Abangma Replaces Ngoh As UB Registrar

By Ernest Sumelong

Chief Prof. Samson Abangma has replaced Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh as the Registrar of the University of Buea, UB.

   
Abangma:New Registrar    Ngoh: Looking towards his new responsibility 

Prior to his appointment, Prof. Abangma was Technical Adviser to the Rector of the University of Yaounde I. The President of the Republic, Paul Biya, made the appointments on Tuesday, December 4.

The replacement came after Government carried out overhauls in administrative set-ups of all six State Universities "to reflect a new professional orientation".According to changes at the University of Buea, Prof. Ngoh becomes Deputy Vice Chancellor, DVC, in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with Business World, a position hitherto occupied by Professor Nzumbe-Mesape Ntoko.

Meanwhile, Prof. Ntoko has become DVC in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation replacing Professor Paul Mbangwana who leaves UB for Dschang as Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Cooperation and the Business World. Also, Dr. Nalova Lyonga was appointed DVC in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies, a position she has held, but with a modification of appellation.

It would be recalled that Prof. Ngoh became Registrar of UB in 2005 after Prof. Cornelius Mbifung Lambi replaced Dr. Dorothy Limunga Njeuma as Vice Chancellor. The new synchronised administrative positions in all the Universities seem to conform to the new BMP Degree programmes. There has also been emphasis on professionalism.

For the University of Douala, the DVC in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies, Blaise Mukoko, the DVC in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with the Business World, Mme Claire Nicole Ndoko and the DVC in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation is Georges Emmanuel Ekodeck. Meanwhile, the Secretary General in the University of Douala is Remy Sylvestre Bouelet.

For the University of Dschang, the DVC in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies is Jean Ongla, the DVC in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with Business World is Prof. Paul Mbangwana from the UB, while the DVC in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation is Madam Felicite Mbiapo.

For the University of Ngaoundere, the DVC in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies is Oumarou Bouba, the DVC in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with Business World is Joseph Kayem, while the DVC in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation is David Roland Bayard Bekolle.

For the University of Yaounde I, the DVC in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies is Prof. Andre Ndjoh Ntsobo, the DVC in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with Business World is Guy Tsala Nzomo, while the DVC in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation is Etienne Ze Amvela.

For the University of Yaounde II, the DVC in charge of Teaching, Professionalisation and Development of Information and Communication Technologies, Paul Gerald Pougoue, the DVC in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with Business World is Adolf Minkoa She, while the DVC in charge of Internal Control and Evaluation is Owono Ateba.

Meet Prof. Samson Abangma, New UB Registrar

Abangma was born on November 16, 1948 in Bache Village, Akwaya Subdivision, Manyu Division.

From 1954 to 1961 he attended Government Primary School Assam; 1964-1966, he attended St. John's Teachers' Training College Nchang, Mamfe and obtained a Teachers' Grade III Certificate.

From 1966 to 1968, he attended Regina Pacis College, Mutengene where he obtained a Teachers' Grade II Certificate. Abangma then went to CCAST Bambili between 1969 and 1971, passed in four A/L subjects, which qualified him to join the University of Yaoundé (1971-1974) where he obtained a B.A Honours in English.

He proceeded to do a Post Graduate Diploma in English Language Studies at the same university between 1974 and 1975, at the same time graduating with CAPES from Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) 2nd Cycle. Thereafter he would obtain a Doctora de 3e Cycle from the University of Yaoundé in 1981.

He would proceed to the University of London to pursue a PhD in Linguistics between 1988 and 1992. From 1992 to 1994 he did a Specialist Diploma in Higher Education Studies; Institute of Education, University of London.

Prior to his recent appointment, Abangma had been GCE Examiner/Chief Examiner - 1977-1986, Cultural Counselor, Cameroon High Commission, London - 1986-1998 - Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Buea - 1998-2003 - Vice Rector University of Dschang - 2003-2005, Technical Adviser to the Rector, University of Yaoundé I - 2005-2007.

He is author of several books and articles published in academic journals, nationally and internationally. The Registrar taught at universities in the U.K, Germany, Italy and the US, besides presenting academic papers at several international conferences. He is married with five children.

Comments

[Tekum Mbeng]

Samson Abangma as UB Registrar can be mixed fortunes. Cameroonian students who experienced the then Mr. Abangma as Cultural Counselor in London in the eighties know him well. Zebras do not lose their spots.

