By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The campus of the University of Yaounde II, Soa was on a beehive mood last December 27, 2017 as if student did not take their traditional holiday for end of year feasts. Informed of the availability of the first contingent of President Biya’s promised laptops, most of them cut short their brief holiday and rushed back to the Mefou and Afamba Division in the Centre Region in order to grab their free laptops during the handing over ceremony chaired by Higher Education Minister and Chancellor of Academic Orders, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo.
In his welcome address, the Rector of the University of Yaounde II, Prof Adolphe Minkoa SHE expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic, Paul Biya for his gesture that will ensure a beautiful and historical transformation of the learning environment of students in this era of information and communication technology. He expressed hope that the gift will help universities to become veritable techno poles and to emerge among the best 100 in Africa in the near future.
While describing his students as a privileged generation on whom all eyes will henceforth be focused, the Rector of the University of Yaoundé II urged the 15200 recipients to make a civic use of the presidential donation.
Reading out a word of gratitude to President Paul Biya, students’ representative at the occasion, Tchatchou Giresse promised that they will make good use of the laptops in order to excel in studies.
Presenting the laptops with the trademark PBHEV (Paul Biya Higher Education Vision), Minister Fame Ndongo said “Dear students, you wanted computers, here they are for you.” He said he was touched by the enthusiasm and eagerness demonstrated by students who are coming to receive the presidential gift.
While announcing that the distribution will follow progressively in the other state universities and private higher institutions of learning as soon as the laptops are fabricated, Prof Fame Ndongo announced that the cost price for each of the laptop is FCFA 300, 000.