File photo: Prof Mbarika and PM Dion Ngute during an audience
In response to President Biya’s remarks on the crucial role of the private sector in reducing unemployment, Prof Victor Mbarika, founder of the ICT University, has challenged 200 Cameroonians to join him in investing 1 trillion FCFA in the country’s economy.
Prof Mbarika, a US-based Professor of ICT, made the call in a recorded video shared on streaming platforms, following Biya’s Youth Day message. He emphasised that no government can provide employment to all citizens, and that the private sector must play a key role in job creation.
“I am throwing a 1 trillion FCFA challenge,” Prof Mbarika announced. “I am challenging 200 businessmen and diasporans to put in the same amount of money to develop Cameroon in our own small way.”
Prof Mbarika praised President Biya’s emphasis on higher education and entrepreneurship in his Youth Day speech. He noted that the speech was a departure from the usual focus on politics and sports, and that Biya’s words on professionalising higher education were particularly welcome.
“The emphasis on professionalisation of higher education is extremely important, and I am so happy that I can hear that come directly from the leader of our country,” Prof Mbarika said.
He also celebrated Biya’s encouragement of young Cameroonians to engage in entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in agriculture and ICT. “This is the beauty of what we do at the ICT University,” Prof Mbarika said. “We don’t train our students to go look for jobs. In fact, more than 80% of our students, when they finish, they aren’t interested in working for the government. They go and create their own jobs and employ others.”
However, Prof Mbarika also expressed concern that many young Africans view agriculture as a low-status profession. “Farmers in America are some of the richest people,” he pointed out. “Farming is a great thing that can bring a lot of money to young people.”
To address this, the ICT University is launching an agriculture project that will employ over 4,000 people over the next ten years. Prof Mbarika called on 200 successful Cameroonians to join him in investing 5 billion FCFA per year for the next decade, totaling 1 trillion FCFA.
“I have many friends who can do this,” Prof Mbarika said. “I am calling on them to join this challenge. Let us make this happen. We have started to put in this money to invest in this country.”
Prof Mbarika’s challenge is a call to action for Cameroonians to take ownership of their country’s development and to work together to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of unemployment and poverty, initiatives like Prof Mbarika’s 1 trillion FCFA challenge offer a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
