Life

20, October 2016

Prof. Fidelis Cho-Ngwa tells Cameroon Tribune University of Buea is the first to install a DNA laboratory in Cameroon ⁰

Prof. Fidelis Cho-Ngwa, Head of DNA Laboratory, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Buea, has been speaking about the current process of certifying the Buea University DNA laboratory. In this interview with the nation’s national daily, Cameroon Tribune, Prof. Fidelis Cho-Ngwa hinted that UB DNA test will be cheaper

Cameroon Tribune: The University of Buea operates a DNA laboratory, a rare facility in Central Africa. How did it begin?

Fidelis Cho-Ngwa: We started research in 2014 and since then, we have been training Master’s degree students in Molecular Diagnostics. We have so far carried out 15 “peace of mind tests” on Cameroonians since 2015. The tests are so called because they were not ordered by any court. However, they enabled the clients to know whether they were biological parents or children of some people. I head the laboratory and have a number of people working with me, especially those who obtained the Master’s degree in Molecular Diagnostic Science the university runs. We have now changed the appellation of the degree to Molecular Epidemiology and Diagnostic Science, to broaden the scope.

Cameroon Tribune: Is the laboratory open to the public?

Fidelis Cho-Ngwa: We have not yet gone on a business scale. It’s still a research platform, but we provide some services to the public. For us to go business, we will need to first get the laboratory certified. For now, the DNA laboratory is certified for drug discovery for Onchocerciasis, a Pan-African ANDI Centre of Excellence, but not for Human Molecular Diagnostics. This is why we have not yet extended to the legal platform. In the months ahead, we hope to engage government and the university to get to the level whereby we can seek certification. If this is achieved, courts, social and immigration cases, and even identification of remains of accident and fire victims, etc, can be referred to us.

Cameroon Tribune: Are there other DNA laboratories in Cameroon?

Fidelis Cho-Ngwa: I am not aware of any other DNA testing laboratory in the country. We know that people collect samples and send abroad and wait for results to give to their clients. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to install a DNA laboratory in Cameroon. Some other laboratories may have some of the machines, but not the technological know-how or trained personnel we boast. We collect samples and finish everything in the same laboratory. For now, we don’t use sophisticated machines since we don’t have them yet. We use robust, time-consuming manual methods to arrive at exactly the same results. We have been all over the world and have been teaching the science in the University of Buea. We have mastered the technology and now carry out research in Molecular Epidemiology and Diagnostic Science.

Cameroon Tribune: What is the cost of your services?

Fidelis Cho-Ngwa: We will not charge less than 200,000 FCFA for simple tests. Abroad, people pay between 300,000 FCFA and 500,000 FCFA for such tests; plus the cost of collecting, preparing and sending samples and money. Overall, our tests will be about 50 per cent cheaper. The other advantage is that you can do the test in person. The distance that samples have to be transported is eliminated and the trouble of handling them is avoided.

19, October 2016

German language regional pedagogic inspectors meeting in Yaounde ⁰

Regional Pedagogic Inspectors for the German Language in Cameroon are meeting to learn improved methods of teaching the language in Secondary Schools. The three-day seminar opened at the Goethe Institute of Learning in Yaounde on the 18th of October 2016 prompted by poor teachings as revealed by the writings on the photo attached to this report by state-owned radio and television, CRTV.

The forum is holding under the theme, “the Teaching, Learning and Assessment of German Learners using Competent-based Approaches.” Organised by the Ministry of Secondary Education and the Goethe Institute, the seminar aims at providing teachers with new and better teaching techniques.

While chairing the opening ceremony, the Inspector Coordinator General in charge of Letters, Arts and Languages at the Ministry of Secondary Education, Charles Etoundi expressed the Ministry’s commitment to improve on the capacity of its teachers in order that goodbye will not be translated as goodbye in German but Auf Wiedersehen.

The Pedagogic Inspectors will also be introduced to a new international school exchange programme for teachers involved in the teaching of the German language. The programme is intended to create learning partnerships in a bid to improve pedagogic skills and create better working conditions for teachers. The session ends on 20th October 2016.

CRTV

19, October 2016

What went wrong between Pogba and Cameroonian super model? ⁰

Neighbours have protested against the torrid sexual antics of French football star Paul Pogba and his Cameroonian girlfriend popularly known as Dencia. The sexual activities of the French international and Dencia whose real name is Reprudencia Sonkey, dubbed the African Lady Gaga, as reported by Yahoo ignited so much under-the-table talk around their neighbourhood.

According to Yahoo, the neighbours of the lovers have recently spent sleepless nights because of the erotic noise produced by Lady Dencia during love making. “Between 3am and 4am, there were groans and grunts that could be confused with something else. They do not seem to worry about who could hear. It lasted for eternity. It looked like a porn movie. Repeatedly we heard groans such as “Paul, Baby”, it was very embarrassing. It was impossible not to hear it because it was very loud” revealed a neighbour quoted in the Yahoo report.