Abangma is a partisan and was biased AGAINST Northwest Students on scholarship in England. Then, his self-interest carried the day – instead of working assiduously for students while in a critical post, he instead invested his time studying for a PhD, relegating his functions to a Francophone lady who could neither speak English well or know why Anglophones were ever sent to study abroad.

That was a dereliction of duty by a civil servant. Abangma’s decision making ability is questionable. Watch him, especially his actions. He could be the new Gov. Oben Peter Ashu in Buea.

[Bih]

Are there no younger Cameroonians that can handle this post ? I look at Abangma as someone fit for retirement.there,s unemployment and younger cameroonians who are qualified are roaming the streets,but the government keep employing people who are due retirement.when shall we change ?

[Danny Boy]

"He would proceed to the University of London to pursue a PhD in Linguistics between 1988 and 1992. From 1992 to 1994 he did a Specialist Diploma in Higher Education Studies; Institute of Education, University of London."
This must be a lie, given this statement below;
"Cultural Counselor, Cameroon High Commission, London - 1986-1998"

Not just a lie, but reeks of the corruption in his department at the HIgh Comission during his tenure. Tekum Mbeng has already mentioned it, and may I add that his accomplice, instead of going for a PhD, went for real estate in Wales. They were using monies sent to Cameroon sponsored students here in the UK; Abangma was in charge!!!
There you have it. Buea, you have got a rat as Registrar!

[rexon]

Danny,

Yours was true. Tayong and Akoson, take note. Hope you will not ask for hard proffs when i give u people similar testimonies in our private exchanges. Its just a game that is still ongoing.

Reading Tekum Mbeng’s piece, I see two issues at play.

Firstly, Samson Abangma is essentially a product of Cameroon education, tribalism and corrupt culture. As Cultural Counsellor in London, he was not kinder to SW students either but made slick favors to students of his Manyu tribe. You identified the phenomenon through listed names in Abangma’s lists of graces. Any one who grew up in Cameroon knows Manyu names. That is how to track his impartiality.

Secondly, most scholarship students left Cameroon as high school kids to study in England. Most of them waxed quickly into the best of British culture (honesty, impartiality and integrity) and found exemplary integrity in preceding cultural counselors, namely Dr Yembe and Mr. Peter Fonso (now MP for Mbengwi Central). Dr Yembe and Mr. Fonso championed student welfare with zeal and applied ministerial directives with predictable fairness. When Abangma arrived with “Cameroonian” ways, most students experienced raw deals coupled with a gradual curtailment of the scholarship program.

That Abangma became Cultural Counsellor in the first place is a testament to his ability to tunnel through the system and serve his own interest. Now, Professor Abangma claims to have “taught at universities in the U.K, Germany, Italy and the US”. I think he forgot to mention Japan and Russia! Apart from financial corruption, the society is getting intellectually corrupt and shameless.

[Watesih]

We now see why all the best minds in Buea keep having accidents,or being pushed to the periphery while necromancers are rewarded.
These are the people who can serve ethno- fascists like Fame Ndongo.How can such a commercialist in academic robes serve students? That seat of Secretary General in UB
is not a very lucky one.From one chalatan to another.

[Besong]

It is a pity that the champions of tribalism always cry foul when a Southwesterner especially from Manyu is appointed to head an office. Why is this so? You cried about Oben, Agbor and now Abangma. Aren't there corrupt "Graffis"? Remember, students of Manyu origin are as well among the best in all works of life, and they do demonstrate their abilities in academic with distinction without hoping to gain favours as some of you from the NW do.

For years the entire ENS Bambili admitted 90% Northwesterner but the authorities of the instuition were not labeled as tribalistic. Do you guys (from Graffiland) think you are the smart ones to be offered a place in this school? Wrong you are not. It is because of favoritism.

I graduated from UB and I know of case of tribalism against Manyu students and even lecturers but those of us from Manyu ignored and grew above it, studied and graduated from the instuition

[simplice]

Call to order. Please concentrate your views on the issue at hand(article above) and not on Manyu-NW divide. For Besong doesn't seem to be analysing the question on the recent appointment:he's defending the cause of the Manyu People. May I recall, we're talking about a new UB registrar;if he be of questionable integrity,it's a matter of circumstance and fact; not a matter of tribe. So, let's not debate on enthnocentric lines, but clearly draw the boundary between objectivity and tribal sentiments. Keep your comments flowing

[tayong]

Besong
You've just shot yourself on the leg here.Tribalism is tribalism , whether it comes from Abangma or from Achidi.Dont jump out of the woodworks to defend the undefensible or try to play the Manyu card.

