The University of Buea, UB, over the weekend graduated its 20th batch of students while the Catholic University Institute of Buea, CUIB, sent out its second batch. What was particular about the UB convocation was the first batch of Pan-African Master’s degree students from the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters (ASTI). The 10 Pan-African graduates were joined by 26 PhD holders and approximately 3,320 graduates in Bachelor Degrees.

Mbutuh Escarter Brieno Temnou from the College of Technology hit 3.86 GPA with a First Class Honours Degree in Computer Networks and Systems Maintenance. The Vice Chancellor of UB, Nalova Lyonga, recalled that Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with companies where students do practicals and modern ICT equipment installed in UB that links the institution to other higher centres of learning. Sitting in for the Minister of Higher Education, Professor Maurice Tchuente indicated that the graduation of students from the Pan-Africa University in UB represented Cameroon’s core values to Pan-Africanism.

On the other hand, the Catholic University Institute of Buea graduated 290 students. With its motto that hinges on entrepreneurial training, great strides have been made by the graduating students in the area of job creation. Vanessa Zommi won the second international prize for the Anzisha Award in South Africa for having worked with her team to produce the Moringa Tea which treats diabetes. Yannick Engemise created an environmentally-friendly company to produce paper sacks as against plastic sacks. Theodore Maya produced an Egusi-cracking machine.

It is with these innovations that the President of CUIB, Rev. Father George Nkeze Jingwa, announced that the Ministry of Higher Education has authorised the institute to run graduate and MBA programmes. He added that the schools will begin January 2016. The Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, USA, Monsignor Mauricio West also attended the ceremony.