By Tikum Mbah Azonga
On the 29th of July this year, Dr. Nalova Lyonga, until then Deputy Vice Chancellor in Charge of Teaching and TICs at the University of Buea, was appointed Vice Chancellor of that University through a decree signed by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya.
One of the first steps she took was to lay out her vision for the university. She did so in an exclusive interview granted to The Post newspaper.
Tikum Mbah Azonga went through the interview and put together this report.
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If one were to sum up the interview in one phrase, it would be that Dr. Nalova Lyonga has pledged to put the University of Buea back on the map.
One priority area is that of the BMP, or Bachelor`s, Master`s, PhD programme which is part of the new dispensation of higher education awards already applicable in European Universities. The system relates training directly to the job market whether in terms of job obtainment or job creation. Such a setup makes education more relevant, more productive and more flexible. The Vice Chancellor says henceforth, the University of Buea will closely look at the nature of teaching in the new era.
Technology, she says, must be expanded: “With technology, it will help you to reduce some of the problems of human resources”. According to her, this decongestion would also help to make transcripts available to graduates quicker and more satisfactorily.
To the vexatious problem of corruption which The Post termed, “rife at the University of Buea”, Dr Nalova Lyonga said: “An institution runs on rules and regulations. We will look at the issues and ask people what is the right way. Everybody should know what the right way is. Based on that, we`re going to go by the rules and regulations”.
Concerning claims by the Students` Union, UBSU, the Vice Chancellor said , “students need to express what they want and we are going to dialogue and find solutions to the problems”. Whatever is the case, the Vice Chancellor said, students should prioritize their work, for that is the principal reason for their being at university.
With reference to the teaching staff trade union, SYNES which had frequently been at daggers drawn with the university administration, the Vice Chancellor affirmed that SYNES members are teachers like everyone else. As such, Union members have the same problems as all others. The solution, she said, lies in sitting together and tackling the problems together.
On the whole, the Vice Chancellor held that she would redynamize the University of Buea, not all alone, but with the support of everyone. That is when, she says, the University of Buea will not only really and truly be “the place to be”, but will also find its rightful place on the world map.
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This paper was first broadcast on Foundation Radio, Ngomgham-Bamenda on Friday the 13th of July 2012. The Radio is an offshoot of the Fomunyoh Foundation.
tmazonga 
The red carpet is always rolled out for a new comer and when it is time to go,he/she is booted out like a virus in the system
that was good news. i hope she accomplishes her aspirations as and really make Buea a rirthful place on the World map void of corrupt practices
she is the second female vice chancellor in the university of buea . what a blessing.