In order to attain his objective of rendering Cameroon’s system more professional and productive, Head of state, Paul Biya last Friday appointed three rectors at the helm of some state universities.
In Buea, Dr Nalova lyonga Pauline Egbe was appointed to replace Pr Vincent P.K. Titanji who had attained retirement age. Pr Titanji is leaving “the place to be” after six years of reign which some have described as unsatisfactory. The University of Buea students’ union (UBSU) almost marred the 15th edition of the All university games hosted here due to brawls with the latter’s administration. Security on campus had become a very rare commodity for students. Students frequently fail prey to rapists and robbers on campus especially at night when they went studying for exams. Infighting and backstabbing has for several years now marred the development of this jewel. Recently the Head of department of agricultural economics and agro-business in the faculty of agriculture and veterinary machine, Dr Ernest Molua resigned from his functions to the detriment of his students blaming it on the working conditions which are no longer conducive for him. Dr Nalova Lyonga knows so well the shoes she is stepping into. For over six years she has been deputy vice chancellor for teaching, professionalization and development of Ict. As she takes office, Madam Nalova Lyonga would be expected to balance the insecurity equation on campus, intensify the professionalization endeavor against the backdrop of the Bmp (bachelor, masters, PhD) system, source funding for more infrastructure, review the students’ union, Ubsu’s relationship with the administration which since its creation has been a very tensed one according to students and observers, lodging and many other problems plaguing the university. Dr Nalova Lyonga is an English lecturer, a holder of a PhD from Ann Arbor University, Michigan, United States of America. Lecturing since 1985, Dr Nalova Lyonga is the second woman to head this university after Dr Dorothy Limunga Njeuma its creation in 1993 until 2005.Over in Yaoundé II Soa, Pr Jean Tabi Manga is quitting the stage amidst allegations of management errors that cost the state over FCFA 70 million. It is unclear whether president Biya’s decision was motivated by the Supreme state audit’s report, but it is being said in high quarters that it was only normal for a manager who had been found guilty of such a grave error to be relieved of his functions. Early morning the Friday Pr Manga ordered the incarceration of three students who were planning a peaceful march to call on the Head of state to sack the latter. Before the Supreme state audit’s report, Pr Manga had apparently already lost favour with his students and even parents. Last year several thousands of students paid fees twice before sitting the second semester exams for a fraud which till date victims have not come to terms with the cause. Former Yaoundé I university rector, Pr Oumarou Boubba has taken over leadership in Soa. He has been replaced in the Ngoa Ekele campus known by many as the “mother of universities,” by Pr Maurice Aurelien Sosso. Until his appointment he was inspector general in the ministry of Higher education. In Douala Bruno Bekolo Ebe is ceding his position to Pr Dieudonné Oyono who until the appointment was coordinator of the National good governance program as well as Technical adviser n0 II at the general secretariat of the Cpdm central committee. Pr Bekolo Ebe has been summoned at the Budgetary and finance disciplinary committee of the Supreme state audit to justify management loopholes noticed in his running of the Douala University these past years. Unlike his colleague of Soa who already knows how he has to pay back, Pr Bekolo Ebe is yet to know his fate. In as much as President Biya’s decision is in conjunction with the promise he made while opening the 3rd ordinary congress of the Cpdm on September 15 last year which hinged on his determination to battle corruption without complaisance, it is also true that last Friday’s presidential decree is geared towards bettering the university system. While Tabi Manga and Bekolo Ebe are linked to corruption scams, Vincent Titanji of Buea retires.
Benedict Ndinwa
