– Re-launch activities of the UB IT Centre
By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi
DOBRE Technologies (DOBRETech) in partnership with the University of Buea have offered a six month career hands-on training in cyber security and cloud computing.
This was made known during the re-launch of activities of the UB IT Centre this Thursday March 14 2024 at the UB campus.
The six-month training which is offered to prepare career aspirants in 3 domains within cloud computing and cyber security involves 3 sessions per program and is designed for IT starters and career developers who want to be proficient in cloud computing or cyber security.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof. Ngomo Horace Manga in his remarks commended the DOBRETech team for bringing their knowledge back to their roots. He added that the partnership is a laudable one and the Centre is equally open for all students of other faculties. “This is a very good model for the university to display what it is capable of doing through the transfer of knowledge. The university is moving towards income generating activities. We are already making baby steps in that dimension as to the basic text and we are gradually getting there”.
into newly renovated UB IT Centre
Welcoming the multitude of persons present at the Dorothy Limunga Njeuma Amphitheatre was the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Teaching, Professionalization and Development of ICT’s, Professor Ekonde Sone who noted that the Centre was initially conceived and launched by the pioneer Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dorothy Njeuma in 2002. “The IT Centre was conceived to manage the University’s information system and also generate income for the university. Over time technology evolved, the management became difficult since the Centre was no longer self-sustainable.
He added that the situation of the IT Centre was the major preoccupation of the Vice Chancellor as he sought ways of ensuring that the structure serves the university. “It was in this light that the VC tasked me to use my expertise to revamp the activities of the Centre. DOBRETech agreed to renovate the IT Centre by giving a new face lift to the building and the provision of training material and furniture. There was no functional computer in the Centre but today we can boost of many computers for both mainstream and specialized training thanks to DOBRETech. This event falls in line with the prescriptions of the higher education law which lays emphasis on income generation. The IT Centre will once again be self-sustainable and generate revenue for the university.
The Chief Tech Officer/ vision bearer of DOBRETech, Ewane Junior Metuge in his intervention noted that the DOBRETech career program utilizes a hands-on approach allowing students to apply their skills and knowledge in real-world scenarios. “The main goal of DOBRETech is to train locally and develop our own area”. He encouraged the students to make use of the digital transformation facilities they have in Cameroon. “I am a Cameroonian but I currently reside in the United State of America. The US is not my home so I needed to come back home and invest in my country. I went out not necessarily for greener pastures but to observe and learn and after acquiring the necessary knowledge I think it is a natural obligation to come back to my country and share” he told the press.
In her words of encouragement, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof. Dorothy Limunga Njeuma thanked the administration of the University for giving her the honour to be part of such a history-making event. “I recall that in 2002 together with the team in place at that time, we had a vision of setting up the IT Centre and with the assistance of the British council and others. We thought it was a good idea for staff and students of the University to be in line with the new technology. I am very happy that the IT Centre is being re-launched”.
She encouraged the DOBRETech team to carryon and keep up the good work. “Continue to do more for your country and its people”. She urged the youths to cancel the urge of wanting to travel out of Cameroon and stay back to develop their country.
Talking to the press after the event, the VC of UB revealed that the Centre will help the University build capacity among students and staff as well as provide certification programs. For it to be able to do that, it had to be renovated and the partnership comes with state-of-the-art equipment that will enable high quality training, complete rehabilitation of the IT Centre and providing skills for those to take certification exams” he noted.