By Chi Prudence Asong

17, October 2016

Yaounde hosting forum on learning and teaching of Mathematics ⁰

Pedagogic Inspectors of Mathematics in the Ministry of Secondary Education have begun a training programme in Yaounde to develop strategies towards inculcating the love for Mathematics in students. Placed under the theme, “Learning and Teaching Mathematics Differently”, the programme to run till 28th October 2016 is aimed at strengthening the content and delivery of Mathematics in secondary schools in the country.

The Secretary of State at the Ministry of Secondary Education in charge of Teachers’ Training, Boniface Bayaola chaired the ceremony to open the session which is being organised with assistance from the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences. The representatives of the Institute indicate the need to change the style of teaching Mathematics and encourage the use of technology for example, the recording of lessons.

Over the years, pedagogic officials proposed the use of cartoons and other images to incite the desire and love for maths especially in little children. This has yielded some positive results. However, much is still desired since students still complain of the long, complicated mathematics problems and the many formulae. The training programme which shall spread over a period of five years is expected to incite the love for Mathematics in about 1.700.000 Cameroonian students.

CRTV

14, October 2016

Cameroon: For collecting a bribe of 500 frs CFA, police officer made to pee for 53 minutes ⁰

Radio Equinoxe based in the economic capital Douala recently reported that a corrupt police officer was made to urinate for almost 53 minutes by a farmer he reportedly collected 500 frs CFA from! The incident occurred in Fongo-Tongo-a locality in Menoua Division in the West region on October 13, 2016. The local farmer was held at a police check point by the said officer who claimed that his old motorcycle was no longer allowed to use the highway.

Despite appeals from some disgruntled villagers to let go the farmer, the police officer insisted that the farmer must dish-out to him the sum of 500 frs CFA. The greedy cop ignored cat calls from members of the Fongo-Tongo community and revealed that the farmer would be allowed to go along with his old motorcycle only if he pays the 500 frs as requested.

The farmer moved away from the check point and brought out a 500 frs note from his underwear and handed it over to the police officer. It was after this gesture that the farmer was allowed to continue his journey. He had not even turned his back when the officer felt the need to urinate.

The officer started to pee without stopping and could no longer participate in controls. His colleague realizing that what was happening was indeed not normal rushed to the village and with the help of some villagers he traced the man with the old motorbike. The farmer ordered the cop to return his 500 frs with immediate effect and gave him a kick on his bum to stop the officer from urinating. The journalist who filed the news item was quoted as saying that the officer kept a pee for 53 minutes.

By Rita Akana with files from Cameroon-info.net

13, October 2016

UN says tuberculosis epidemic is taking more lives than thought ⁰

The United Nations’ public health authority has criticized the international community for not doing enough to deal with the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, saying the infectious disease is taking more lives than thought.

Latest data published on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2016 Global Tuberculosis Report show that countries needed to move much faster to prevent, detect and treat tuberculosis.

TB kills 1.8 million people worldwide each year, not the 1.5 million previously estimated, according to the WHO’s Global TB Report 2016. The tuberculosis epidemic is larger than previously thought, while research into vaccines and cures is “severely underfunded,” WHO warned.

The report emphasized that countries needed to tackle the epidemic through “bold political commitment and increased funding.” The amount of money being spent on research and development for TB treatments needs to be at least $2 billion per year, it added.

Presstv

12, October 2016

New dress code for Yaounde University II students ⁰

The Rector of the University of Yaounde II, Soa, Ibrahima Adamou has prescribed a new dress code for students in the university. The prescription is contained in a communiqué signed in September 2016.

Accordingly, the Rector prohibits indecent dressing, unnecessary piercings, excessive adorning with jewellery and extravagant hairdos. Both boys and girls on campus are exhorted to abide by these prescriptions which require that student tone down their general external looks.

In this light, short dresses above knee level, tight-fitting clothes, sleeveless tops, irregular hair colours and styles, extra-high shoes, slippers, earrings (for boys), caps and anklets, amongst others are prohibited on campus. The Rector of the University argues that the decision is intended uphold decency, virtuous behaviour and the respect of ethics in the University.

If the Rector’s instructions are heeded to, the University of Yaounde II, Soa will measure up with most professional schools where the administration has succeeded in keeping a keen eye on decency.

12, October 2016

X-Maleya to tour the USA in October ⁰

X-Maleya has announced a series of concerts to mark the group’s ten years of existence. Cameroon Concord News learned that the trio: Roger, Auguste and Haïs, popularly known as X-Maleya will be touring the United States of America in what has been dubbed “USA Dream Tour”.

X-Maleya recorded huge success in Europe including their victory tour of Germany and Olympia-Paris in 2014. The US X-Maleya tour is expected to last for a month. The “boy band” will float the Cameroonian flag in Uncle Sam and their first stop is scheduled for October 16 at Fillmore Silver Spring, in the State of Maryland. After Silver Spring, the group will jet to Preston Bradley Centre in Chicago on 22 October.

A spokesman for the group recently observed that the conquest of the United States is a new challenge and preparations have taken a serious dimension as regards to synchronization of choreography and development of the directory.