I would've expected you to do a better job by rebutting the above allegations but you rather comfirmned them.Bla bla bla..."Remember, students of Manyu origin are as well among the best in all works of life.." so what? Who said the contrary?

Let me restate to you that if Abangma still nurtures the "Oben Ashu-ism" of soft xenophobia of years back he's might be a short stay in UB as well. Quote me some years from now! And again there is no province in Cameroon called Graffi except that which Oben created and taught you in his geography lessons.

[Besong]

Simplice,
Quoting Tekum, "Abangma is a partisan and was biased AGAINST Northwest Students on scholarship in England". Judging from this statement it implies Abangma was favouring the Southwesterners while in England. Doesnt this call for the divide card you are pretending to react to?

Some said, "When Abangma arrived with “Cameroonian” ways, most students experienced raw deals coupled with a gradual curtailment of the scholarship program". I am sure it is your analysis that Abangma stopped the ward of scholarships to Cameroonians to study abroad. You have also failed to tell me that Abangma stopped that ward of monthly allowances to university students in Cameroon and introduced the payment of registration fees. Can any of you tell why a majority of those who were sent abroad with tax payers money to study in order to return and serve the country never returned? Some that returned how different are they form the present political leaders and others in places of authority. Are these the people to entrust the affairs of the country to? Atleast almost 4 in 5 cameroonians are corrupt.

It is unfornate the unemployment rate amongst the youth is astonishingly high. However, you do not entrust the management of an instuition to you youngs like that. The youngs have to gradually work their way proving their abilities to lead and manage. Even in the West, there are administrators the ages of Abangma and Co.

Tayong if tribalism is tribalism, do not put it under the carpet it is a Northwesterner. Condemn it. I am still expecting to see you guys of the NW do that. This is Abangma's appointment not the retired Governor Oben.

people, do you know of any system in the world, that runs well, just by having (ONE MAN, DOO ALL) as paul biya and ahidjo, french system in FRENCH CAMEROUN?

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, TO THEM DOESTHAVE TO BE VOTED BY THE UNIVERSITY BOARD, BUT CHOSEN BY PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIQUE.
COUNTY CLERK. DOESNT HAVE TO BE VOTED BY THE COMMUNITY. BUT APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT FAR WAY.
MARGISTRATE IN COURT AS WELL AS JUDGES

ALL APPOINTED, EVERY THING IS APPOINTED, SOO, HOW DOES THE PEOPLE HAVE A HAND AND COMMAND OF THE WHOLE
GOVERNMENT THEN? ESPECIALLY , THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, WAS APPOINTED BYA HIGHER POWER (FRANCE).

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IS THEIR CUP OF TEA.

OUR ANGLOSAXON CULTURE AND SYSTEM WORLS THE OTHER WAY AROUND. LETS KEEP FIGHTING TILL WE CAN RESTORE OUR INDEPENDENCE , SOO SOUTHERN CAMEROONINANS ONLY CAN AGAIN, RULE THEIR NATION.

[tayong]

Besong , as an apparent spokesman for Abangma I would've expected you to defend any allegations levied against him which you have failed woefully. Does the fact that tribalistic kleptocrats also exist among NW elites justify the charges levied against Abangma ?

Or where did his accusers praise those from the NW practising the same favouritism? What you've been struggling to say is, though Abangma is this corrupt there exist pals from the NW who do the same.So????

Can't believe this is the so called young generation that aspires to sweep off the mess back home that sees nothing in supporting vices simply based on tribes.

[simplice]

The second but last comment is by REG FLAG. We know him only too well.

Besong,

I am also of the SW and will admit to you that Abangma played a smart partisan game, at least initially in England. He denied grants to some students with better passes and gave grants to less qualified students. It is too late now to do a statistical count. The Cultural Counsellor applied ministerial directives in many ways that impacted student life.

The curtailment of grants was not the responsibility of Abangma. Abangma nevertheless had a critical say on whether a particular student got his grant renewed or terminated, whether a student had a field trip approved or denied, whether a student had a vacation ticket or not, etc.

I think Abangma learnt from his mistakes in dealing with the best younsters of their generation, many far too clever than him, analysed Abangma's decisions and compared the regime to the high standards set by Dr Yembe and Mr. PC Fonso.

That he abandoned his office to go for personal academic pursuits is a fact as Tekum pointed out. We don't know if the Ministry of Education (his employer) gave him a sabatical leave to run in parallel with his presence in London as Cultural Coounsellor.

