Rainbow Higher Institute of Applied Microfinance Manag’t soon operational.

The school has been authorised by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training.

Officials said the institution already boasts of some of the country’s best lecturers, given its mission to groom astute professionals in the microfinance sector.

According to the institution, RHIAM is structured to ensure its certifications match academic standards and professional industry requirements.

In its public documents, officials indicated that RHIAM is also in the process of establishing other national and global strategic partnerships. These, the documents detailed, seeks to enhance mentorship, exchanges and trainee placements.

It belongs to the Rainbow Cooperative Credit Union of Cameroon, Rainbow Cam. The MFIs that run the organisation, the management of the institution say, serve as both shareholders and the primary employers of graduates.

Courses offered, enrollment criteria, study cost 

RHIAM has several distinct departments viz; applied MFI Management; Applied Business/Finance, Applied Management, Law (Legal career), Agriculture Food Science, Applied Education, Applied Computer Engineering and Applied Mechanical Engineering. 

RHIAM also offers in-service skills certifications. The institution said the training targets personnel of its affiliates, management, boards and standing committees to improve performance.

On what it takes to study at RHIAM, officials said the school’s Department of Banking and Finance maintains a rigorous selection process. 

It maintains that admission is exclusively for candidates who hold an HND, Bachelor’s degree, Masters In Business Administration, MBA, or higher certifications in specialised fields such as; Accountancy, Banking & Finance, Business Management, Human Resource Management, Software Engineering, Cyber Security and Marketing.

Training duration is 12 months with 35 percent formation focused on theory, 55 percent practical and 10 percent practical on innovation and analysis. It cost 500,000 FCFA. Admissions are done twice annually.

RHIAM, we are told, seeks to accompany humanity in building stable and flourishing economies. The cost of the training is said to cover studies and access to the network of over 100 affiliated MFIs.

Termed a "practicing" university institute, those behind the school said the goal remains to bridge the gap between theory and field realities.

Given the increasing demand for quality professionals, RHIAM has been positioned as the one-size-fits-all academy where all-rounders are groomed.

The school, its owners say, is the ideal grooming and transition point from the classroom to field experience in the microfinance sector. RHIAM, they insist, is a university institute that is focused on training specialised human resource for financial institutions and the banking industry in general.

The school also offers training for Internal Controllers. Officials specified that, the best 30 professionals from every cohort are eligible for Internal Control specialisation. 

Such further training is said to involve three months of highly specialised skill acquisition on audit, compliance, and institutional oversight. The deadline for admission is January 30. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3687 of Wednesday January 28, 2026