Mefou & Afamba: Defence minister lauds progress on new EMIA campus.

The visit was to assess the progress of work on the second phase of the project. The first phase, which involved the construction of a probationary year building, launched in February 2024, was completed in December 2024.

The second phase, launched in January 2025, it was disclosed, concerns the construction of about twenty buildings for the first and second year trainees.

Minister Beti Assomo expressed satisfaction with the progress made on the facility since his last visit. He disclosed that more than a quarter of the work has already been completed.

“What we saw today gives us great satisfaction. The project is progressing at a steady pace and without interruption,” the minister said.

Beti Assomo said upon completion, the new EMIA campus will, in accordance with instructions of the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Paul Biya, become a “true military academy".

“We are only in the first phase, and I am very satisfied with the progress so far,” he said, while thanking the Director of Military Engineering and his team for the quality and smooth running of this project.

Minister says relocation to begin

Minister Beti Assomo announced that the relocation to the new EMIA campus from Melen to Ekoum-Abang, shall be carried out simultaneously with construction work.

“We are not waiting for the keys to be handed over or the inauguration to relocate EMIA's training activities,” Minister Beti Assomo said.

During his evaluation visit, Minister Beti Assomo also visited the 31st badge of trainees at the multipurpose hall during lunch, which we gathered, also serves as the refectory for first-year students.

He said their training was taking place under a “very pleasant and comfortable setting” with all equipment installed in the kitchens and dormitories, which are already operational.

“The current facility in Melen is located in the centre of the city within the urban perimeter. Here, the campus covers an area of 60 hectares. The infrastructure under construction will only occupy five hectares,” Minister Beti Assomo revealed.

Saluates hospitality of host population

Minister Beti Assomo thanked the population of Ekoum-Abang and its environs in Awae and Soa for graciously offering 60 hectares of land to Ministry of Defence.

He said the new EMIA campus will serve as an economic hub and encouraged the population to capitalize on the economic opportunities that will emerge upon completion.

The minister also mentioned revealed that the school’s demand for food will be met entirely by local production, eliminating the need to purchase food from markets in Yaounde.

"The site will eventually accommodate 3,000 people. Because it will not only be used for training, but also for seminars and national and international workshops. It is therefore a hub of development here in the locality, and the population should benefit from it,” the minister said. 

He expressed the wish to some of the youth from Ekoum-Abang and the surrounding area pass the extremely rigorous process and merit-based competitive entrance examination into EMIA.

Enter Director of Military Engineering

The Director of the Military Engineering, Colonel Nko’o Nko’o Jean Heribert, disclosed that the execution rate of the work is estimated at 25%.

Colonel Nko’o Nko’o said they have been working for six months, which he described as the most difficult due to varied procedures and other studies.

He reassured the minister that the works will not go beyond the 24 months period for the completion of the new EMIA campus. Colonel Nko’o Nko’o sounded upbeat that the ultramodern structure will be ready in no distant time.  

He said the construction of the new EMIA campus will provide the prestigious school with modern infrastructure meeting the standards and expectations for the training of future Cameroonian and foreign officers.

It is worth noting that for the second phase, the exploited area is estimated at 5 hectares divided into two zones. The first zone, three meters higher, is dedicated to the surveillance of cadet officers.

The second zone concerns academic structures like kitchen, refectory, amphitheatre, playgrounds including two football fields and a basketball court as well as accommodation for instructors not residing in Yaounde.  

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3575 of Thursday September 25, 2025