At the University of Buea Matriculation Ceremony: Vice Chancellor speaks of more investment in housing and HIV/AIDS

The University of Buea (UB) admission figures were released on Friday, October 30, 2015, by the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nalova Lyonga, as she chaired this year’s matriculation ceremony. Out of 6,085 new students, 3,285 are female. She explained that the figures excluded awaited results of competitive entrance examinations into other schools of UB such as HTTTC Kumba, ASTI, the Medical Schools and the College of Technology. The matriculation ceremony was also an occasion to solemnly obtain the promise of freshmen to abide by the rules and regulations of the institution.

Officiating at last Friday’s event in the Open-air Amphitheatre, the Vice Chancellor singled out lodging as a threat and called on private business persons to invest more in housing around the University campus in Molyko. "This would reduce accommodation cost and make life less tedious for young Cameroonians wanting to be more useful to the nation by pursuing their education", she added. She dished out motherly advice to the freshmen who are by their young age still vulnerable and naïve. “There is HIV/AIDS here everywhere,” she warned, urging them not to misuse their precious bodies as their future was still very much ahead of them. Dr. Nalova Lyonga had praise-worthy words for parents and everyone who contributed to the success of the freshmen in their secondary and high school education, and sued for continuous efforts so that the Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate (BMD) system continues to succeed.

The Vice Chancellor urged the new students to avoid drinking alcohol and instead invest their health, energy, time, finances and character in studies so as to be happy graduates of the “place to be.” As it is the tradition, a successful professional was invited to deliver a motivating talk to the freshmen. It was the turn of Nigerian-born Udom Isong Amos, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the United Bank for Africa (UBA). He talked on humility, empathy, resilience, honesty, loyalty and all that builds a man physically and spiritually to sail through life.