A newly inaugurated lecture room at the ICT University has been baptised with the name “Jean Emmanuel Pondi Hall”
The hall is named after the sitting Vice Chancellor of the ICT University, with the aim to honour him for his milestone contributions to the school. Professor Jean Emmanuel Pondi, was honoured by this gesture on September 26th, 2023 on the campus of the ICT University in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Colleagues, students, friends, family and officials from across the board, turned out to witness the “canonisation” of a man who they deemed was time give honour to whom it is due. The presence of Cameroons’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Célestine Ketcha Courtés, was conspicuous among highly invited personalities. The glistening moment was the cutting of the ribbon to baptise the the new hall, with the minister given the pride of place to execute the heartwarming task. The name of Jean Emmanuel Pondi is written on the hall and resounds. Professor Pondi ‘s impact include; counselling and paying attention to the problems of staff and students, working to engrave ICT University as a reference school in Cameroon and the world, he is the author of 23 books and 85 scientific articles published in renowned and peer-reviewed journals and continues to work on the strengths of the University to make it a distinguished technological institute.
Talking during the event, Minister Ketcha Courtés was appreciative “I’m happy to see what I have seen, the recognition of a great man Professor Pondi. You have to do it when the person is alive. So i have the conviction that what he is giving to youths is visible. Everyone including the head of State knows who he is and this act is a support of the image we have of him”
Professor Victor Mbarika, Founder and President of the Board of Trustees, of the Information and Communication Technology University in words of honour said, Professor Pondi deserves accolades because he is “a tray blazer, a mover and shaker who has sacrificed a lot and paved the way for people to excel in life”
The recognized professor in heartfelt words expressed himself saying that “I’m a privilege person because my wife was here with me and I feel privilege that it is minister Ketcha Courtés who was here today. I think that i can never
repay professor Mbarika for this gesture of not only recognition but for genuine consideration. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and to say that i would do anything to go further, faster and higher”
The celebration of Professor Pondi was twinned with the 5th edition of the ICT University Africa Digital Forum, an avenue for engaging digital experts for effective communication and resolution of Africa’s challenges. As part of the celebration, the ICT University community identified problems in Africa that need solution including waste transformation, green energy, hunger, unemployment and poverty among others. Thus students were cautioned to develop ideas and present projects that would respond to the needs of Africa. At the occasion, past and present students who have made outstanding achievement in the digital world were mentioned. One of these students was Delice Charelle, who has sought a means of fighting internet connectivity problems by developing a program known as hosting internet in a box, to assist those without internet connection to access information without hurdles. Students who are into satellite technology and artificial intelligence were also acknowledged and their peers asked to copy the good example. On her part, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, introduced the “smart city” project to staff and students of the ICT University. She noted that, the smart city project would solve the problem of waste disposal by transforming waste of all sorts. The ICT University has embraced the project and shall work with MINHDU. The ICT University also said it is strategizing to respond to the problem of slow interurban transport by creating a workable app to facilitate movements. The day ended with feasting.
ICT University Explore New Avenue with
Minister Tchiroma at 13th Matriculation
Thirteenth batch students have been officially absorbed into the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) University. They swore the matriculation oath on October 25th, 2023 in the school campus at Messasi Yaounde. It was presided by the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jean Emmanuel Pondi, in the presence of honourable guests, among them Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training in Cameroon.
The presence of the Minister at the thirteenth matriculation batch opened new horizons in the life of the ICT University. The minister assured the university community of his support especially in the path of professionalism “You can count on me at any time. This is my responsibility as a minister of Employment and Vocational Training and I say my pride proceed from the fact that at the end of their studies, they would not be job seekers, they would be job creators” the minister gave the assurance. His declaration to support the ICT University was much to the delight of the University staff, whose thanks were expressed by Professor Victor Mbarika, Founder and President of the Board of Trustees, of the ICT University who was confident that “it makes it easier when the minister and the government is giving us this kind of support. We would be fools not to take advantage of it and do the best. The head of state said all of us would pass away but this nation would remain and the continuation is in the hands of these 16 to 21 year old kids that just joined us today” he said
The oath taking was coordinated by Professeur Pierre Fonkoua, Vice-Rector and Registrar of ICT University. While swearing, students promised to obey, the laws, rules and regulations of the University; pay due respect and obedience to the Vice-Chancellor and other Officers of the University, be honest and diligent in academic work, refrain from any act of violence and other actions calculated to disrupt the work of the University or likely to bring the University into disrepute.
The event gave an ample opportunity to provide orientation to students as they take up study. Thus speaker after speaker stood up, cautioning and directing freshmen on the right path to follow. Professor Victor Mbarika, Founder and President of the Board of Trustees, of the ICT University said the students have chosen a good path by enrolling into the ICT University because they would leave with entrepreneur knowledge to be job creators and not seekers. He encouraged students to engage into ongoing projects on campus like satellite building, Microsoft certification and cyber security.
When the Registrar Professor Jean Emmanuel Pondi rose to the rostrum, he told students that, success comes when there is passion, hardwork and dedication. He also said they must stay away from harassment of all sorts and also report perpetrators of crime to the administration. The Vice Chancellor, advised them to pursue a path that would transform their families, society and the world.
The academic discuss was delivered by Dr. Alain Vilard Ndi Isoh, Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics and Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee of The ICT University. His focus was on students to acquire skills so he urged them to embrace skills including multitasking, problem solving, project management, time management, professional and social skills.
In his talk during the swearing in of students, guest speaker, Minister Tchiroma Bakary acknowledged that the students are in a place where they are offered diverse avenues to perfectly integrate with the world. Noting that Cameroon needs these youngsters to emerge, he said they should be keen on the path chosen because they would gain digital technological skills which would enable them to engage in development. He thus encouraged students to “take the bull by the horn” by acquiring knowledge that gives them the capability to produce the needs of the ever changing world.
Having done the matriculation ritual, the students were positive that they shall ride on with studies to graduate with potentials.
Chipidje Miyo Brayane, who enrolled into software Engineering, said
“This matriculation ceremony is a very important step in my life as a student. The various talks and motivation speeches have been inspiring. Seeing past students excelling in entrepreneurship makes us to be focused so that we the new students would strive to be attentive and involved so that we too would make it”
During matriculation, over eight hundred students enrolled into the various academic programs, including; Information & Science, Natural Medicine, Accounting, Information Technology, Business Management & Sustainable Development, Electronic Engineering, Renewable Energy, Software Engineering and Information Systems & Networking.
The freshmen into the ICT University now have the challenge to utilise the services offered on campus for their intellectual growth, to create jobs for themselves and create jobs for the nation.
By Mildred Ndum Wung