The President of Catholic University Institute of Buea, CUIB, Rev. Father George Nkeze, has declared that, for Vision 2035 to be attained, Africans need entrepreneurial education.

He made the statement in an exclusive interview he granted The Post recently on the campus of the Varsity in Buea, while asserting that his institution is one of the first to institute entrepreneurship in the Higher Education in Cameroon.

Highlighting the difference between CUIB and State universities in Cameroon, Rev. Dr. Nkeze said CUIB does not only give its students education, but also tries to transform their minds to be solution finders and not problem seekers.

Excerpts:

The Post: You were recently commended in the media as one of the people who have brought innovation in Higher Education Cameroon. How did you do that?

Rev. Father Nkeze: Firstly, it came to me as a surprise. I only heard it over the national radio that I am one of those who have brought innovation in the educational system in Cameroon. I later received some calls from Priests and Christians who congratulated me about the good news. On a second thought, I said goodness does not hide and there is a certain Latin saying that “goodness diffuses itself”. I want to laud Footprints magazine and other media for highlighting what the Catholic University of Buea is doing to impact on higher education.

I have a passion for African Education because I am a specialist in that area. In my doctoral thesis, I did reiterate that the African educational system should be different from that of the Western world. Being appointed President of CUIB gave me the golden opportunity to bring out that innovation I have been studying and reflecting on for the past years. This acknowledgement came just like a confirmation of a passion I have for Africa Educational System.

What is this innovation you are talking about; how does CUIB look different from other universities?

CUIB has declared that, for Vision 2035 to be achieved, Africans need a different kind of education - entrepreneurial education. What is this entrepreneurial education? It is education to transform people’s mindsets. Africans have the begging mindset; they think that travelling abroad is the best thing. The entrepreneurial educational system will empower the students in the area of assessment which is what CUIB is doing. Students will be evaluated based on their skills not only content.Secondly, CUIB sees entrepreneurship not only as a mindset changer but a call.

In this line, if CUIB transforms the mindset of its students, then, Africans will, in turn, be changed. We have to change Africans and Africans will, in turn, change others. Instead of Africans blaming the Government and pointing accusing fingers at people, we should be solution finders, which is what CUIB is doing. In CUIB, we don’t say “the problem is…”, but “the solution is …”

Again, community service has been left out in our educational system. We try as much as possible to orient our students towards community service because, for Vision 2035 to be fully attained, we need patriotic citizens. CUIB, in this direction, is bringing in care and spirituality into the educational system so that we can have strong communities and, why not, a strong nation, Cameroon.

How do you assess the professionalisation of education in CUIB?

If we have to talk about professionalisation of education, then, the curriculum has to be professionalised. The whole curriculum system in Cameroon has to change as well as its assessment process. We cannot be talking about a new form of education in Africa without having a platform to practice. Every year, CUIB organises a 10-day trade fair where students showcase what they have been learning in the classroom throughout the academic year.

Still in the area of professionalisation, CUIB has started a four-year undergraduate system of education. If Africa has to revamp her educational system, then, three years at the undergraduate level is not enough. The student has to study and go to the field and test what he\she has studied, which, doing this, cannot take only three years.

Again, the world is becoming global and CUIB has made its curriculum global by setting up alumni offices where students are opened to the career world. CUIB has also entered into partnership with other strong universities in the world. Africa does not only need aid but capacity. CUIB gives her students the capacities and skills to face the global market.

How is the BMP (Bachelors – Masters – Phd) system followed in CUIB?

CUIB does not only follow the BMP system but they have added the BMP professional system which takes into consideration content and competency of students. For now, we have not started the Mastersprogramme in CUIB because we want a strong foundation. If the undergraduate system is weak, the Masters system will be weak as well.

What is your message to CUIB graduates out there?

They should always remember what they have learnt from CUIB. Have a soul which consists of character, attitude and collaboration, which is what will give them higher chances to be hired. Be respectful; make CUIB proud and Cameroon as well. Know that Cameroon needs great minds not only ‘matricule’ numbers. To every CUIB student, portray that mark of excellence; people should see it in you.