By Ndimbe Usmane
At its 13th and 14th combined convocation on Friday December 15, 2023, National Polytechnic University Institute (NPUI) Bamenda graduated 1322 students from that Institute described as citadel of academic and moral excellence.
In his convocation address, the representative of the school management board, Afumbom Francis Yong Junior sounded a cautious note to the graduating students to be wise as they step to the job market.
Upholding the vision of the founding father late Pa Yong Francis which is to reduce unemployment amongst the youth by providing the professional education and skills they need for job and wealth creation, the management board representative enjoined students to do voluntary services, internship and job creation as they go out into the world.
" I caution you following the realities in Cameroon that you should engage yourselves in voluntary services internship and job creation," he advised.
Meanwhile earlier, the Governor of the North West Region Adolphe Lele Lafrique the personal representative of the Minister of Higher Education before the representative of the Management Board and Vice Chancellor of National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, the Chancellor of The University of Bamenda, Representatives of foreign cooperating Universities guests and students declared open the combined 13th and 14th convocation of National Polytechnic University Institute Bamenda for the award of Higher National Diplomas, Bachelor and Master's Degrees, and presentation of prizes.
The Vice Chancellor Dr Christopher Apana Akob who unveiled a plethora of achievements and awards received by the Institute in recent times pleaded with the government of Cameroon to grant that school autonomy and subventions to support their efforts.
Sounding with a lot of confidence, the Vice Chancellor, said if they continued this way, in no distant time they shall be graduating PHD students.
Announcing the conferment of diplomas and degrees to students, he revealed that 1322 deserving candidates were graduating.
" We are here today for the graduation ceremony and conferment of HND, Bachelor, Masters degrees and celebrating hard-work and success of some 1322 deserving candidates," Dr Christopher Apana Akob revealed.
Talking about prize awards to students for outstanding performance, Neba Qinta Chang distinguished self as best graduating student with a score of 3.96/4 .
This distinguished lady on behalf of her peers, expressed heartfelt gratitude to faculties and administrative staff of NPUI for wisdom, guidance and commitment to their education which she said has been instrumental in shaping them to be whom they are today.
In the same light she said they shall forever remain grateful to both their parents and lecturers for going above and beyond everything to ensure that they got the best education.