At close of RUFORUM confab in Y’de: Scholars commit to put African varsities at heart of agricultural transformation.

They took the commitment yesterday at the close of the 19th General Assembly Meeting, AGM, of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, ROFURUM.
The event attended by over 600 university authorities from over 163 higher education institutions in more than 41 African countries, took place at the Yaoundé Conference Centre. It spanned Monday, October 30 to Thursday, November 2.
During the gathering, scholars through the theme of the AGM: “Transforming higher education to sustainably feed and create prosperity for Africa”, strategised on how to make the African continent prosperous by providing a university education that can better transform the agricultural sector.
They amongst other things discussed ways through which African universities can produce competent graduates capable of transitioning into entrepreneurs and job creators.
The officials also strategised on capitalising on technological innovation, research and adequate financing of agriculture-oriented programs in universities to train qualified man power.
Speaking at the end of the works Thursday, authorities said result-oriented resolutions have been arrived at and a perfect roadmap drawn to perfectly change the phase of Africa’s agriculture.

Participants at the closing ceremony yesterday

Instituting new approach in training 
The Board Chair of ROFURUM, Prof Theresa Nkuo Akenji, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda, UBa, said they have agreed to put students at the center of university teaching and innovation.
“All our resolutions are based on transforming teaching. This has to deal with the learners and how we are going to approach the way we deliver in our classrooms so that we can actually transform higher education,” she stated.

“This begins with a new approach totally designed so that we can impact through skills. So, this is all about scaling up skills so that the learner can use these schools to reach out to the community which means that everything in schools is student-centered. They should have the opportunity for critical and no longer the system of seating in the classroom” the UBa Vice Chancellor added.
These resolutions, she emphasised, will lead to students bringing up solutions to the problems of Cameroon and those of the African continent.

The Executive Secretary of ROFURUM, Patrick Okori, said the resolutions arrived at will serve as catalysts in the continent’s much-cherished dream of attaining prosperity agriculture.

Minister enjoins authorities to implement resolutions diligently
The Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo, in a closing remark, saluted the efforts of all the participants.
He expressed the same gratitude to the state authorities who ensured the successful organisation of the ceremony including the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, and the Head of State, President Paul Biya.
He urged delegates to be selfless and resilient in their efforts towards the implementation of the resolutions. 
The minister enjoined the authorities to do so through competence-based teachings, innovation and research programs.
Prof Fame Ndongo said African governments have over the years, made strides in pushing their economies ahead through agriculture.
Citing the case of Cameroon through the New Higher Education Orientation Law, called on the officials to use the resolutions to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity amongst students to combat poverty and unemployment.