borstal Institute has the modern equipment but they do not have human resources to manage and exploit it for the betterment of their trainees. So, they are making available the equipment and we come in with the human resource.”
The COIC Director said they are motivated to see their trainees forge ahead, work hand-in-glove with the Borstal Institute to source for funding and to make sure that they collaborate and push forward for greater partnerships.
The Southwest Regional Delegate of Employment and Vocational Training, John Atosoh, who is the supervisory authority of COIC appreciated the protocol agreement, adding that it is necessary to enhance the Cameroonian youths. He prayed that the terms of the MOU should be respected so that both institutions and the ministries involved; Employment and Vocational Training and Social Affairs will be happy.
Same spirit reigned with the representative of the Southwest Regional Delegation of Social Affairs, Simplice Petho, who wished that COIC give Borstal Institute the necessary expertise for them to take their trainees to another level of capacity building.
A delighted Board Chair of COIC, Barrister Sam Ekontang Elad congratulated the two institutions for the initiative, saying the agreement is logical for them as it is geared towards the development of their respective missions.
