Bernadin Tamo Amougou, Brice Kammegne Tcheugam and Victoria Oluwakemi Okesipe were recognised with Distinction as first, second and third, respectively, among the 37 students who graduated on July 16th, 2021 with Structured Master’s Degrees in Mathematical Sciences from AIMS Cameroon in Limbe. The three received 200,000 FCFA, 150,000 FCFA and 100,000 FCFA respectively as cash prizes donated by Zenith Insurance and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Cameroon. 43% of the graduates were women.
The 2020/2021 cohort is the first batch of AIMS graduates to earn degrees signed jointly by AIMS Cameroon, the University of Buea and the Ministry of Higher Education, revealed the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Prof. Wilfred Gabsa Nyongbet, who presided over the ceremony on behalf of the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Orders.
“I wish to congratulate all of you for having been able to go through the very intensive, challenging, and innovative program at AIMS Cameroon making you now a well-rounded scientist, embedded with AIMS values and excellent problem-solving skills capable of making use of Mathematical sciences to address some relevant development challenges in Africa. As ýou celebrate this day, remember that you are the new gladiators, the new catalyzers, the new galvanizers of Africa and the World,” the Minister of State’s representative told the graduates in his keynote address.
Speaking earlier in a welcome address the Chief Operating Officer of AIMS Cameroon, Mr. Honoré Bernard Youfegnuy, mentioned the institution’s gratitude to the governments of Cameroon and Canada as well as the Mastercard Foundation for their funding and scholarships. On her part, the First Deputy City Mayor of Limbe, Mrs. Wouapit née Karen Tanga acknowledged AIMS Cameroon’s contribution to Limbe’s international visibility, pledged the Council’s availability to facilitate AIMS’ mission, and exhorted the graduates to help make known the city as a tourist and investment destination.
The Chief Executive Officer of AIMS Global Network Ms. Lydie Hakizimana, the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon H.E. Richard Bale, and the Registrar of the University of Buea Prof. Ernest Molua representing the Vice-Chancellor were also speakers at the event attended by administrative, municipal, corporate and academic authorities.
AIMS is a pan-African network of Centres of Excellence offering postgraduate training in Mathematical Sciences and an Alumni network totalling over 2,200 graduates, revealed Ms. Lydie Hakizimana. She thanked the government of Cameroon for the regular disbursement of their contribution and the donation of 2.1 hectares of land in the neighbourhood of Ngeme, Limbe, for the construction of AIMS Cameroon’s permanent seat which is to start soon. “Let me take a moment to appreciate the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea for the fruitful academic cooperation and the smooth implementation of the Trilateral Agreement,” she also said.
The CEO of AIMS Global Network also disclosed the imminent introduction of new programs. “As we roll out our strategic framework in our quest to expand and introduce new programs like Machine Learning, Data Science, Economics, and a Master’s in Mathematical Sciences for Teachers, we will continue to rely on the government of Canada, the government in Yaounde and the local government authorities including the Senior Divisional Officer, the Vice-Chancellor and his collaborators, the Limbe City Mayor and the forces of law and order as we strive to improve access to quality education and a sustainable pipeline of homegrown African talents.”
To the students, Lydie Hakizimana stated that she was so proud of their achievements and guided them with tips to find a niche where their problem-solving skills could be used.
The 38 graduates who have completed 10 months of training in the field of Mathematical Sciences are nationals of seven African countries namely: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Zambia.
Other major highlights of the ceremony included the Valedictory Address, the conferring of degrees and a discourse on “Mathematics, the Enigma Machine and the Second World War” delivered by Prof. Dr. Mama Foupouagnigni, the Centre President of AIMS Cameroon and Chief Academic Officer of AIMS Global Network.