Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, says the new Pro-Chancellor of the University of Bamenda (UBa) is indeed a square peg in a square hole and will bring great success to the university.
The Grand Chancellor of Academic Orders made the statement July 24, 2019, while officially installing Prof. Sammy Beban Chumbow into his functions at the university campus in Bambili.
Chumbow’s installation comes after the death of former pro-chancellor, Prof. Dominique Mvogo, who piloted the affairs of the university for closed to seven years from 2011 to March, 23, 2018.
Before his appointment on July 11, 2019 by decree of the President of the Republic, Chumbow served in same capacity as Board Chair of the University of Dschang.
“As you all can see, Professor Chumbow is a square peck in a square hole. He is a man who knows universities, not only in Cameroon, our dear and beloved country, but also in the world. I am proud of him and I know that his stay here will be a great success”, Prof. Fame Ndongo stated.
While congratulating Prof. Chumbow for the mark of distinction conferred upon him by the Head of State, Paul Biya, the Minister reiterated some of the responsibilities that awaits him in UBa, the University of the Future.
“Supervise the general administration and politics of the University of Bamenda and report regularly to the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education. Ensure that all council resolutions are effectively applied under the supervision of the Vice Chancellor after the approval of the Minister of State, minister of Higher Education.
Ensure that a strategic development plan for the University exists and is properly approved and executed. Oversee the vote of the budget and ensure its execution and scrupulously and judiciously respect the laws and regulations of the republic.
Endeavor to advise the Vice Chancellor on the regular payment of all categories of persons within the university and see to it that man-made delays are reduced or completely eliminated. See to it that the training programmes of the university respect the three basic concepts of quality insurance, professionalization and the employ-ability of graduates. Ensure that a peaceful and serene academic climate exists in the university and its environs for academic activities to effectively take place and report every problem to me,” Fame Ndongo listed.
BACKGROUND
Born on September 11, 1943 in Mbatu, Mezam Division of the North-West region, Prof Sammy Beban Chumbow did his primary, secondary and high school education in the North-West before proceeding to Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of Congo where he obtained his first degree in Roman Philology specialising in French and Italia.
After obtaining his accreditation in the Catholic University in Belgium, he migrated to the Indiana University of Bloomington in the United States, where he obtained a PhD in Linguistics in 1975. Before proceeding to the USA, he worked as a journalist with Cameroon Times and later as a secondary school teacher in Belgian, Congo.
He joined the higher education system of the United States as a teacher in Indiana University of Bloomington before returning to Africa. He then joined the University of Illori in Nigeria where he rose to the rank of full professor and acting dean in the Faculty of Arts.
In 1986, Prof. Chumbow was recruited into the department of African Languages and Linguistics at the then University of Yaounde as full professor. He was appointed deputy director of higher education and scientific research in the then Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
After the university reforms of 1993, he was appointed deputy vice chancellor of the University of Buea. He was later on appointed rector at the University of Dschang, Ngaoundere and Yaounde I respectively. Prof. Chumbow also President of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and Vice President of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council of the African Union.