At pre-defense: Yaounde Int’l Business Schools students display ingenuity in project design.

Students of leading private higher institution of learning, the Yaounde International Business School, YIBS, have been hailed for their ingenuity in conceiving projects that not only relate to academics but also have the potential to create businesses and significantly contribute to the country’s economic growth.

The Vice Chancellor of YIBS, Rev Prof Anyambod Emmanuel Anya, made the positive remarks recently. 

The renowned academic was speaking after being marveled by the quality of business plans presented by Master’s students of the institution, during their pre-defense. 

The academic exercise took place on Campus A of YIBS in the Simbock neighbourhood in Yaounde. 

The projects presentation is part of the school’s requirement for students prior to their thesis defence. 

During the pre-defense, the students displayed before a three-man jury, their rich know-how on how their business-oriented projects will cater for the needs of the public and help resolve the issue of unemployment in the country.

Some of the projects conceived by the students involved the production of natural fruit juice, using fruits like pineapples, oranges, watermelons, and mangoes. 

The students told the jury that many of these resources are wasted due to the lack of processing infrastructure. Other projects included tea processing from the local herb, fever grass amongst others. 

Bridging gap between academia & industry

Speaking during the ceremony, the YIBS Vice Chancellor underscored the importance of the exercise. Rev Prof Anyambod explained that at the end, these students will be able to contribute to the country’s development. 

"We are not merely training students to acquire certificates and move from office to office in search of jobs. Our goal is to nurture individuals who will create jobs, employ others, and drive the sustainability and growth of our nation's economy,” the renowned scholar said. 

Nurturing students to become job creators, the academic said, reflects the institution’s commitment to producing graduates who are ready to tackle real-world challenges with innovative and practical solutions.

“This aligns with the vision of President Paul Biya, who has called on universities and Cameroonians to work towards the country’s emergence by 2035, transforming it into a more independent nation economically, socially, and politically,” Rev Prof Anyambod explained. 

The three-man jury, headed by the President of YIBS, had as its focus to demonstrate the feasibility and potential success of the proposed businesses. 

Importance of practical exercise 

Speaking to the press, the Director of Academic Research at YIBS, who was one of the jury members, Dr Bin Joachem Imeh, emphasised the importance of the practical approach, noting that students are being prepared not only to defend their final projects but also to transform their ideas into viable businesses. 

"We look for projects with strong business plans, clear marketing strategies, and solid financial projections. The best projects will be selected to pitch before investors, who will have the opportunity to finance these ventures, creating jobs and contributing to the economic development of Cameroon," Dr Imeh explained.

Queuing in from the academic researcher, another member of the jury who is Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Afro-Brains Cameroon, Dr Tata Fon Emmanuel, praised the initiative of the school.

Dr Tata Fon was invited by YIBS officials to evaluate the students from a practical point of view. 

"It’s always a pleasure to see how academia is aligning with industry needs. The more we close the gap between the two, the more relevant our students will be to the job market. While the content is strong, we need to continue pushing for more technical alignment with industry requirements," Dr Tata Fon remarked.

High school graduates urged to make hay while sun shines

Drawing allusions to the just-ended defense, the Vice Chancellor seized the opportunity to call on potential students of the institution to get themselves enrolled before the close of the ongoing process.

“YIBS is not just an academic institution; it is a breeding ground for the next generation of Cameroonian entrepreneurs. By emphasising on practical, hands-on learning and fostering strong connections with the industry, YIBS is ensuring that its graduates are not only job seekers but job creators.” Prof Anyambod said. 

The Vice Chancellor added that: “As the institution prepares for the official start of the academic year on September 30, prospective students are being oriented on the various fields they can specialise in, with experts in those areas providing insights to guide their choices”. 

The varsity don went on to disclose that: “The 2024/2025 academic year at YIBS is already off to a promising start, with an impressive intake of 1,800 students”.

He said in line with its vision to address contemporary challenges, YIBS has “transformed its entire campus into an incubator and a dynamic environment where students learn to develop and defend business plans that are marketable, sustainable, and ready for real-world application”.

About YIBS

It is worth noting that the YIBS offers training at the Higher National Diploma, HND, Bachelor and Master’s degree levels. 

It operates professional training programmes for Accountancy, Insurance, Banking and Finance, Project Management, Human Resource Management, Customs and Transit Management, Software Engineering, Computer Graphics and Web Designing, Computer Science and Network, Fashion Designing and Clothing, Educational Management and Administration, Nursing, Midwifery, Physiotherapy, and Medical Laboratory Sciences amongst other fields.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3221 of Friday September 6, 2024