A NEW MIRROR FOR THE RURAL WORLD

(For Dr. Sani Gur Amawa who today attended and supported Dr Amungwa Athanasius as he launched his new book, RURAL SOCIOLOGY at the University of Buea) BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA We let it sail unbridled and unfettered Just to circumvent the old rails We gave priority to the rural world And put the urban world on hold, for a while. All the relevant paradigms were unaltered Because while espousing sociological theories We used both quantitative and qualitative methods Why not? Is research not about covering and uncovering?

HOAX FROM THE BRONX

(For my longtime friend Bernard Muambo whose brother I met at the University of Buea today) BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA Washington is surely not far Even if you journey by car But then, if you think of the Bronx Then just know it`s a hoax.

CRADLE OF THE FRUGAL

(For Dr. Amungwa Athanasius, today Wednesday 27 November, the day he launched Rural Sociology in Amphi 750 of the University of Buea). BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA Is it arable? Or is it just rural? If it`s a cradle Then surely, we can`t all be so frugal.

FEELING OF GUILT

BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA He dropped in this morning To vindicate himself Perhaps he knew we were mourning If, not, then why displace the bookshelf?

THIS BEARING OF GRIT

BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA Where is the loose bearing? I mean the oily and thick one It was over there on the safari table Just before dawn Now I can`t find it. Is it because of that quaint earring? Or the light that went to everyone Here we hardly trade a spare part for a fable For why should we when we have no lawn? Unless this bearing of ours is all grit?

THE GIRL IN WHITE AND GREEN

BY TIKUM MBAH AZONGA She is here She has driven in like the farmer`s daughter Dressed to kill in trousers Clutching her cell phone to her ear For all of us to see Her gait is majestic And her built is provoking All eyes are on her. She walks and struts with no fear Even if she`s seized by a sudden shiver All she needs now is a bouquet of flowers So that she can once more move into higher gear Then will she sweep us off to the great sea And make us feel like an old piece of elastic The next minute she`ll be back looking hectic So, for God`s sake, don`t blame her.

NEW VICE CHANCELLOR OUTLINES BLUEPRINT

Po

By Tikum Mbah 

On the 29^th of July this year, Dr. Nalova Lyonga, until then Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Teaching and TICs at the University of Buea, was appointed Vice Chancellor of that University through a decree signed by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.

One of the first steps she took was to lay out her vision for the university. She did so in an exclusive interview granted to The Post newspaper.

Tikum Mbah Azonga went through the interview and put together this report.

___________________________________________

If one were to sum up the interview in one phrase, it would be that Dr. Nalova Lyonga has pledged to put the University of Buea back on the map.

One priority area is that of the BMP, or Bachelor`s, Master`s, PhD programme which is part of the new dispensation of higher education awards already applicable in European Universities. The system relates training directly to the job market whether in terms of job obtainment or job creation. Such a setup makes education more relevant, more productive and more flexible. The Vice Chancellor says henceforth, the University of Buea will closely look at the nature of teaching in the new era.

Technology, she says, must be expanded: “With technology, it will help you to reduce some of the problems of human resources”. According to her, this decongestion would also help to make transcripts available to graduates quicker and more satisfactorily.

To the vexatious problem of corruption which The Post termed, “rife at the University of Buea”, Dr Nalova Lyonga said: “An institution runs on rules and regulations. We will look at the issues and ask people what is the right way. Everybody should know what the right way is. Based on that, we`re going to go by the rules and regulations”.

Concerning claims by the Students` Union, UBSU, the Vice Chancellor said , “students need to express what they want and we are going to dialogue and find solutions to the problems”. Whatever is the case, the Vice Chancellor said, students should prioritize their work, for that is the principal reason for their being at university.

With reference to the teaching staff trade union, SYNES which had frequently been at daggers drawn with the university administration, the Vice Chancellor affirmed that SYNES members are teachers like everyone else. As such, Union members have the same problems as all others. The solution, she said, lies in sitting together and tackling the problems together.

On the whole, the Vice Chancellor held that she would redynamize the University of Buea, not all alone, but with the support of everyone. That is when, she says, the University of Buea will not only really and truly be “the place to be”, but will also find its rightful place on the world map.

________________________________________

This paper was first broadcast on Foundation Radio, Ngomgham-Bamenda on Friday the 13^th of July 2012. The Radio is an offshoot of the Fomunyoh Foundation. Dr Chris Fomunyoh recently appointed me Executive Station Manager of Foundation Radio. I am handling this alongside my full time job as Head of the Communication Division of the University of Bamenda.

sted on July 13, 2012 by WORDS FROM TIKUM MBAH AZONGA

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By Tikum Mbah Azonga

On the 29^th of July this year, Dr. Nalova Lyonga, until then Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Teaching and TICs at the University of Buea, was appointed Vice Chancellor of that University through a decree signed by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.
One of the first steps she took was to lay out her vision for the university. She did so in an exclusive interview granted to The Post newspaper.

Tikum Mbah Azonga went through the interview and put together this report.
___________________________________________

If one were to sum up the interview in one phrase, it would be that Dr. Nalova Lyonga has pledged to put the University of Buea back on the map.
One priority area is that of the BMP, or Bachelor`s, Master`s, PhD programme which is part of the new dispensation of higher education awards already applicable in European Universities. The system relates training directly to the job market whether in terms of job obtainment or job creation. Such a setup makes education more relevant, more productive and more flexible. The Vice Chancellor says henceforth, the University of Buea will closely look at the nature of teaching in the new era.
Technology, she says, must be expanded: “With technology, it will help you to reduce some of the problems of human resources”. According to her, this decongestion would also help to make transcripts available to graduates quicker and more satisfactorily.
To the vexatious problem of corruption which The Post termed, “rife at the University of Buea”, Dr Nalova Lyonga said: “An institution runs on rules and regulations. We will look at the issues and ask people what is the right way. Everybody should know what the right way is. Based on that, we`re going to go by the rules and regulations”.
Concerning claims by the Students` Union, UBSU, the Vice Chancellor said , “students need to express what they want and we are going to dialogue and find solutions to the problems”. Whatever is the case, the Vice Chancellor said, students should prioritize their work, for that is the principal reason for their being at university.
Wi

By Tikum Mbah 

On the 29^th of July this year, Dr. Nalova Lyonga, until then Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Teaching and TICs at the University of Buea, was appointed Vice Chancellor of that University through a decree signed by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.

One of the first steps she took was to lay out her vision for the university. She did so in an exclusive interview granted to The Post newspaper.

Tikum Mbah Azonga went through the interview and put together this report.

___________________________________________

If one were to sum up the interview in one phrase, it would be that Dr. Nalova Lyonga has pledged to put the University of Buea back on the map.

One priority area is that of the BMP, or Bachelor`s, Master`s, PhD programme which is part of the new dispensation of higher education awards already applicable in European Universities. The system relates training directly to the job market whether in terms of job obtainment or job creation. Such a setup makes education more relevant, more productive and more flexible. The Vice Chancellor says henceforth, the University of Buea will closely look at the nature of teaching in the new era.

Technology, she says, must be expanded: “With technology, it will help you to reduce some of the problems of human resources”. According to her, this decongestion would also help to make transcripts available to graduates quicker and more satisfactorily.

To the vexatious problem of corruption which The Post termed, “rife at the University of Buea”, Dr Nalova Lyonga said: “An institution runs on rules and regulations. We will look at the issues and ask people what is the right way. Everybody should know what the right way is. Based on that, we`re going to go by the rules and regulations”.

Concerning claims by the Students` Union, UBSU, the Vice Chancellor said , “students need to express what they want and we are going to dialogue and find solutions to the problems”. Whatever is the case, the Vice Chancellor said, students should prioritize their work, for that is the principal reason for their being at university.

With reference to the teaching staff trade union, SYNES which had frequently been at daggers drawn with the university administration, the Vice Chancellor affirmed that SYNES members are teachers like everyone else. As such, Union members have the same problems as all others. The solution, she said, lies in sitting together and tackling the problems together.

On the whole, the Vice Chancellor held that she would redynamize the University of Buea, not all alone, but with the support of everyone. That is when, she says, the University of Buea will not only really and truly be “the place to be”, but will also find its rightful place on the world map.

________________________________________

This paper was first broadcast on Foundation Radio, Ngomgham-Bamenda on Friday the 13^th of July 2012. The Radio is an offshoot of the Fomunyoh Foundation. Dr Chris Fomunyoh recently appointed me Executive Station Manager of Foundation Radio. I am handling this alongside my full time job as Head of the Communication Division of the University of Bamenda.

th reference to the teaching staff trade union, SYNES which had frequently been at daggers drawn with the university administration, the Vice Chancellor affirmed that SYNES members are teachers like everyone else. As such, Union members have the same problems as all others. The solution, she said, lies in sitting together and tackling the problems together.
On the whole, the Vice Chancellor held that she would redynamize the University of Buea, not all alone, but with the support of everyone. That is when, she says, the University of Buea will not only really and truly be “the place to be”, but will also find its rightful place on the world map.
________________________________________
This paper was first broadcast on Foundation Radio, Ngomgham-Bamenda on Friday the 13^th of July 2012. The Radio is an offshoot of the Fomunyoh Foundation.