Authorities of African universities recognise Biya for promoting agriculture.

Meeting under the aegis of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, RUFORUM, the university authorities threw flowers on the Head of State for his role in boosting the development of sustainable agriculture. 

Members of the regional organisation had gathered in Yaounde for the body’s 19th Annual General Assembly, which ended yesterday. 

It was the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo, who chaired the Yaounde gathering.

In presenting the award to the representative of the Head of State at the high level forum, RUFORUM members stated that: “This contemporary piece of art is exceptional in its genre. It celebrates the art and the commitment of the being for whom it is intended, for it was conceived after narratives by the Patrons who thought it befitting to immortalise the pathways of one of their benefactors and visionary leaders. This is no other person than His Excellency Paul Biya, Head of State of the Republic of Cameroon”.

“This is the link and resonance with the great works of H.E Paul Biya, who decreed and stage-managed great institutions in Cameroon, whose names constitute lettered motifs which adorn this Award: IUT, ENSAI, ESMU, ISABEE, FASA and FAMV, etc...,” the statement added.

“This Award is a bounty play with words and images. From a distance, it seems sparse but on closing in, lots of content appear to the mind and senses. Its strength lies in this push and pull effect which serve as a mantra, a deep time proven and soul-searching warrior song which a true friend holds on to jealously remind the initiator when the later has long forgotten the song,” it also mentioned.

Speaking in her capacity as Chair of RUFORUM, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda, UBa, Prof Theresia Nkuo Akenji, boasted that after 19 years of its existence with 163 universities from across 40 countries, the relevance of the regional body to the continent cannot be underestimated. 

The renowned university don and endowed professor, told attendees that the collective power that RUFORUM has put together through 163 universities cannot be underrated.

The celebrated scientist and passionate researcher, noted that the Vice Chancellors who had converged on Yaounde remain committed to the core values and foundations of the network. 

Prof Nkuo-Akenji, who is also the first Vice President of the Association of African Universities Governing Board, explained that as a network, RUFORUM has taken a deliberate decision to focus on the transformation of higher education, “aware that this will not be an easy walk...we remain deeply committed to its realisation”.

She stated that: “We have prioritised some of the following areas from which we require your support: Reform the training agenda for Africa to meet its development needs; Entrepreneurship and business incubation for wealth creation; Research for Development and wealth creation; Partnerships for impact”.

Africa's diversity in agricultural research

Meanwhile, speaking shortly after visiting the various exhibition stands at the 19th AGM of the Regional Universities Forum, RUFORUM, at the esplanade of the Yaounde Congress Centre, Prof Theresia Nkuo Akenji, hailed Africa’s diversity in agricultural research.

For four days, delegates from renowned universities from across Africa displayed various products achieved through research in agriculture.

Universities like Makerere in Uganda, Haramaya in Ethiopia, Cape Coast in Ghana, Zimbabwe's Midlands University, Cameroon's Universities of Bamenda, Buea, Dschang, Ngaoundere amongst others, demonstrated mastery in research and output in agricultural transformation as well as other agricultural value chains.

They displayed various products manufactured from natural resources from Africa as cookies produced from Cookies sorghum, cassava, rice and other agric products.

The exhibitors implored African governments to promote research in agriculture in a move to maximise yields and curb famine in Africa as well as reduce Africa's dependency on foreign products.

It was disclosed at the end of the forum that Namibia will host the 20th edition of RUFORUM in 2024.

Over 800 participants took part in the forum among them ministers from Malawi, Chad and some 80 Vice Chancellors.

Established by ten Vice Chancellors in 2004, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, RUFORUM, is a consortium of universities in Africa. 

The organisation currently counts a membership of 163 universities in 40 Africaj countries. RUFORUM is registered as an International NGO with base in Uganda.

It is coordinated by a Secretariat hosted at Makerere University in Kampala. The organisation evolved from its predecessor, the Forum on Agricultural Resource Husbandry, FORUM program of the Rockefeller Foundation. 

In July 2014, RUFORUM signed a cooperation agreement with the African Union to support the implementation of the African Union Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy.