Cameroon:Buea Mayor accords hectic reception to Bloomsburg University President and Students

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Professor David Soltz, President of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, USA, Professor Ekema Agbor and twenty two students from the same varsity were on Saturday, May 21, accorded a hectic reception at Capitol Hotel Residence in Buea,by Charles Mbella Moki,the town’s mayor.

The Bloomsburg University officials and students are in Cameroon in line with a partnership the American university signed with University of Buea, Cameroon‘s lone Anglo-Saxon varsity.

And Mayor Moki thought that treating the American visitors to hectic reception was the right thing to do.

“It is our duty as a council to receive those who visit our municipality in a manner that is typical of our spirit of legendary hospitality

 “The president of a university as large as Bloomsburg ought to receive the kind of attention we have given him and his entourage”, Mayor Moki told reporters at the party, hoping that the partnership between the people of Buea and Bloomsburg would grow from strength to strength.

Professor Soltz said, “My University has developed a partnership which is very productive with the University of Buea. We have hosted the UB Vice-chancellor Professor Titanji.”

He noted that in addition to sending students to University of Buea for learning and teaching practices, “we are going to receive faculties and students at Bloomsburg University and have collaboration in instructional technology”.

Professor soltz said as President of Bloomsburg university he came to Cameroon to sign the agreements  with University of Buea, adding that it was his first visit to Cameroon, which he described as a beautiful country.

Initiator of the partnership Professor Ekema Agbor,a Cameroonian, who teaches at Bloomsburg university, reiterated that the “partnership will not just be students-to students, but we will be introducing programs to University of Buea,which it does not have”

Tamika Austin, one of the visiting students told The Recorder, “Cameroon is more developed than we had thought. I will go back with a better impression about this country.

“The experience of having a different teaching style and environment is amazing. We appreciate the professors of University of Buea for making the experience realistic and one to remember”

For her part, KeAire Nelson, who spoke on behalf of all the visiting American students, at the party, was positive about Cameroon. “We appreciate the opportunity to experience a different culture and we thank the people of Cameroon for being so welcoming to us”

Also speaking at the party, University of Buea Vice-Chancellor, Professor Titanji expressed happiness that the American students were here to learn from Cameroon’s experiences.

An elated Mayor Moki got the visiting professors attired in dresses sewn with Buea council fabric. Professor Soltz was given the Bakweri indigenous name of Mola Moki-so he now becomes Professor, Mola Moki David Soltz.

 A cheerful Professor Soltz promised to consider visiting Cameroon regularly

Other speakers at the  party included: Barrister Ekontang Elad, Board Chairman of Cameroon OIC, an affiliate of the US-based OIC international; Ngale kinge,Senor Cameroonian  citizen and Magdalene Agbor,a noted civil society leader

The visiting students will make two weeks in Cameroon before returning to the US, and for some to serve as Cameroon’s ambassadors there as they promised in discussions with journalists.