Nobody can question Abangma's academic pursuits but the timing of his studies in London at the cost of services to students raises a fundamental ethical question, provided he never obtained permission from Yaounde. As long as Cameroonians take advantage of the State, state services will decline in line with the ascendancy of personal interests.

[Besong]

Tayong,
I doubt if you do read within the the lines of my postings. If you do, then you should be able to pick out some rebuttals. For example, the posting of "Mr no ID" commenting on Tekum's posting, that he finds two issues at play, in his paragraph one clearly made allusions of Abangma ( Iam paraphrasing) "wasn't kind to other SW student but rather offer slick favours to students of his Manyu tribe". What do you call this? Mr. no ID claim to be from the SW. Without any doubt the are very smart elements in all the tribes but he knows very well the we of manyu do not sick favours from the elites, we work hard to earn success. And there is no doubt that manyu students do stand out in the SW. They do not need Abangma to push them.

You guys talked of curtailment of allowances. Read my posting.

On the pursuit of higher learning, it is a shame that you guys still think that one needs ministerial approval to further educational goals especiallly for someone living in the West. You guys have to grow up.

Mr no ID, I think clever is a relative term. People are clever in different works of life lative to others. As students advanced in school, they may become better acheivers than their teachers and/or administrator.

[Kumbaboy]

Besong,

Mr "No ID" is Kumbaboy. I do not know why my id does not show.

No one needs permission from his/her employer to study but undertaking private studies during some normal hours of work without permission from one's employer is unethical and tantamount to partial abandonment of function. Britain traditionally does not offer evening classes.

Is Besong saying it is ok for state employees to take time off for education without approval from their employer? Besong clearly needs to grow up, quickly.

The reactions to Abangma`s appointment show he had not been of examplary behaviour in the past.When Achidi Achu errs,Cameroonians come out hard against him,so do they when Inoni does.Most of our leaders past,and present see posts as sinecures,and we can not start splitting hairs about who of them was or is more devilish than the other.The evil that Agbor Tabi does pulling wool over the eyes of his people by going on an exhibition of road construction machinery that cannot be put into use is not different from the evil that an ex-convict from Bamenda ,recently appointed Minister and known for dubious activities can do.It will be a laughable piece of publicity to start happing about a group of people in Cameroon not running after or accepting favours from their elite in Yaounde.This will be an insult to the intelligence of Cameroonians. When from 1996 to 98 Agbor Tabi organised students from his area and huddled them into ENS Bambili,and Yaounde was that not accepting favours from a member of the elite? When northwesterners were said to be favoured when posts were occupied in the CDC
was that not favouritism? We can go on and on,but this is not the crux of the matter.
The problem is the people are sick of hardened criminals who go from one post to another at the expense of the younger generation.Lastly intelligence is measured from what you do with the knowledge you learn from school,and your personal perception,but experience has shown that most of our leaders are well educated,but at the same time morally loose.When as a leader you kick against brotherhood ,and treat others as outcasts ,and foreigners,you are not a good example.When you massacre the population you are supposed to protect,then you are a butcher and not a leader.As a Professor you should better know how to bring development to your people,but when you point to dead machines,and want them to believe the contrary,then you are a chalatan.At times people blame the Beti people for their weakness of flesh.This may come from the fact that they are always too ready to accept bribes.When you have four ,five powerful people from the same tribe behaving in exactly the same manner,people many be tempted to associate people from that area with a certain pattern of behaviour.But generalisations are misleading.

Besong,I dont take allegations at face value,Rexon knows better.I didnt study in England but those who did and know him give hard facts.We aspire for a nation where meritocracy reigns not tribalism. Abangma's tribalism should be condemned in the same way as Niba Ngu's CDC tribal appointments were condemned or Peter Abeti's ENS frauds.

You see facts are stubborn, they stare us to the face and thats what the above commentators did. You shot yourself on the leg by irrationally picking up the Manyu/SW card to brandish as an excuse for why Abangma is being criticised(and brandished his critics "Graffi").

This is the problem with Cameroon as my friend Rexon would put it.We've got this tribal ceiling that seems almost intranscendable. We see through it, we think through it, we act through it, in short we live by it.

Until we can break through this ceiling Im afraid all these noise about a young generation with a different perspective is hot air.

[tayong]

This last comment is by me,Tayong. It appears Postnewsline've got a internet glitch, IDs dont appear anymore.

Tayong,
I don`t know what is going on with the appearance of names these days.The comment before yours was posted by me Watesih.This the same problem Kumbaboy had ealier.Your last comment adds more flesh to what I said earlier.There`s no room for corruption ,whether it is committed by the Chief from Bakingili,or the Fon from Mankon.Corrption is corruption!

