The pioneer cohort of students at St Mary’s University Institute (SMUI) in Tiko Subdivision, Fako Division, South West Region, has been formally matriculated in a ceremony held on campus.
The event saw 33 new students welcomed into higher education in the traditional Anglo-Saxon style. It was held at the Amphi 450 auditorium on the university’s campus in New Bonako, near the Tiko-Douala tollgate, under the oversight of officials from SMUI’s mentor institution, the University of Bamenda (UBa).
The ceremony was attended by distinguished academics, industry experts, community leaders, and guardians. Among them were Prof. Eneke Tambe Bechem, Registrar of the University of Buea, and Hon. Findi Stanley Mokondo, Member of Parliament for Fako East, the constituency in which the campus is located.
SMUI President Paul Atang, a US-based education entrepreneur, encouraged the new students to seize their opportunity. He urged them to take pride in their enrolment and dedicate themselves through hard work to transform their communities upon graduation.
Atang emphasised that the core mission of the institution’s education is to bridge the unemployment gap by creating entrepreneurs. Africa, he said, needs individuals with renewed mindsets and steadfast purpose. He believes the students will, upon completion, contribute significantly to liberating the continent from poverty, hardship, and mediocrity.
Prof. Victor Cheo Commends SMUI
Prof. Victor Cheo of the University of Bamenda, speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of UBa, Prof. Theresia Nkuo-Akanji, praised SMUI’s infrastructural capacity.
“If I had to choose, going back to university, I would choose St Mary’s,” the academic stated. He described the journey of the 33 pioneers as proof that great things come in small packages.
Prof. Cheo further noted that choosing SMUI was a profound decision, as students were there to gain not only knowledge but practical skills. Above all, he assured the gathering of the University of Bamenda’s unrelenting support to help SMUI realise its full potential and ambitions.
Distinguished banking executive Ellis Nzo Asu and renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Henry Nkumbe also addressed the freshmen, offering further inspiration.
International Students Among Pioneers
The pioneering class comprises students from several African nations, including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Domestically, students have joined from as far afield as the Far North Region and Yaounde.
They are distributed across SMUI’s three schools: the School of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, the School of Business and Applied Economics, and the School of Engineering. University officials stated these schools offer a total of 16 programmes, ranging from Healthcare Management, Applied Economics, and Project Management to Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Computer Engineering.
A Call to Hard Work and Integrity
SMUI Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nche Charles described the students’ admission as both an achievement and a responsibility. “You were selected based on merit and potential, and we believe strongly in your ability to learn, grow, and lead,” the senior administrator stated.
He encouraged students to embrace discipline, hard work, curiosity, integrity, and the culture of excellence fostered at SMUI, which aims to develop not only intellectuals but also individuals of upright character. Prof. Nche reaffirmed his commitment and that of the faculty to educating the professionals who will transform the world.