The main ten years ritual will be performed in Cameroon in December although the date has not been disclosed. For the record, X-Maleya came to the lime light in 2006 through the Exile album. Since then, they have not disappeared from the music scene. The small group has made a name in Africa, Europe and are now heading to the US. They have five albums to their credit.

By Rita Akana with files from Cameroon Tribune

10, October 2016

University of Buea: After failed harmonization Plan, Faculty of Social and Management Science Board announces split of Faculty ⁰

The Faculty of Social and Management Science, FSMS, University of Buea has addressed attempts by government to create three new faculties and schools out of the current structure and to merge the social science facet with the Faculty of Arts. We gathered that the Faculty board recently met to strategize on the widespread reforms by the Ministry of Higher Education on the University of Buea curriculum. The Wednesday 5th of October 2016 meeting that held inside the campus and chaired by the Dean, Prof. Martha S. Tumnde, didn’t agree to some of the new formulation of three faculties with brand new nomenclatures such as; Law and School of Law, Social Sciences, and Economics and Management respectively. The partitioning of the Law school was however accepted.

The background information about the imminent creation of these faculties was transmitted to the Ministry of Higher Education. The proposals were mainly on the Social Sciences intended to be merged with the Arts to generate into the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Humanities. It is expected that the Faculties of Law and Law School, Economics and Management and a School of Journalism and Mass Communication would stand out. The three structures initially were envisaged against the backdrop of an argument that the Social Sciences were going to bolster the Faculty of Arts financially. A 2008 proposal by UB officials for higher education authorities to scraped Law off the FSMS which would have led to the birth of a School of Law went futile.

The Board on the procedure and validity of the planned merger of the Social Sciences with the Arts observed that; firstly, the merger had no scientific basis as they were independent faculties in English speaking Universities. The latter and Social Sciences were markedly different in terms of content and approach. Secondly, the Board argued that the splitting of the FSMS was to decongest its size, then merging the departments of Geography, Women and Gender Studies, Sociology and Anthropology and Political Science and Public Administration with the Faculty of Arts would also lead to congestion of the new Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. The board suggested that, it will not be proper to remove the nomenclature “Social Sciences” which has been used since the inception of the University of Buea because this Nomenclature “Social Sciences” reflects the Anglo-Saxon tradition and dream of education and not Arts and Social Sciences as obtains in the Francophone system.

Moreover, the Social Sciences disciplines have the prospects of growing with the creation of new programmes such as Social Work, Development Studies, Psychology, Demography, Urban and Regional Planning, some of which have been solicited to develop over the years. Lastly, the board also noted that the Social Science disciplines have been offering Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science and Not Bachelors of Arts and Masters of Art. The association with the Arts as Humanities will create problems of continuity and consistency that may cast doubts on our degrees especially out of the country. They also argued that the scientific approach with UB’s Social Sciences was an asset that ought to be maintained by creating its own autonomous faculty. The choices of the students who opted for this model should also be respected. In addition, the merger of the Social Sciences and Arts is a regression in intellectual development giving that these disciplines have moved apart a long time ago.

The faculty board at the end of the Letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of UB urged the University and the Ministry of Higher Education to review the plan and leave the Social Sciences as an autonomous entity. At press time we gathered that the text of application to legalize the new faculties if finally promulgated will go operational this 2016/17 academic year. This implies that new students who had apply to read degrees in Sciences would be left with no option than to enrol in the Art degree program. Some observers say the imminent reforms are fallouts of the failed attempt to harmonize the country’s higher education system.

The desire to destroy and crackdown on Anglophone education is old and all a calculated attempt to ruin the hard earned genuine value and status the Anglo-Saxon system has achieved in contemporary times. The Ministry of Higher Education was represented by English speaking Prof. Gabsa Sixtus.

By Cham Victor Bama in Buea

10, October 2016

German ambassador to Cameroon says over 200,000 Cameroonians studying in Germany ⁰

“Today, I am happy to be in Cameroon, a country in which Germany has a long history of cooperation and friendship. This is marked by understanding, profound relations of over 100 years, and cooperation largely appreciated by the government and people of Germany. German Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Dr. Hans-Dieter Stell, disclosed this in Douala on October 6, 2016, during the 26^th unification of Germany.

Among those present at the event were Cameroonian authorities in the Littoral Region, prelates, German university alumni, economic partners and representatives of diplomatic missions. The Ambassador noted that about 7,000 Cameroonians have so far studied in Germany, the largest in Africa. Currently, there are over 200,000 Cameroonians studying in Germany, the diplomat disclosed.

Friendly relations between Cameroon and Germany cover many sectors and essential areas such as decentralisation and good governance, environment, health, rural development, as well as military cooperation within the framework of the war against Boko Haram. Cameroon on her part, he pointed out, should focus on processing agricultural products to boost exports to Germany and Europe in general for maximum profitability and trade equilibrium. Some Germans at the event said they were celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the advent of the Unitary State.

The defunct West and East Germany separated after World War II and only reunited in 1990. To others, it was celebrating the quest for liberty of the men and women of East Germany against their autocratic government.

Cameroon Tribune