Dear Mr. Besong,

Tribalism will always remain what it is, regardless of who advocates, promotes and sustains it. It is a modified, glorified and amplified version of " Egotism ".

Labelling a group of people as "Graffi " and saying " we of Manyu "; does it increase or diminish their humanity...?
Sir, identifying one's being with a particular tribe or a particular background has very little meaning or significance in the context of one's humanity. It should be pointed out clearly that identity, that is what distinguished you from another creature or being is a unique print of being that has nothing what so ever to do with your tribe or your cultural, educational, social et cetera affiliations. What distinguishes you as a being and the so called other, is a print that goes beyond time, places or things. Even your professed or unprofessed belief systems posits that, even if it is unproven by conventional means.

Space and time here on this blog does not permit an elaborate exposition on the above point, but it may suffice to point out a few things which should or ought to throw more light on this issue.

Education, should teach us that, as individuals we belong to the human family, as an individual you are a representative unit of that human family regardless of a particular background, race, religion, tribe, creed or upbringing. Education should also teach us that the principal and ultimate goal for you or me or the " they and the we "; is freedom, happiness and peace. Education should also instruct us that in pursuing those 3 goals, we should not cast any shadow in the way of the other or impede the realization of those high goals by any means, such as mental and physical actions, thoughts and feelings; belief systems and ideological positions et cetera. This is what education should teach and do for all of us as individuals.

It is also corruption, greed, avarice and senseless antagonism of the highest order when we sedulously encourage, promote and sustain divisions, because such perceived divisions based on geography are but false barriers which the wicked, the corrupted, the crafty and the cunning use and employ in full measure for nefarious purposes. Off course it is a trick which has worked eternally with the uneducated and the unthinking...!!

So when you say, " we of the Manyu ", perhaps it is that illusionary sense of being better or superior that fuels and sustains this kind of thinking within your mind..? perhaps it is the stupid psychological thrill one gets from putting down the so called " Others ", that encourages you to keep this position and way of thinking.

Well, suffice to mention that, you may have 10 Phds, You may acquire even a 100 titles after your name, you may even be the president of the world bank or the whole Earth, it will still have very little meaning in the context, in proportion and in relation to what you would be able to offer to the human family and society, as long as you are going to harbor those petty feelings, narrow and limited ways of perceiving life. Fundamentally when you do not seek to understand and alter those illusionary beliefs and ideas, as an individual you will continue to be a source of misery, pain and sorrow to your person and to your neighbors, because you are in the business of promoting darkness and not educating yourself to see the world, man and things in terms of the whole.

Thanks.

ContryFowl

[simplice]

Please forumites, leave your names at the end of each comment to avoid confusion.

SIMPLICE

[Ma Mary]

The biggest issue with the African extended family system and by extension the "tribe" is the erosion of integrity. People bestow public benefits on relatives and tribes people who are unworthy and even criminals. When a person who should know better starts acting without integrity, it is like a slippery slope. Sooner or later, such a person becomes no better than a pig.

Integrity always starts at the level of the individual person. It actually feels good and clean to act and live with integrity. You love yourself and feel justified pride and boldness which cannot be replaced by the posturing of someone who possesses stolen goods. It is moral hygiene and it is to be highly recommended.

We have to be very vigilant not to be pushed by tribe or family into doing shameful things. There is no excuse for this. "XXXX tribe is doing it so I must do it too", is no excuse, and your number one judge is yourself. Do you become a thief or a murderer because murderers and thieves are getting away with their crimes.

I know nothing about this Abangma man, so I cannot comment on his case, but the moral opacity of some of the statements here are disturbing.

[Danny Boy]

Kumba Boy,
please leave the boy Bessong alone. He passed through the University of Buea! May be some of his lecturers were damn timid to have told him and his mates where they had studied. Had they, and had they also recounted their troubles here in England to them, maybe our boy Besong might get the message.
We have had wonderful counsellors here in the UK; amongst these you have Bobe Francis Nkwain, Late Ekole (1979), Pa chamfor, Dr. Yembe, Pa Fonso et al.
I would hate to be a lecturer in Buea with this man who used to be my Cultural Counsellor, who never believed in academic excellence!

[Henry Alex]

People can forget good deeds easily but bad deeds are always there..Abangma your eyes clearly portrayed the devil u are....the doom days are drawing closer and your waterloo will be devsatating
Peace